Spring Entertaining Southern Socials Strawberry Shortcake Trifle Trifle is a classic English dessert with basic components consisting of vanilla custard, sherry soaked sponge cake, fruit, jam & sweetened whipped cream. Southerners made it their own decades ago by using pound cake with variations that include orange liqueur, assorted seasonal fruits, chocolate & coffee infused creations. […]
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The Basics: Vanilla Pastry Cream
Cooking & Baking Essentials The Technique Vanilla Pastry Cream Vanilla Pastry Cream is a key component in many dessert applications such as trifle & cream pies. It is the foundation to sweet mousseline creme that can be used to fill a number of pate a choux & puff pastry based confections from eclairs & cream […]
Baking Classics: Strawberry Shortcake
Baking Classics The Technique Strawberry Shortcake Buttermilk Shortcakes split & filled with juicy strawberries & sweetened whipped cream makes Strawberry Shortcake a Southerners dream dessert most any night of the week from spring through the summer months. One of the most straightforward methods for preparing the shortcakes is to shape the prepared dough into a rectangle once […]
The Basics: Fresh Mint
Cooking & Baking Essentials From The Garden Fresh Mint When I order dessert in a restaurant, it is with great anticipation & expectation of something marvelous. Seeing how others take a similar set of ingredients, break them down then build them into something uniquely their own is a pleasure & presentation is everything. Fresh mint […]
The Basics: Macerated Strawberries
Cooking & Baking Essentials The Technique Macerated Strawberries Macerated Strawberries are one of life’s simple pleasures that elevate Buttermilk Pound Cake, shortcakes & a host of additional desserts. Once the berries find their way in your kitchen, a quick dusting of sugar & a little stand time will have these beauties ready to enjoy. Take […]
Cooking Classics: Lemon-Mint Simple Syrup
Cooking Classics The Technique Lemon-Mint Simple Syrup The purpose of preparing a simple syrup is to be certain the sugar granules have been dissolved when sweet taste notes are need for a variety of uses in the kitchen. Although it’s primarily stirred into cocktails & classic everyday beverages, simple syrup is a valuable item in […]
Cooking Classics: Lemon-Mint Iced Tea
Cooking Classics The Technique Lemon-Mint Iced Tea Sweetened iced tea is the perfect beverage to serve for any occasion in the South & it’s crucial you learn how to prepare in from scratch. The most classic method is to bring water to a rolling boil, remove it from the heat, then add the tea bags […]
The Essential Guide To Tea Sandwiches
Spring Entertaining The Technique The Essential Guide To Tea Sandwiches White gloves may be a rarity in this day & age, however tea sandwiches still remain to be an entertaining essential when hosting spring socials in the South. Morning & afternoon gatherings in particular are simply not complete without a beautiful arrangement of them often […]
Cooking Classics: Party Pimiento Cheese
Cooking Classics The Technique Party Pimiento Cheese Pimiento Cheese is a southern icon that can be prepared a thousand ways & each good cook has just right combination of flavors to make a stellar batch. No more then freshly grated cheese, mayonnaise & pimientos magically dusted with a balance of seasonings is needed in order […]
Cooking Classics: Olive-Gorgonzola Nut Spread
Cooking Classics The Technique Olive-Gorgonzola Nut Spread Appetizers that can be made quickly & used in a variety of ways are essential when entertaining. Olive-Gorgonzola Nut Spread can be served with crackers or rolled into festive truffles that not only look good but taste great too. Scallions & lemon zest brighten this classic party favorite while pungent […]
