• Lavender maple iced coffee mocktail
    Drinks

    Lavender Maple Iced Coffee Mocktail

    This drink will ease you from summer into autumn with a combination of lavender and maple reminiscent of both. Lavender brings us back to the height of our gardens, while maple offers the nuanced sweetness we associated with so many fall dishes.  In lieu of a coffee cocktail, try this chilled non-alcoholic and dairy-free drink when you’re in the mood for notes both light and dark, lightly sweet and earthy, in other words that beautiful feeling when you hold onto both seasons and enjoy the best of each. Ingredients 3 ounces chilled coffee3 ounces oat milk¾ ounce lavender maple syrup Lavender Maple Syrup ½ cup pure maple syrup¼ cup filtered…

  • Peach upside-down cake
    Baking

    Peach Upside-Down Cake

    There is always a bit of magic in an upside-down cake, complete with a final reveal – the turned cake coming effortlessly out of the pan and showing its glossy, caramelized topping.  For this cake, peaches or a combination of peaches and plums create a delicious top layer.  Actually, that’s the bottom layer when you’re building this in your cake pan.  All part of the magic. With the steps below, you’ll learn how to make that final flip reliable, so your fruit doesn’t stick, and make the cake even more delicious with some of my favorite batter additions. While stone fruit season is still here, try this recipe to hold…

  • Roasted eggplant with tahini dressing
    Food

    Japanese Eggplant with Lemon Herb Tahini Dressing

    For my recent hummus recipe, you may have purchased a jar of tahini, so this week I’m sharing another way to make use of the ground sesame paste.  Combined with lemon juice and plenty of fresh herbs, tahini transforms into a dressing that pairs well with delicate and mildly sweet Japanese eggplant, which only becomes more flavorful after a brief roasting time.  With no bitterness and a smaller size than standard eggplant, they can take the slightly bitter natural notes in tahini without turning the whole dish so.  Citrus and herbs brighten up the dressing and make this an exceptional dish for lunch or dinner. When the Japanese variety is…

  • Berry tiramisu slice
    Baking

    Berry Tiramisu

    If you’ve taken one of my Summer Italian Kitchen cooking classes over the past few years, you may recall watching me make this berry tiramisu, or perhaps even prepared it along with me. Summery and just sweet enough, it’s not only a no-bake dessert, but truly no heat, as the syrup from macerated berries replaces the espresso into which the ladyfingers are traditionally dipped.  Layers of soaked ladyfingers, berries, and the mascarpone whipped cream I enjoy on so many desserts make for a light, airy, and incredibly flavorful treat. Through my summer Italian recipes, I love celebrating the beautiful simplicity of Italian cooking with its emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients.…

  • Food

    Hummus

    Lately I’ve been craving versatile dishes including this hummus that serves as an appetizer, side dish, or flavorful addition to your main meal.  Lemony and bright, which is the way I love it, the recipe can be adapted if you prefer less citrus.  Hummus also has the benefit of giving you plenty of plant-based protein from chickpeas and tahini, making it a great dish to add into your weekly rotation.  Serve it with pita chips and vegetables or round out a nice board with grape leaves, olives, roasted peppers, and the like.  The possibilities are rather endless, and I also suggest using it as a delicious sandwich spread. For the…