• 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…

  • 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.…

  • Skillet cornbread topped with tomatoes and rosemary
    Baking,  Food

    Skillet Cornbread Topped with Tomatoes and Rosemary

    Skillet cornbread may be the best kind to serve, as it cooks up with a toasty bottom and tender middle.  I love to top mine with garden tomatoes and chopped rosemary to hold onto every last bit of summer. Since corn is available through September, fold some into the batter for added texture and flavor using the recipe below. Recently I recommended this as the ultimate side to my summer Cobb salad, and with Labor Day weekend here, this is a crowd-pleasing addition to the menu.  By the start of September, our vegetable gardens have become looser, more natural and sprawling, and our dishes follow suit.  The actual amounts of…

  • Pineapple chamomile iced tea sangria
    Drinks

    Pineapple Chamomile Iced Tea Sangria Mocktail

    With a refreshingly light sweetness from pineapple and ripe stone fruit, this non-alcoholic chamomile tea sangria makes use of summer’s abundant fruit and herbs.  A touch of sage balances the drink and is just the right ingredient to add clean herbal notes without overwhelming the pitcher. Lounge away the afternoon with a glass then sip another well into the evening, as chamomile tea is naturally caffeine-free with a mild floral quality that’s mellow and smooth.  Spoon cherry halves and nectarine slices in each serving along with plenty of pineapple, and this mocktail makes blazing days quite welcome. Ingredients 5 chamomile tea bags brewed in 4 cups water then cooled1 cup…

  • Potato salad with crispy shallots
    Food

    Potato Salad with Crispy Shallots and Red Wine Vinaigrette

    Topped with crispy shallots and dressed with red wine vinaigrette, this potato salad is destined for picnics and patio tables though it also lends that summery feel to a weeknight dinner.  Scatter the shallots so each scoop includes them or serve on the side and allow everyone to top their own portion.  The method for making the crispy shallots is simple and reliable, requiring mainly a watchful eye so they are removed when sweet and golden.  A combination of petite yellow and red potatoes mix with roasted bell pepper and plenty of herbs to keep the flavor bright.  For the best homemade potato salad, I pick small baby potatoes, peewee…