Almond Pound Cake with Peaches and Mascarpone Cream

Posted on August 11, 2012 by brosbottom

Peaches and cream are a celestial pairing, and make sublime garnishes to the almond pound cake featured here. The cream in this particular duo is extra special, enhanced by the addition of some mascarpone cheese, while juicy summer peaches are simply peeled and sliced.

Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour plus a touch of almond (from chopped nuts and extract) are all that are needed to assemble this delectable pound cake. It can be baked two days ahead and easily serves 12, making it an easy finale for a summer cookout for a crowd! Continue reading →

Summer Vegetable Galettes

Posted on August 4, 2012 by brosbottom

Mid to late summer is the season for exquisite produce at my local farmers’ market. There are bins at each stand brimming with vegetables in vibrant hues. This irresistible produce was the inspiration for the following recipe for savory vegetable tarts. The tart shells are made with purchased puff pastry sheets that are cut into squares. A creamy spread of goat cheese and Parmesan is smoothed over Continue reading →

Sunday Brunch by Betty Rosbottom

Posted on July 15, 2012 by brosbottom

Guess what’s in my basket this month—my newest book, Sunday Brunch, published by the wonderful people at Chronicle Books. This is the third in a series and follows Sunday Soup and Sunday Roasts. You’ll find a cornucopia of delectable dishes in this collection that should make you rush to the kitchen and invite friends over for brunch. There’s a chapter devoted to eggs–scrambled, pan-fried, poached, baked, or in omelets—and another that features Continue reading →

Salmon Burgers with Easy Remoulade Sauce and Watercress

Posted on July 11, 2012 by brosbottom

When July arrives, cooks everywhere know that it’s prime time for burger cooking. My husband, a devoted fan of any type of ground meat or fish patty cooked over an open fire, refers to this season as “burger heaven!”

Although I prepare my share of classic ground beef rounds and top them with grilled onions and good melting cheeses, I also love to try new creations like the delicious salmon burgers featured here.

Created by my friend and talented chef, Matt Sunderland, these burgers are especially light in taste since they are prepared with fresh salmon fillets that are roasted quickly, then Continue reading →

Blauw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Posted on July 8, 2012 by brosbottom

Blauw Amstelveenseweg 158-160, Amsterdam 1075 XN, The Netherlands, 020 – 675 50 00

Rijstaffel at Blauw in Amsterdam

I’ve been to Amsterdam at least a half dozen times, and although the Dutch capital now has a cornucopia of note-worthy Dutch and ethnic restaurants, I always opt for Indonesian fare. My husband and I adore rijstaffel (that translates as rice table), a spread of Indonesian dishes all served with rice. During a brief two-day visit last month, we went with several friends to a new Indonesian place called Blauw. Continue reading →

Potato Salad with Chorizo and Chives

Posted on July 4, 2012 by brosbottom

This potato salad is a new and delicious twist on tradition. Small red skin potatoes, boiled in their skins, then quartered, and chopped hard-boiled eggs form the base, and are accented by bits of chorizo, a smoked Spanish sausage available in many supermarkets. It is the chorizo with its subtle smokiness that makes this potato salad so distinctive. These three ingredients are tossed together in a mustard and shallot vinaigrette, then sprinkled with snipped chives. Continue reading →

Jacques Pépin in the Pioneer Valley

Posted on June 25, 2012 by brosbottom

Jacques Pépin Comes to The Pioneer Valley on July 9, 2012

Come and see Jacques Pépin and daughter Claudine Pépin; purchase Jacques’ new book, Essential Pépin and have it signed from 1 to 3 PM at the The Odyssey Bookshop. There will be special seating for book purchasers and VIP ticket holders. (Books from home can only be signed with a purchase at the event.) Tickets available at Odyssey Bookshop. Click here for all the details and to purchase tickets for A Gala Tribute to Jacques Pépin: A Chef for All Seasons at the Hotel Northampton, also on July 9, 2012. All proceeds benefit WGBY.

Markets of Paris Second Edition by Dixon Long and Marjorie Williams

Posted on June 15, 2012 by brosbottom

If you or your family or friends have a trip planned to Paris, you’ll want to purchase a copy of Markets of Paris Second Edition by Dixon Long and Marjorie Williams. First published in 2006, this paperback, with insider information on the legendary food, flea, antique, and other markets of France’s capital, has just been reissued with fabulous updates and additional information. Just the right size for travel, this petit livre with gorgeous photos, can easily be tucked into a purse, a tote, or a backpack. Organized by arrondissement, it’s also a snap to use. The authors lead you to Paris’ celebrated outdoor food markets Continue reading →

Grape Tomato and Blue Cheese Tart

Posted on June 11, 2012 by brosbottom

I’m delighted to feature a special recipe from the just published Sunday Brunch here today. This tart is simplicity itself to prepare and has been a long-time favorite with students in my cooking classes. The recipe (like all those in the book) includes metric equivalents—a help, I hope, to those cooking abroad. Continue reading →

Lemon Pudding “Cakes”

Posted on June 4, 2012 by brosbottom

Lemon pudding “cakes” are actually a cross between a pudding and a light, airy souffle-like cake. In the following recipe, you simply cream butter and sugar, and then add egg yolks, lemon juice and zest along with milk and a small amount of flour. Finally, you fold in beaten egg whites, and bake until the batter is set. When done, the pudding cakes seem to divide into two distinct layers, an airy cake-like layer on top and a dense rich pudding one on the bottom. They are heaven to eat either warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Continue reading →

Betty Rosbottom

Food Writer, Cookbook Author, Cooking Teacher

Author Archives: brosbottom