There are many things to love about Basque country: gorgeous beaches, cream-filled pastries, warm days and cool nights, men in berets. But my favorite thing, I think, is the ubiquitous pintxo (think of it as Basque tapas, held on a slice of bread with a toothpick). You can build a meal out of these bite-sized snacks, hopping from bar to bar, or you can use them as a bridge between late-afternoon cocktails and a proper dinner, to which you should not sit down until 10 pm at the earliest.
Although I like to focus my baking efforts on end-of-summer plums and other seasonal fruits this time of year, these coconut macaroons are too good not to write about. I love the contrast of a perfectly-baked macaroon’s golden, crispy bottom and soft interior, and if you make these using unsweetened shredded coconut they deliver a lot of coconut flavor with just a little sweetness. I omitted the coconut extract in the Great Cookies recipe, using vanilla instead for a more subtle flavor. Continue Reading »
At the peak of summer, when the green markets and grocery stores are full of stone fruits, I love to make desserts with plums. This recipe is based on a berry cobbler I found in August’s Martha Stewart Living, and is really easy. The original recipe calls for berries, rather than plums, but it could serve as a template for any sort of fruit cobbler. I also added lemon zest and juice, for a little extra brightness.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending a few days in Monterosso, one of the hilltop Cinque Terre towns in Italy’s Liguria region and home to possibly the most beautiful beach I’ve ever been on. At one of the town’s shops I spotted a barrel of gorgeous, rustic, locally-grown lemons, with leaves still attached, and I knew what my souvenir would be. So, after I spent a few days admiring them, still-life-like in a bowl on my kitchen counter, I obliterated them in the blender to create this whole lemon tart.
But have been in Italy, working my way through every gelato stand in my path. Will post again soon, but in the meantime, please enjoy this picture of a tiny sfogliatelle from a pasticceria in Como.
Супер! Спасибо :0 …
I made this last weekend and it was to die for! I toasted the coc …
I have made Nigella's original version of Guinness Cake and peopl …
I like your website. You can find pinchos or pintxos, all through …
thnx for the delicious recipe! …