Torta De Cielo (Mexican Almond Cake)

With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I've been seeing recipes for this traditional Mexican cake popping up on Pinterest and various food blogs. Based on the original recipe by Diana Kennedy in her book The Cuisines of Mexico (1972), this almond sponge cake recipe is quite simple to make.

Hey Everyone, Show Us Your Freezers!

So it's a gloomy, rainy day in New York city. That reminds me of one of my favorite old songs by the band Chicago - "Another Rainy Day in New York City." Anyway, I'm spending the day catching up on my blog reading and am seeing a few posts that include photos of people's freezers and refrigerators for various reasons.

Pasta with Sweet Italian Sausage

This past weekend was rainy and quite chilly in New York compared to the warm weather we've been enjoying. Oh well, the flowers need the rain and we got to enjoy a lazy weekend of cuddling, movie watching and puttering around the kitchen.

Southside Cocktail and a Guest Post

Today I'm guest posting over at Young Grasshopper. If you haven't already met Heidi, you'll quickly learn that she has a wicked sense of humor, juggles a challenging career, a husband and three kids while cooking, blogging and mixing up the cocktails. She has a particular fondness for gin and gave me the great honor of asking me to contribute a recipe for her "Gin-sanity" series. Well, how could I possibly say no to that?

A German Inspired Cheesecake

Did you ever see a photo or read a recipe for something that made you instantly know you will make that? That's how I felt when I saw Sofie, The German Foodie's blog post for German Cheesecake. I LOVE cheesecake! If it were appropriate to do so, I would list it under interests on my resume. I don't make it often because it's a calorie catastrophe but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Peanut Butter Biscuits for the Birthday Girl

This is Hadley, affectionately known to my blog readers as the furry sous chef. At various times, Brian and I also refer to her as doggie, puppy, mutsky, her royal muttness and the tail-wagger. Today she is also known as the birthday girl!

My Date with an English Scone and a German Foodie

Alice's Tea Cup Chapter III, 220 East 81st St., New York, NY 10028, 212-734-4TEA www.alicesteacup.com

This "chapter" of Alice's Tea Cup is only a few blocks from our apart- ment and I've always wanted to check it out. I am definitely a tea and scones kind of woman. Unfortunately, Brian is not a tea and scones kind of man. That plus the fact that the place always looked a little "delicate" for him to fold his 6'4" frame into. :)

Couscous Primavera Salad

Sometime during the first couple of months that Brian and I were dating, we'd spent a lovely summer day in Central Park and then stopped at Citarella (a large gourmet market with stores in Manhattan and the Hamptons) to pick up a few things for a light supper. Brian liked the look of a coucous primavera salad and was not disappointed when he tasted it.

Passover Prep - Countdown to a Seder

Brian and I traditionally celebrate Passover at his mother's house with both our families in attendance. She always cooks up a lavish, multi-course feast so that by the time everyone is done with dessert, they need to change into larger sized clothing for the trip home. That is, after we spend some time with our bloated bodies passed out on her living room carpet. Oy vey, thank goodness it falls on a Friday this year! :) I typically bring a dessert and a couple of side dishes. But whether I'm cooking to contribute to her Seder or just for the two of us during the days of Passover, here are some of my favorite recipes. Have a happy holiday, whatever you celebrate!

The Fluffiest Matzo Balls!

These delicate dumplings are so comforting and have always been at the top of my holiday favorites list. Last year I posted about my long held belief that my matzo balls were the best (see the post here) and about my unpleasant discovery that Brian's mother made them better. She claimed Crisco was the secret to fluffiness and I dutifully followed suit. The result was indeed softer than my previous recipe but I just didn't care for the taste and texture of that particular shortening.

Capturing the Color

Though spring officially began at the end of March, for me there's something about the first week of April that fully brings on the feeling. It's typically when the trees are flowering, enveloping us in their dazzling, albeit brief, beauty. Tulips spring up all over the city in a multi-colored show and restaurateurs set up their outdoor tables. Manhattanites adore being outside and any eatery with a sidewalk cafe license is sure to draw a crowd.