Once Upon A Chef

Apple Rum Raisin Bread Pudding

It’s taken Michael and me almost ten years of marriage (and lots of gentle hinting) to figure out Valentine’s Day. He finally understands that half-wilted roses from the grocery store – no doubt purchased on his way home from work – are not the key to my affection. And I finally realized that he appreciates a homemade dinner, dessert, anything way more than a gift that eventually shows up on our credit card bill. That's my guy :) and that’s where this insanely good bread pudding comes in.

Chocoholic Muffins

 
The men in my life all have one thing in common: a strong, deep-seated penchant for chocolate. Growing up, my dad lived on a steady diet of Nestle Crunch bars and Oreo cookies. These days, I live with chocolate lovers of a more discriminating sort (no offense, dad:)) – my husband and son, who know that a little begging and praise is all it takes to get me in the kitchen, covered in cocoa powder. These tender muffins with a double hit of chocolate are one of their favorites...and just as true chocoholics would, they eat them for breakfast. 

Crispy Ginger Cookies

This is my all-time favorite ginger cookie, and believe me, I've tasted my fair share.  Over the past month, I've tried at least eight different recipes, all of which yielded cookies that were either too hard, too soft or overpoweringly spicy. This one is perfect. It's got just the right balance of spices -- think ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and black pepper -- and a wonderfully, buttery crisp texture.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Cooking for people you don't know is easy, but cooking for friends -- especially those who knew you before you could cook anything -- now that's pressure!  So when I offered to bring dessert to a holiday party for my high school friends, the heat was on. It had to be good, it had to be fun, and it had to look like I didn't try too hard.

Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

In the food world, there are few things as elusive or sought after as the perfect chocolate chip cookie. This recipe from my friend Carrie has my vote. When she first sent it to me, I thought “Geez, she sure threw the whole kitchen sink in there.” But Carrie is a great baker so I tried them…and I don't think I've ever had a better chocolate chip cookie.

Baileys Milk Chocolate Truffles

 

Apple Pecan Crisp

My 4 year-old daughter brought home her field trip permission slip for Homestead Farm today, which means it’s officially apple season, and, yes, I'm on the hook for chaperone.

Supernatural Brownies

 

If you've been searching for the perfect brownie recipe, look no further. I promise you, this is it!  These aptly named squares of chocolate indulgence are from Nick Malgieri's Chocolate cookbook, an excellent resource for all things chocolate.  Typically brownie lovers fall into two camps: the "fudgy" and the "cakey."  I dare say these brownies - moist and fudgy in the center, and cakey and crisp on the surface - will appeal to all.

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

The Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafer…it’s dark, chocolatey, and wonderfully versatile in the kitchen. Lots of recipes call for the illustrious wafer, but its true claim to fame is the retro Ice Box Cake pictured on the yellow box, a dessert my grandmother used to make that’s become fashionable again thanks to some trendy New York City bakeries.  Inspired by such old-fashioned desserts, my friend Melissa came up with this novel – and I think ingenius – way of using the wafers to make homemade ice cream sandwiches. They’re so adorable and yummy, someone should really box and sell them.