Author: Annelies

2011: A delicious year

Out with the old, in with the new is the adage that probably most comes to mind at this time of year. Beginnings are a great time to contemplate the former things and what they might have taught us. Thus, from this, my illustrated 2011 recipe box, it appears that kale might be the star… Continue reading 2011: A delicious year

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Warm Cranberry Dressing Food Photo Poetry

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Warm Cranberry Dressing Food Photo Poetry   The Interim Balks (for you- you know who you are) The year ends as it begins, a spindle top ever swirling forward- How do we divide ourselves from the yester-year carcass smoothly? When do we nail the crux on the head without it… Continue reading Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Warm Cranberry Dressing Food Photo Poetry

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Warm Cranberry Dressing

This salad combines the best seasonal flavors of Brussels sprouts, delicata squash and cranberries to infuse texture and color into the winter doldrums. After a false start when I was a child, I developed a surly attitude toward Brussels sprouts.  A few years ago, under the tutelage of Stacey and Lisa, I tried them again,… Continue reading Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Warm Cranberry Dressing

In resolution for a change

No more excuses. You’ve heard that one before. Maybe you even uttered it this morning. Why is it so hard to change? A few years back, I had begun interviewing friends with the same three questions to try to get at the crux of what brings about change and makes it stick. It’s nearing that… Continue reading In resolution for a change

White Cranberry Almond Amaranth Crumb Cake

I know, I know. One more last minute idea to throw a wrench into a Christmas menu. Not exactly. This spruced up crumb cake is a treat to bake up after the weekend’s festivities. The colors point back to a not-so-distant holiday while the ingredients point to the new year and those resolutions that somehow get… Continue reading White Cranberry Almond Amaranth Crumb Cake

On pageants and pillow pregnancies

The pillow was not cooperating. Weeks earlier, I’d been in the kitchen concocting a semblance of dinner in a bowl called salad when one of my roommates Lisa had asked me to play Elizabeth in our church’s Christmas Day pageant. “Do I have to memorize a lot of lines?” I asked, tossing the odd bits… Continue reading On pageants and pillow pregnancies

Blackberry Sage Glazed Meatballs

The lovely folks at Driscoll’s sent over some blackberries for me to play with in my kitchen. While their original invitation involved dessert and treats, I kept imagining the winsome combination of blackberry and sage having their way with meatballs. Cocktail meatballs are noted in the annals of party hors d’oeuvres and involve grape jam,… Continue reading Blackberry Sage Glazed Meatballs

A stage and a man with no voice

The note read “I lost my voice. You’re number three.” Frank, the k-jay smiled his broad toothy grin as he sashayed back up to the stage. Gone were the days of him shooting me a look laced with small steel blades. Last time he had hugged me as we began waving goodbye. Christmas lights twinkled… Continue reading A stage and a man with no voice

Peppermint Chocolate Rochers

Looking for reasons to bake in December is not difficult. Do you find yourself any other time of year looking for reasons to break out the eggs, sugar, butter and flour with the gusto that the holidays inspires? I didn’t think so. We hosted our second annual Cookie Swap this past weekend with local food… Continue reading Peppermint Chocolate Rochers

Gingered Buddha’s Hand Simple Syrup

  [print_this] GINGERED BUDDHA’S HAND SIMPLE SYRUP  NOTE: This recipe pairs up with the recipe for making the Buddhettes. Don’t throw away the scraps – make simple syrup! Scraps of Buddha’s Hand from making Buddhettes An inch of ginger, peeled and minced 1 cup sugar ½ cup water Those bits of buddha’s hand odds and… Continue reading Gingered Buddha’s Hand Simple Syrup