If I had to guess, I’d bet that in the week before Thanksgiving, more home cooks will pull out rolling pins and pie plates for baking than at any other time of the year. Pumpkin, pecan, apple, pear, cranberry… the choices are endless. Our family might indulge in a pecan tart or a cherry galette every now and then, but our quintessential favorite, always on the menu, is the classic pumpkin pie. This year I pulled out a recipe I created quite a few years ago and updated it with a few changes. Continue reading →

Almost 20 years ago, during one of my and my husband’s working trips to Paris, a neighbor  arrived at our apartment door around noon one day with a warm Camembert and potato tart for us to sample. An excellent cook, she loved sharing her creations with others. The tart was delicious so I quickly asked for the recipe. Soon after I featured the luscious creation in one of my syndicated columns and included it in several of my cooking classes. But as Continue reading →

Recently, searching for a quintessential autumn dish to demo for my monthly cooking segment on “Mass Appeal,” a weekday show airing on our local NBC affiliate, I found a recipe for apple chutney in my cookbook, Sunday Roasts. In a heartbeat, I knew that this simple condiment would be perfect for my October cooking spot. Although it makes a delicious counterpoint to roast pork or chicken, and complements grilled kielbasa or turkey burgers well, I decided to use it to embellish my favorite grilled cheese sandwiches. Continue reading →

Since we live in a college town (there are 3 colleges in Amherst and two more in neighboring communities!), many of our friends are away during the summer when school is out. Labor Day is the magical date by which everyone has returned, so this year my husband and I have invited two couples we have not seen in months for a casual supper during this holiday weekend.

Our farmers’ market is at its peak right now so planning the menu was a dream. For openers I’m making golden corn cakes topped with swirls of Continue reading →

Bonjour tout le monde Hello everyone,

We’re using our French because we have some exciting news to share! Next August (2024), The Baker’s Pin is moving for 10 days to France where we’ll be taking a fabulous Tauck river boat cruise. Called “Savoring France: Paris, Lyon, and Provence,” this trip is tailor-made for foodies who love France. It begins with two days in Paris, and continues in Lyon, considered one of France’s premier food cities, where we’ll board a luxurious riverboat to travel down the Rhône to Arles, Avignon, and the Camargue in Provence. (Click here and tap the download button at the bottom of the page to see the full brochure of this trip.)

What makes this trip so special are the many culinary events Tauck has included. In Paris, you’ll have reserved places for a private pastry class at the Cordon Bleu (where Julia Child did her studies) and enjoy a welcome Continue reading →

My spouse, who loves shellfish, often orders oysters on the half shell, splurges on Maine lobster, and savors clams in creamy chowders. But other popular fish—think salmon, cod, and haddock, for example—are not among his favorites. To entice him to try these fin fish, I typically serve them cooked with robust seasonings as in the following recipe for Grilled Salmon Continue reading →

During the pandemic, my entertaining (if you can call it that) was limited to my family or a small number of friends. I searched for recipes that served 2 to 4, and occasionally 6. Fast forward to today. Post pandemic, at our house, we’re happy to host larger gatherings. In April we planned a buffet for 12, and in June we invited a group of 10 for Sunday brunch. Recently, I created a special dessert for larger gatherings–an orange-scented roulade with Continue reading →