Cookie Butter Hot Cocoa Ice Cream Floats

During one of my visits to London, we stayed at a little hotel a bit off the main areas. It wasn't fancy but it had a minibar that included speculoos cookies. It was my first time trying them and I don't remember which brand they were but I definitely remember the cookies. They were sweet and spicy, crispy and definitely went well with my pot of tea. I thought about them for a while when I came home but didn't see them in my market so eventually forgot. Until...

Friday Flashback: Roasted Autumn Vegetable Pot Pie

Pot pies have always been high on my list of cool weather comfort foods. In this version, I took advantage of autumn vegetables and pre-roasted them to maximize their flavor. Then I encased the creamy sauce in both a top and bottom layer of pastry for a big bowl of happy comfort. Enjoy!

Click here to read the original story and get the recipe.

Cream Cheese Rugelach Cookies

Rugelach, traditional Jewish cookies, and I go way back. They're pretty much a staple at every Jewish family gathering and certain people who are very close to me are positively obsessed with them. So much so that many pilgrimages were undertaken to find the best bakery version. The winner, I was informed, was Zabar's. You might have noticed that I'm a pretty capable baker so why, you ask, didn't I just bake them myself? I don't like them. Horrors! A Jewish girl who doesn't like rugelach.

Mississippi Mud Pie, New Hampshire Style

I'm gearing up for a nervous breakdown. It's not here yet but I expect it to hit in about a week and it will probably require more than chocolate desserts to deal with. My best friend, Denise, is moving away. We've been together most of our lives, been through many of our "firsts" together, every joy, every broken heart, crushing disappointments and soaring achievements. And I don't know how to do without her. And don't tell me she's just a phone call or plane ride away because it's not the same.

Apple Gin Fizz

This recipe was sponsored by Sweet N Low and Social Stars. Thank you for supporting the products I love and use in my kitchen.

Is that a nip I feel in the air? OK, by nip I mean the temperature has dropped from the upper 80's to the low 80's this week. Yes, New York's summer is holding on but I hear good things about temperatures dipping into the frigid 70's by next week! And just in time for the first day of fall. Let's celebrate!

Spiced Banana Crumb Cake

The other day my mother dropped by and asked what I was baking that smelled so good. When I told her I had a banana cake in the oven she laughed and said that was no surprise since banana always was my favorite flavor. And she's so right. They've been my "thing" since I was a baby.

Maple Bacon Shortbread Cookies

I love sweet and salty combinations and desserts that are also slightly savory. There's just something so interesting about certain flavors together like the sweetness of good maple syrup and the savory saltiness of bacon. Baked together in a shortbread cookie, the two make an amazing treat. And since shortbread is another of my favorite things, I was pretty happy when these came out of the oven.

Friday Flashback: Pasta with Cauliflower Ragu

This recipe was a long time in coming. A recreation of a wonderful restaurant dish that remained on my to-do list for several years before I tackled it. So silly because it's not complicated, completely delicious and, at long last, a regular favorite at my house. Enjoy!

Click here to read the original story and get the recipe.

Roasted Tomato Pastry Puffs

Lately I've been getting excited about trying new wines. Let's be clear that I'm no oenophile. I routinely walk into a liquor store, packed with different wines from floor to ceiling, and make a beeline for any label that looks vaguely familiar and doesn't cost more than my rent. I swear I need a store with cue cards. Little signs everywhere that tell me what to look for or at least what to ask for. So any tip is useful to me and today I have a tip for you. Garnacha wines. Spanish wine, Mediterranean grapes, reasonable price, tastes good, goes with almost everything. Now isn't that easier?

The Month in Review - August 2015

Happy Labor Day, happy September and happy almost fall. It's true that I'm never one to rush summer out the door but August was unusually hot and I'll admit that I'm a little over it. And I love everything about fall, except the fact that it's followed by winter! Still, while August may have been a little oppressive, it certainly was delicious. And we managed to beat the heat with a lot of cool cocktails. The Hungry Couple kitchen is going to be pretty fall fabulous soon so let's take a quick look back at the deliciousness of August. Enjoy!

Summer Friday Flashback: Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies

Every Friday this summer I'm going to treat you to a blast from the past. I've chosen some of the best recipes from the past few years to highlight because I love making them over and over again. Enjoy!

I first made these cookies to combine my obsession with shortbread and my love of the toothy texture of cornmeal in baked goods. The lemon zest gave them a wonderfully fresh citrus tang without the harshness of extracts and these cookies disappeared in record time!

Click here to read the original story and get the recipe.

Fig Galette with Goat Cheese and Thyme

It's September! And the weather is finally....um...well, still hot as hell. I seriously don't remember the last time we had such a warm end of summer. Oh well, I'm sure it'll be chilly soon enough and I'll be complaining that I don't like winter. But I am sort of ready for fall.