Your Style ~ Yourself ~ Your Life
What are the best summer dessert bars? Do you have trouble deciding what to order? Is the sampler platter, the flight, or the combo deal your best friend? Of course, it’s not just menus where I experience the “and” not the “or.” I am a mom and educator – equally comfortable on both sides of the IEP table or school… Read More
Do you need the best puff pastry recipe ideas? Are you ready for some party food? Bonus if it’s easy AND impressive. When I was a kid, puff pastry meant party food. My mom would pull out her Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks (we owned the Joy of Cooking, but BH&G was more in sync with the contents of our… Read More
Do you need Hawaiian sweet rolls? Don’t we all? In Hawaii, sweet bread is ubiquitous. It is formed into rolls and loaves, flavored (and colored) with bright pink guava and purple taro. It is sliced for sandwiches and sizzled into French toast, enjoyed for breakfast, or as a side with kalua pork. It is also something that we have try… Read More
Why Celebrate Small? If 2020 was a year to celebrate small by force, consider making 2021 a year to celebrate small by choice. While large parties, packed stadiums, and concert throngs hold a certain appeal, you may find yourself a little spooked by the prospect of returning to such large events any time soon. In 2020 we stumbled into the… Read More
Easy Lemon Curd – at Home For years, I believed that lemon curd existed only in the tiny pots served at my favorite tea spots. One place, in particular, served it alongside Biscoff, the lightly-spiced cookies that are sometimes served as a snack on airplanes (which will someday soon be part of our collective experience again). I was mesmerized by… Read More
Are you ready for some simple strawberry scones? This recipe will help you ditch the intimidation factor and enjoy this slightly old-fashioned treat at home. One of my favorite celebratory meals is afternoon tea. I love that by design, you get to sample bits and bites of different sweet and savory treats. I love that, in the US, at least,… Read More
Do you need some Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread – or Muffins? When I was a kid, moms showed up at soccer games and the like with wedges of oranges, with the peel still attached. We used to fit the peel under our lips and make goofy smiles with our bright “teeth.” As a ballet dancer, we were careful to choose… Read More
Do You Need Julia’s Best Banana Bread? Do you have slightly soft, somewhat bruised bananas sitting on your counter? No matter how much I try to just buy the exact right amount, I always seem to have one or two. When that happens, I peel and slice them and pop them in my freezer (link). When I have a total… Read More
Do you have a favorite pavlova recipe? Pavlovas are a magical food. A few pedestrian ingredients are transformed into something ethereal – and much, much more than the sum of its parts. My mom was a somewhat typical midwestern cook and baker in the 70’s. She made meringue pies and gelatin desserts and all sorts of other fluffy concoctions. But… Read More
