Pumpkin cake with pumpkin butter

On Halloween, pumpkin is mandatory. This cake is easy to make. Rather than using a fat-laden icing, I spread the top with pumpkin butter (no dairy in there!) and topped it all off with toasted walnuts. It made a beautiful and mouth-watering presentation. Unfortunately, it didn’t last very long! Enjoy!
Pumpkin cake with pumpkin butter
1 cup [...]

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Arugula ravioli with marinara sauce

I’ve never made ravioli from scratch, but this recipe inspired me. I didn’t really make it from scratch; I used the wonton wrapper method for my pasta, but the filling is definitely handmade. Most ravioli have either a cheese or meat base filling.  Which is why this filling appealed to me so much: with shallots, [...]

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Creamy risotto with edamame and spicy Italian chicken sausage

Food and Wine had a good sounding recipe that I only minimally adapted with the addition of spicy Italian chicken sausage. And, of course, dairy-free cheese. It was the first risotto recipe that I had seen that utilized beer along with chicken broth to help the arborio rice achieve its creamy texture. The results were quite [...]

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Feast your eyes at Presto Pasta Nights #86

The world’s greatest pasta festival is going on right now at Once Upon a Feast, and this week’s edition is simply wonderful.

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One year old!

Blogiversary~
It’s been exactly one year ago today that I started this blog. What began as an attempt to catalog recipes has turned into a passion for cooking combined with an evolving love of photography. I have “virtually” met a lot of interesting people along the way, in addition to meeting some very good cooks!
Blogging has [...]

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Edamame, slow-roasted tomato, and fennel salad

I really like the idea of this salad as an autumn dish. The slow-roasted tomatoes impart a deep and slightly smoky flavor, and provide a subtle sweetness that is nicely balanced with the fennel and the lemony dressing. I altered this slightly from the original, using soy mozzarella in place of the real thing. It’s [...]

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Minestrone pasta salad

This recipe appealed to me upon first read because I am a real minestrone fan. As usual, Martha’s recipes do not disappoint. The colors are vibrant and inviting; sautéing the vegetables imparts a deeper flavor to the whole dish, making this a really great fall salad. I altered this only slightly, including doubling the recipe. Enjoy!
Minestrone pasta [...]

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Walnut honey cake

This amazing cake recipe from Martha has no oil and no margarine. And it is as moist and dense as a cake can be. The secret? Applesauce and honey. A dark and delightful cake, with a glistening honey coating on top. The candied pansy on top is my addition. Enjoy!
Walnut honey cake
3/4 cup walnut halves
non-stick baking [...]

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Escarole and turkey meatball soup

From the currant-studded meatballs to the beautiful dark golden broth to the bright green and vibrant escarole, this soup was so enjoyable to make and behold. And to eat. Every ingredient and flavor worked perfectly together. Next time, I’m doubling this one – it’s a keeper. Enjoy!
Escarole and turkey meatball soup
2 slices of bread (I [...]

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Chocolate coconut sorbet

Here is a very chocolatey sorbet, made with a coconut milk base. Very rich, and, topped with toasted coconut, very good. Shout out to David Lebovitz’ The Perfect Scoop for a dairy-free creamy delight!

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