Friends, hello. Yesterday I found myself in the checkout line at our little co-op behind an old man, moving slowly and sweetly grumbling about not wanting to pay for a paper bag for his groceries. And then, when the cashier, Linda, told him he was short a few cents, he sighed and, looking defeated, pulled out his wallet and handed over a larger bill. After giving him his change, Linda began helping him load his bags into his cart, saying assuringly, "Take your time, there is no rush, you're...
12 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello. This week, I spent a few days in Philadelphia for a pizza class I was teaching at The Bread Room, the recently opened bakery by Ellen Yin, the owner of Fork, where I worked many years ago. During class, we made the Neapolitan-style pizza dough from Pizza Night and topped it with four different topping combinations: 3 from Pizza Night and one with crème fraîche and persimmons, which I will write more about soon. It was a blast to be back in the city, highlights including the...
19 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello. As you read this, I am heading back north with my family for an early hockey game, of course. We had a wonderful few days with my sister's family, most of which included lounging and drinking coffee, with the downtime broken by brisk walks and cooking for the many little hungry mouths. Last night, my sister served chili (basically this recipe with a bag of frozen corn added) aside peasant bread, and it was everything I was craving — warm, hearty, beany, and loaded with...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Friends, As noted over the weekend, tomorrow morning I'll be heading to my sister's, and in additon to the dog, a hockey bag, 6 humans, and many suitcases, the car will be transporting a bowl of rising dough, for focaccia of course, and a tub of ricotta to make the above-pictured whipped ricotta, which gets drizzled with both honey and olive oil, as well as crushed pistachios. It's exceptional. Later that evening, we'll sip on David Lebovitz’s tangerine spritzes while making resolutions in...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Friends, hello. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, filled with delicious meals, lots of family time, cozy fires, snowy skies, and maybe a nap or two. If you're gearing up for a New Year's Eve gathering, I hope you feel rested... I'll be spending it in sweatpants on my sister's couch, and I am so looking forward to it. Yesterday, the day after Christmas, I made turkey tetrazzini with leftover braised* turkey leg meat. A few weeks ago, just after Thanksgiving, I shared the tetrazzini...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Friends, I didn't think I'd pop in here till after Christmas, but as I began drafting my shopping list, I found myself thinking about Christmas morning and how, in addition to having something sweet on the table, it is so nice to have something savory, like this, this, or these. Also, I can't tell you the number of times Christmas morning has rolled around, and I have opened the fridge to find zero eggs. Stewart's to the rescue! Below you'll find 10 favorite holiday brunch ideas, both...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Friends, hello! This week I found myself baking for all the various things — cookie exchanges, secret Santa events, teachers' and coaches' gifts. Of all the things I baked — shortbread, peppermint bark, cream cheese cutouts, and peasant bread — I found the peasant bread to be the easiest/least demanding of all, and found myself thinking: next year, it will be peasant bread for all! Friends, if you've found yourself in a baking/gifting marathon this week, I hope it's gone smoothly, and I hope...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello! Today I have three things to share with you: muffin tin focaccia, a holiday party trick, and the three cakes I rely on during the holiday season. First: focaccia. Recently I've been asked multiple times if the focaccia could be made into mini loaves by using a muffin tin. I had my doubts, worrying the focaccia would be too squished in those little wells, so decided to give it a go to confirm. I made the dough Thursday and stuck it in the fridge. Yesterday afternoon, I removed...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello! Next year, woven into my countdown-to-Thanksgiving timeline, I am going to include holiday shopping deadlines. Every year, I obsess about Thanksgiving and being organized, and then as soon as it passes, I feel panicky because I have not purchased a single gift. Alas. I do always keep a little tally of things I've loved over the year, and I've compiled them all here: Holiday Gift Guide 2025. This year's guide includes delicious flour that works beautifully with the peasant...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
