Mother's Day

Sweetened Ricotta & Apricot Crepes

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:02:51 +0000

Lightly sweetened ricotta, toasted almonds and a drizzle of apricot jam give these crepes a sophisticated edge. Try them for brunch or dessert.

Mushroom & Spinach Crepes

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:38:34 +0000

Mushroom & Spinach Crepes

Try these crepes, filled with spinach and meaty mushrooms and topped with crumbled goat cheese, for a light supper with a salad on the side.

Bistro Salad Crepes

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:29:34 +0000

Bistro Salad Crepes

Poached eggs and lightly dressed salad greens top these savory crepes. They’re just the thing to make for a special brunch or luncheon.

Banana-Caramel Crepes with Nutella

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:21:56 +0000

Banana-Caramel Crepes with Nutella

Try these banana and Nutella crepes for a special brunch or luscious dessert. In this method, we fold the crepe into a square leaving a little “window” in the middle to show off what’s inside. Feel free to roll or fold your crepes around your filling any way you choose.

Caviar-Egg Gem

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:03:20 +0000

Caviar-Egg Gem

Sliced eggs and ruby-colored salmon roe top whole-grain crackers for a sophisticated appetizer.

Goat Cheese & Veggie Morsel

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:28:02 +0000

Goat Cheese & Veggie Morsel

Crackers topped with tangy goat cheese and a confetti of vegetables make a terrific vegetarian appetizer. Use soft goat cheese, plain or herbed, for easy spreading.

Feta & Cucumber Nip

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:18:47 +0000

Feta & Cucumber Nip

Crunchy pita chips make the perfect base for this ultra-quick olive, cucumber and feta appetizer. If you can’t find baby cucumber, cut a regular cucumber into thin slices that are approximately the same size as your pita chips.

Seven-Hour Leg of Lamb

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:40:52 +0000

Seven-Hour Leg of Lamb

A seven-hour leg of lamb is a traditional technique for slow-cooking lamb until it is fall-off-the-bone tender and luscious. This one is seasoned with plenty of garlic, lemon and fresh herbs and the resulting rich jus is served alongside the meat. For a brilliant accompaniment, serve with creamy stewed white beans.

Roasted Pears with Brie & Pistachios

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:31:59 +0000

Roasted Pears with Brie & Pistachios

Roasted pears with Brie and pistachios is delicious as a first course or a side with roast pork or lamb. Leave the stems on for the prettiest presentation.

Caramelized Spiced Pears

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:20:02 +0000

Caramelized Spiced Pears

Serve these caramelized pear slices over ice cream, stir into plain yogurt or enjoy as a topping for pancakes or waffles. Brown-skinned Bosc pears hold their shape during cooking, but any variety of pears tastes delicious.

Maple Pecan Tart with Dried Cherries

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:46:20 +0000

Maple Pecan Tart with Dried Cherries

This pecan tart gets added tang from dried cherries. Instead of corn syrup, which is found in most pecan pie recipes, we’ve opted for maple syrup. If you can find it, choose dark amber or grade B, because it has the richest maple flavor. The crust, made with heart-healthy pecans and canola oil, couldn’t be easier to whip together. Just blend it in the food processor and pat it into your tart pan.

Plum Crisp

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:30:40 +0000

Plum Crisp

A fruit crisp offers the luscious flavor of a fresh fruit pie without the fuss of making a crust. Celebrate late summer with plums in this rich-tasting crisp. The nut-studded topping works great with other fruit combinations too.

Cherry Crisp

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:54:23 +0000

Cherry Crisp

A fruit crisp offers the luscious flavor of a fresh fruit pie without the fuss of making a crust. Celebrate the arrival of cherries with this rich-tasting crisp. The nut-studded topping works great with other fruit combinations too.

Chilly Dilly Cucumber Soup

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:39:12 +0000

Chilly Dilly Cucumber Soup

This cold cucumber-dill soup has a surprisingly seductive taste. The secret is that both the broth and the yogurt garnish are loaded with fresh (never dried) dill and chives. Serve as a starter or a light lunch entree. The recipe calls for “handfuls” of herbs; if you are relying on the grocery store instead of the garden or farmers’ market, you’ll need about one large bunch or one to two 2- to 3-ounce packets. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.

Smoked Trout Spread

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:35:26 +0000

Smoked Trout Spread

Creamy smoked trout spread on thin whole-grain crackers is a delicious appetizer, but serve it with an array of artfully arranged nibbles—ripe tomatoes, crunchy cucumber slices and red onion—and you have an easy summer dinner. Pack it up and take it outdoors for a weeknight picnic. Serve with a baby arugula salad tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese and a generous grinding of pepper.