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Cream cheese sugar cookies

1 cup sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
2 1/4 cup flour

  1. In large bowl, combine sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, extracts, and egg yolk. Stir in flour until well blended.
  2. Chill dough for 2 hours. On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into shapes.
  3. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Bake for 7-10 minutes at 375 F. Cool completely on wire racks.

Russian tea cakes

2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup pecans, hazelnuts or other nuts, toasted and finely ground
1/8 tsp cinnamon

  1. In large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar until well blended, then beat in flour and nuts.
  2. Divide dough into two balls. Wrap separately and chill until cold, about 30 minutes.
  3. Roll dough between palms into 2 teaspoon balls, and place 1/2 inch apart on large baking sheet. Bake 18 minutes at 350 F.
  4. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cool cookies 5 minutes on baking sheet, then coat in cinnamon sugar.
  5. Transfer to a cooling rack, and cool completely before serving. Sift remaining sugar on top of cookies.

Golden mashed potatoes

1 3/4 lb Yukon gold potatoes, peeled
3 Tbsp butter
1 cup milk

  1. Cut potatoes into large 2-inch chunks; put potatoes into a large saucepan, covered by an inch of water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes until tender.
  3. Drain, and cook briefly over medium heat to dry out potatoes.
  4. Mash, adding butter and milk, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with gravy.

Pumpkin cupcakes

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup corn starch
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger, ground
1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp cloves, ground
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin

  1. In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and sugar until fluffy.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix eggs and vanilla into butter mixture. Gradually mix in the flour mixture and buttermilk.
  4. Mix in pumpkin until smooth.
  5. Add batter to greased cupcake tin, filling each 3/4 full. (Makes about 18.) Bake at 350 F about 20-25 minutes.
  6. Cool on racks, and top with maple cream cheese frosting.

Peach butter

2 lbs peaches
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

  1. Peel peaches. (Cut an X in the bottom of the peach, submerge in boiling water for 30 seconds, then in an ice bath for one minute, and peel.)
  2. Cut peaches into eighths, removing pits. Combine with water, and simmer near boiling, 15-20 minutes, until tender.
  3. Puree with food processor, and return to pot, adding sugar and lemon juice.
  4. Simmer near boiling, 30-40 minutes, stirring often, until a spoon leaves a train across the bottom of the pot.
  5. Let cool. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated.

Peanut butter cookies

1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, stir together peanut butter and sugar.
  2. Beat in the egg, baking soda, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
  3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheets, pressing down on the top with a fork.
  4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes, then remove from cookie sheets.

Buttermilk pancakes

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk, shaken

  1. Combine ingredients until smooth. Optionally, add vanilla extract and a pinch of sugar.
  2. Make pancakes.

Turkish tomato dip à la Mundy

2 tomatoes
1/2 tsp thyme, dried
1/2 tsp oregano, dried
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp mint, dried
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice

  1. Cut tomatoes in half, and grate into a medium bowl, holding the sliced end. Discard the skins.
  2. Add the remainder of the ingredients, and salt and black pepper to taste. Serve with hot, fresh bread.

Chocolate cake

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup (non-Dutch) cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter. Add brown sugar and sugar, and beat until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla.
  2. Sift in the remainder of the ingredients, and stir until well-blended.
  3. Pour into a buttered and floured loaf pan, and bake at 325 F for about 60 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan.

Roasted asparagus

1/2 bunch asparagus
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 lemon

  1. Place asparagus on a baking sheet lined with foil. Sprinkle spears with olive oil, minced garlic, and half the lemon’s zest.
  2. Bake at 400 F for 10 minutes, rotate spears, and bake 10 more minutes.
  3. Add remainder of lemon zest, and some lemon juice. Serve.