Tart dried cherries paired with creamy white chocolate chips make scrumptious scones worthy of any table. Add a touch of elegance with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream or proper English clotted cream. Whether dressed up or plain, these deliciously decadent scones can only delight. True Tea Time Takers Fresh out of the oven airy scones make a sophisticated snack fit for discerning eaters. Scones beg for a hot cup of tea. Sip a cup and nibble on a […]
Latest Posts
Minnesota Farmers Market Cookbook Talk
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: March 24, 2014
Farmers Market Wisdom in a Cookbook Shop at your friendly neighborhood farmers market and cook up a storm. A little technique and a good cookbook in hand make mastering a new menu of vegetables and fruits more fun. The last Kingfield and Fulton Winter Farmers Market was an event in itself but also included a cookbook signing and lecture. As a dedicated cookbook collector of 30 years, I had to skip shopping and hear more about the new Minnesota Farmers […]
Tea Sandwiches
Serves: 1 - 10
Time: 1/2 hour
Difficulty: Very easy
Dainty finger sandwiches can take the shape of just about any holiday. A seasonally correct sharp cookie cutter will do the trick. Holiday Cut Outs Try a leafy shamrock shape for St. Patrick’s Day. The frilly cut outs look more festive than regular sandwiches sliced into sharp rectangles or triangles. Other holidays could easily fit into free sandwich form too. Hearts for Valentine’s Day, egg shapes for Easter, pumpkins for Halloween. Christmas could be anything from a bell to a […]
Mendl’s Courtesan au Chocolat
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: March 15, 2014
French pastry transforms into an edible object d’art in Mendl’s Courtesan au Chocolat. The regal name is befitting for a sculpted dessert with such a true European look and rich taste. Mendl’s Courtesan au Chocolat is a vision of a fanciful dessert from a child’s storybook tale. Would Cinderella have enjoyed such an opulent end to a meal? Three Layers of Lavishness Puffs of delicate light as air choux pastry come in three sizes that resemble a snowman turned baked […]
Healthy Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Serves: Makes a couple dozen dog biscuits
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Healthy Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits Doggie boredom plagues my pet during the endlessly cold months of winter and early spring. While nothing beats a good long walk and exercise outdoors, healthy homemade treats are the next best thing. Bake and Bond Homemade dog treats can turn a bad weather afternoon into a good one. Whip up some indoor fun and bake healthy peanut butter dog biscuits for your special pet. Be sure to let your dog lick the bowl! […]
Sparrow Café for Beverages & Birds
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: March 3, 2014
Take flight from winter. Head to Sparrow Café and ease your spring fever pains. A good cup of coffee or tea works wonders for the soul. Melt away your worries in Minnesota’s only bird friendly certified coffee shop. Dark, dreary barely get out of bed winter days, become brighter with a trip to Sparrow Café. Coffee or tea with a little sweet or savory on the side awakens the senses. The surroundings almost chirp to life with birds. Big, bold, […]
Avocado Grapefruit Almond Salad
Serves: 1
Time: 1/2 hour
Difficulty: Easy
Add a little avocado to your next salad. Better yet, slice up the whole thing and pile on every slab. Avocados like to be eaten all at once and quickly. Sleek army avocado green turns into mud puddle mush fast. Avocados Instead of Pomegranates Back in December, I shared a recipe for Pomegranate, Grapefruit and Marcona Almond Salad. Substitute the avocados for the pomegranates for a whole dish. Avocados add a fruity-vegetative meaty quality to salads. These fatty fruits have […]
Breakfast Bread Pudding
Serves: 12
Time: 2 hours plus soaking time
Difficulty: Moderate
All too often, bread pudding appears as an evening dessert. This Mother of leftover food turned luscious makes an even better starter for the day. A good dowsing of first-rate, French Grand Marnier doesn’t hurt either. Boozy Breakfast Bread Pudding A little liqueur goes a long way to heat up the subtle sweetness of breakfast bread pudding. A mixture of dried fruit soaks up the Grand Marnier and then goes into the custard. The result, bread pudding studded with happy […]
Milk Chocolate Pots de Crème
Serves: 4 - 6
Time: 3/4 hour to prepare and overnight to cool
Difficulty: Moderate
Valentine’s Day and chocolate are old friends. Doesn’t everyone love chocolate? Love and chocolate go together hand and hand. Pick your favorite flavor – dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white chocolate. Each captures the true spirit of the day in sweet form. While store-bought boxed chocolates are lovely, homemade chocolate pots de crème are luscious. A traditional French recipe with a modern twist transforms wobbly custard into a delightfully decadent dessert. A good splash of Grand Marnier puts a […]
True Love Tiramisu for Two
Author: Lee Ann Owens
Posted: February 3, 2014
Valentine’s Day gives the perfect excuse to dive into dessert decadence. Like a cake-cream-coffee-chocolate combination? Go ahead, fall in love with tiramisu. Tiramisu for Two Lunds and Byerly’s has a terrific tiramisu treat. Rich coffee-infused sugary Italian cake and cream flavor comes with all the trimmings, ready to go. Tiramisu for two has a catchy name that suggests this is a dessert to share with your sweetheart. In reality, Tiramisu for Two easily becomes a big splurge for one. […]
Recent Comments