RECIPE: Oysters & Pearls

The great chef Thomas Keller, inventor of “Oysters and Pearls,” created a splendid first course with fresh-shucked oysters in a pearl tapioca sabayon, garnished with osetra caviar (today it’s domestic white sturgeon caviar, due to import restrictions). Here’s a video, here’s the recipe). Keller’s inspiration was a box on tapioca pearls he noticed on a…
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RECIPE: Decorated Macarons

Almost too pretty to eat (photo © Culinary Vegetable Institute).   Here’s something easy for Mother’s Day (or Valentine’s Day): a dessert or tea snack consisting of a single macaron, beautifully decorated. It’s from the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Ohio, where farmers grow the most glorious produce and chefs create wondrous dishes with it. You…
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GIFT: Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Cheesecake

Delicious cheesecake, sugar-free and gluten-free. Photo courtesy Cinderella Cheesecake.   For a cheesecake-loving mother who has given up sugar, here’s a find: sugarless cheesecake from Cinderella Cheesecake Company. It’s sweetened with maltitol, the finest-quality sugar substitute, and has a gluten-free cinnamon cracker crust. The classic-style cheesecake recipe also includes cream cheese, eggs, sour cream, natural…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Homemade Layer Cake

You can make this at home, topped with Callebaut Crispearls. Photo courtesy Sweet Street Desserts.   Nothing says love like a homemade cake: for birthdays, Mother’s/Father’s Day, graduation or or other special occasion. Whether you use a cake mix or measure from scratch, it’s fun to bake a cake. And it’s very much appreciated by…
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VALENTINE’S DAY: Drink Pink

Chandon California Rosé is a sparkling rosé wine that’s less than half the price ($24) of a French rosé Champagne. The company also makes Sparkling Red from Zinfandel ($30), Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé ($35) and Etoile Rosé ($50). Photo courtesy Chandon.   Heading out to the liquor store to pick up a bottle for Valentine’s…
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