August 2014

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Breads & Baked Goods Desserts Mushrooms Wild Foods

Honey Truffle Sponge Pudding Cake with Wild Berries

Mention the word “truffle” in the context of dessert and most people would probably think you were talking about the round, chocolate confections that are so popular on Valentine’s Day.  In this instance, we’re talking about real truffles, the kind that grow underground in association with the roots of certain trees.  While the use of fungus-type truffles is certainly not unheard of in desserts, it’s honestly sometimes a bit of a stretch and frequently not entirely to everyone’s taste.  But there is one little-known …

Huckleberry Crisps
Breads & Baked Goods Desserts Wild Foods

Huckleberry Crisp with Walnut Topping

The wild huckleberry  (Vaccinum membranaceum or Vaccinum deliciosum) is a tasty relative of the blueberry, but it’s much more elusive. In appearance, huckleberries are very nearly identical to blueberries, but they’re smaller and their flavor has an “edge” which is missing in domestic berries. The flavor of wild huckleberries, as is true of many wild things, is more complicated and less obvious than the flavor of their tame cousins.  While a fresh huckleberry may look like a blueberry, it tastes a …

Potatoes Vegetables

French Fries, Done Right

You have to admit that the average potato isn’t much to look at. But it’s not about a potato’s good looks or lack thereof; it’s all about the many ways we can prepare – and eat – the humble, yet eminently versatile potato. There’s no doubt that one of the world’s favorite potato preparations is the French fry. The origin of this method of preparing potatoes is hotly contested with the Belgians in one corner and the French in the …

A Slice of Cherry Clafouti
Beverages Breads & Baked Goods Desserts

Cherry Clafouti

The classic baked dessert known as “clafouti” originates in the countryside of the Limousin region of central France. The name comes from a word, clafir, which in the local dialect means, “to fill”.  Indeed, the clafouti, something of a cross between a cake, a custard and a crepe, is literally filled with sweet cherries, traditionally fresh and unpitted. While the idea of a dessert containing cherry pits may not appeal to everyone, they’re included for a reason; the pits contribute an intensely almond-like flavor to the dish …

Cherry-Infused Vodka
Beverages

Fresh Cherry-Infused Vodka

  The summery flavor of fresh cherries is transformed into a delightfully intoxicating beverage in this simple recipe for cherry-infused vodka. This intensely flavorful infusion is superb, whether you sip it straight, mix it into a cocktail or lighten it with a splash of sparkling water.  You’ll find many recipes for cherry infused spirits that  are additionally flavored with spices or citrus, but we opted for a simpler, straightforward preparation that yields an exceptionally clean, bright cherry flavor and brilliant, ruby-red color. This recipe uses sweet cherries and vodka; …