If you're like me and enjoy competition cooking shows, you've probably seen your fair share of contestants completely undone by risotto. It's usually undercooked because the chef started too late, and honestly, who wants to eat semi-crunchy—rather than perfectly al dente—rice? Not me. But before you decide that you couldn't [...]
One of my favorite parts of book club every month is planning the menu beforehand. And since we meet once a month, it's fun trying to conjure up something new, maybe even a little unexpected. Since many of the main dishes fall squarely into the comfort food genre, I try [...]
While I've never met a pumpkin pie I didn't love—even the Costco pumpkin pie makes me happy—I know there are contrarians who don't find it quite as delightful as I do. So let me suggest a real contender for the pie of your dreams this Thanksgiving: cannoli pie. I made [...]
If you've ever watched any competition cooking shows (Chopped, MasterChef, Top Chef), you probably know that risotto has been the proverbial Achilles heel for so many contestants. But I promise it's not because risotto is difficult to make. It's just not a dish best suited to a pressure cooker environment. [...]
No doubt about it, the cupcakes at NYC's Magnolia Bakery are scrumptious. But I've always had a major soft spot for their banana pudding. More of a mousse-like texture with plenty of real bananas, whipped cream, and the quintessential vanilla wafers, it's outrageously good. Light and rich. But since I'm [...]
I've seen olive oil cake featured on a number of restaurant menus. I've enjoyed extra virgin olive oil drizzled on a crazy good ice cream sundae at one of my favorite Italian spots in Dallas. But I was never quite sure about baking a cake that didn't have (gasp!) butter, [...]
Considering you can take a high-speed train from Germany to Italy, I shouldn't have been surprised to find such scrumptious Italian food in Berlin. I was so focused on döner, schnitzel, sausage, and spaetzle that I almost forgot all about my old friends bruschetta and pasta. But when Will and I [...]
What is it about a breaded cutlet that's so irresistible? Especially with a squeeze of lemon and, say, some truffle fries? During our recent adventure in Germany, I ordered schnitzel like it was my job. Compared and contrasted the various approaches (Viennese, German Hunter's schnitzel, Munich-style) and settled on a [...]
Ever meet one of those people who "forgets to eat breakfast?" I am not one of those people generally. Unless I'm really feeling unwell. Let's just say I am wildly enthusiastic about breakfast, which they refer to as frühstück in Germany. Beginning in Berlin, I tried to pick up a [...]
Traveling to a new city always comes with its peculiarities, but never have I had the pleasure of enjoying a scoop of Speculoos ice cream beside a nearly full ashtray nestled in the middle of the table. I mean if I really needed a puff between bites, that is convenient. But since [...]
