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Cornstarch is the thickener here instead of eggs. The amount of cornstarch determines the firmness of the blancmange: 2 tablespoons yields a very soft pudding, whereas 3 tablespoons yields a rather firm one. There are quite few variations you can play with this pudding: For a richer pudding, use evaporated milk or half-and-half instead of […]

The combination of a strong flavored cheese and egg is mighty delish. Smoked gouda, or a mix of sharp cheddar with Parmesan Reggiano, works quite well. But one the most memorable variations was using the alder-smoked goat cheese from Elk Creamery. This recipe would serve two people. Boiled peas, or sautéed zucchini, nicely complements this […]

For me, the best chai comes from a couple south Indian restaurants, Dasaprakash and Saravana Bhavan. (I’m usually disappointed by the Americanized café take on this drink: too bland or too cloying.) This recipe is certainly not perfect, but it’s a start. Use a full flavored, fermented black tea like Assam, Ceylon or English Breakfast. […]

Originally from Pamela Rino Evans, I’ve only lightly modified this dish. Experiment with nuts: I’ve used a mix of pine nuts and pecans, as well as cashews and pecans. You can also substitute chervil for the parsley. For extra spice-pep, add some cinnamon and/or ground coriander at step 3.

My aunt, Alice Schoen, a phenomenal cook, obtained this recipe from Shirley Krutilla “the Cookie Lady.” This is superior to typical American meringue cookies, as the brown sugar makes all the difference. The original calls for pecans, but here I use ground hazelnuts, which can be obtained by the bag from Trader Joe’s.