I made a decision partway through the cooking of my lamb that it might not be done in time. This is a fear grounded in past experiences of waiting and waiting for whatever was in the oven to be done. Through no fault of mine, the cooking sometimes just takes longer than the recipe indicates. [...]

    Yes those are jellybeans on the branches . . . they add the perfect touch of color and whimsy. My favorite part of making a good meal is the dessert. Sometimes I know what’s for dessert before I’ve decided on the rest of the meal. Part of the fun is exploring recipes and [...]

  Roast leg of lamb was traditional Easter fare growing up. It was made with rosemary and garlic as is done in many of the recipes I’ve read, but in France we always added lima beans in the bottom of the pan as the lamb was cooking.  The baby lima beans soaked up the juices [...]

  When a smile comes across my face, I know my table decor is on the right track. I like a little whimsy, but at the same time I don’t want it to become silly . . . but I do want it to make me happy.  If I’m smiling there is a good chance [...]

My Easter table is about eggs . . .    real eggs, chocolate eggs, and of course jellybeans   One year I just poured jelly beans around the table and everyone nibbled.  

I like to call myself soup challenged.  I love soup but have trouble making a good one.  It’s not from lack of effort, I probably try at least once a month through the winter, but all my attempts seem to fall flat.  My soups are blah . . . they just don’t taste great. In [...]

          U p c o m i n g   C l a s s e s   ou’ve decided to have a party, the invitations have been sent—and then you realize how much work lies ahead: cleaning, planning the menu, shopping, cooking, arranging flowers . . . and you still don’t know what you’re [...]

Getting stains out of your washable table linens – I’ve found a simple method that works really well to get spots out of table linens and allows me to use all our beautiful and bright tablecloths without worry. This is what you’ll need: A bar of mild soap (I use Savon de Marseille, because it [...]

After being bundled up and eating all those great stews this winter, I’m ready for something fresh and light. I made a Lemon mousse that turned out to be the perfect combination of tastes. Not only is it easy, but since you can make it ahead, it’s ideal for when you’re entertaining. Just take it [...]

Since the lemon mousse calls for 5 egg yolks you’re left with 5 egg whites to deal with. In the past they’ve gone into my refrigerator as I made a mental note to find something good to make with them. More often than not, when I clean out the fridge I find them in a [...]