Allergen Friendly, Desserts

Candy Coated Apples

Makes 12 apples These are the crunchy-coated carnival apples of your childhood! You can skip the red food coloring if you prefer. They will be glossy and just as tasty. Keys to Success If using supermarket apples, you must wash off the wax for the candy to adhere. Be careful […]
Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Cheese and Potato Cigars

Makes about 20 small-bite servings These crispy little bites can be filled with spare mashed potatoes for a Thanksgiving appetizer, or leftovers for a next-day reward for a busy host! Though they are best fried, you can brush them with oil and bake them at 425°F for a little less […]
Soups and Stews

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Makes 8 servings More “exotic” varieties of mushrooms, such as cremini and oyster, work well in this soup, as do regular white mushrooms. Use a combination or a single variety, depending on your taste and what’s available. You may also opt to season the soup with a touch of sherry […]
Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Glazing Vegetables

When vegetables are fully or partially cooked by steaming, boiling, or roasting, they can be sautéed just long enough to reheat them or to complete cooking them—a technique known as finishing. Whole butter is a common choice for finishing vegetables, but other flavorful cooking fats, such as extra-virgin olive oil, […]
Chef's Notes Plus

Is Butter Better? Choosing the Right Fat for Pie Crust

Fats are an essential ingredient in baking, directly imparting flavor and influencing tenderness and flakiness in pie and tart crusts. Most pie and tart crusts need to be made with a solid fat in order to create their characteristic tender and flaky texture. The role of fats in creating crusts […]
Cookies

Pecan Diamonds

The Iconic Pecan Diamond Are they a cookie? A dessert? A bite-size pecan pie? Craig Claiborne of The New York Times called them the “sweet hallmark” of CIA, and they are. Pecan Diamonds have been a CIA tradition for nearly six decades. They were offered to guests with coffee at […]
Desserts

Poached Fuyu Persimmons with Vanilla Ice Cream

Makes 8 servings Persimmons are sweet and mild in flavor with a plump texture that pairs beautifully with ice cream and a crisp topping. If you like, crumble gingersnaps in place of the baked crisp topping. If you can’t find ripe persimmons, you can substitute apple, pear, quince, or virtually […]
Side Dishes

Potato Purée

Makes 6 servings Variations: Fried Garlic and Asiago Cheese Mashed Potatoes: While the potatoes are boiling, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add 6 tablespoons roughly chopped garlic and fry until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the cream and milk and allow the flavors to blend together. Add […]