I hate the notion of a secret recipe. Recipes are by nature derivative and meant to be shared – that is how they improve, are changed, how new ideas are formed. To stop a recipe in it’s tracks, to label it “secret,” just seems mean. – Molly Wizenberg

Continue reading I hate the notion of a secret recipe. Recipes are by nature derivative and meant to be shared – that is how they improve, are changed, how new ideas are formed. To stop a recipe in it’s tracks, to label it “secret,” just seems mean. – Molly Wizenberg

Butterscotch Pecan Roll Topping

This buttery, nicely sticky topping can be used with any of our sweet roll doughs, but you’ll probably have to double it if your dough makes more than 8 or 10 rolls. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pour melted butter into 9 x 9 square pan; grease sides of pan. In small saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon – heat slowly until it … Continue reading Butterscotch Pecan Roll Topping

Mennonite Cinnamon Rolls

There had to be a recent German branch of the family somewhere in Grammy’s France-Luxembourg background; there are just too many family recipes that are identical to the ones found in Pennsylvania Dutch or Mennonite cookbooks. But Grammy was a teenager during World War I, and her children’s generation fought in World War II; Germany and German heritage was deeply unpopular then, and many German-Americans … Continue reading Mennonite Cinnamon Rolls

Chicken Soup with Spinach

There are no quantities for Laura’s recipe, because sometimes you’re serving a dinner party, and sometimes you just need one bowl of chicken soup to cure the sniffles. If using fresh spinach, sauté briefly in olive oil and drain well. If using frozen, cook to package directions and drain or squeeze until nearly all the water is out of it. Heat stock or broth and … Continue reading Chicken Soup with Spinach

Baked Pork with Green Beans

It sounds weird (really, even after having eaten it, it still sounds kind of awful), but it makes delicious comfort food on a cold night. It’s wonderful with cornbread. And in a year when beef prices have blown holes through supermarket ceilings, it’s nice to find a great recipe for an unloved and unlovely cut of meat. Sear the pork steaks on high heat; salt … Continue reading Baked Pork with Green Beans

Jammy Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are easy, can be made with any kind of jam or fruit filling, flavored with whatever pleases you most, and are delicious. We are of differing opinions about what kind of glaze to use, though. Our go-to (powdered sugar, water, and flavoring) can be too soft and smeary, especially if you’re packing them as holiday treats. A royal icing squiggle works just as … Continue reading Jammy Thumbprint Cookies

Eggnog Blondies

Like all of the recipes in this category, we haven’t tried these yet. But they look like they will work, and sound delicious to us. When we finally get around to a test batch, we’ll move them into the category where they really belong. If you try these out before we do, let us know about your results! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an … Continue reading Eggnog Blondies