Duck with Orange Hazelnut Stuffing

We decided to be adventurous this Christmas Day and added duck to our classic ham and turkey menu. It was our first taste of home cooked duck and my first attempt at gravy. The dark duck meat was surprisingly decadent (though in short supply), and the orange gravy was the ideal flavor enhancement. The stuffing [...]

Apple Oatmeal Crisp

Apple season may be over, but we haven’t stopped eating Nick’s favorite fruit. Ever since reading The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan, he has been obsessed with trying every variety of apple he can get his hands on: juicy Braeburns, crisp Cortlands, aromatic McIntoshes, tart Granny Smiths. But his very favorite is the bright, [...]

Ravioli with Apples and Pears

T-minus 12 days until The Culinary Couple begins cohabitation! Until then, we continue to cook separately during the week. Last Wednesday, after baking a scrumptious spiced apple cake and before enjoying a big slice, I adapted a ravioli recipe from the latest issue of Real Simple. It combines some of my favorite fall flavors: apples, [...]

A Sweet, Seasonal Tribute

Now that I no longer need to draw inspiration from wedding blogs (though I can’t quite drag myself away from all of them), I have turned my attention to food blogs. And last week the foodie blogosphere erupted with news that Condé Nast is ceasing publication of Gourmet. Gourmet was the kind of food magazine [...]

Butternut Squash, Apple, Gorgonzola Gratin

Here’s a new recipe to add to your autumn rotation. We served ours with slow-cooked pork, broccoli, and pumpkin ale. Next time we’ll add more nutmeg, because you really can’t have enough of that spice during this time of year! Ingredients 2 1/2 Tbsp Wegmans basting oil, divided (if you don’t have basting oil, use [...]

An Apple a Day

If there’s any truth to the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” then there were a lot of healthy folks on Sunday at the National Apple Harvest Festival. We ate apple sausages and drank apple cider. We brought home apple dumplings and apple butter. And if there had been time — [...]

Chicken in Puff Pastry

We watched Rachael Ray make a version of this and just had to try it ourselves. It’s easy and versatile and tasty! We served ours with a seasonal blend of roasted yams and butternut squash with cinnamon and nutmeg. And roasted mushrooms completed the plate. Ingredients skinless boneless chicken breast salt and pepper EVOO 1 [...]