Pizza Redux: From Crust to Filling

By Katie Barreira

A few weeks back, we stretched pizza dough and ever since, that beautiful, but lonely crust has vexed me like a hanging chad. So here’s a hearty pizza topper the will fill up winter bellies and empty crusts, along with the best technique for baking crisp crust at home if you don’t have a pizza stone.

Super Baa-d Pizza
I love the rich, mildly gamey flavor of lamb meat. Pair it with a smooth and tangy sheep’s milk cheese and you’ve got a double delicious pizza.

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Easy Holiday Tips from the Georgia Governor’s Mansion

Holly Chute was expecting 1,000 people for cookies and cider last night. And with more guests over the next two weeks, she will be baking 20,000 this holiday season.

Holly is the Executive Chef of Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal. And Sunday was the tree lighting ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion, with cookies and hot and cold cider for all. Whether it’s for a large public function as this or an official state dinner, Holly knows a thing or two about entertaining.

She has cooked for royalty including Prince Philip and Princess Anne of the United Kingdom, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Prince Hassan of Jordan; Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton; many governors; and entertainers like musician Joe Cocker and comedian Jeff Foxworthy.

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How to Ice Cookies

By Allison Kociuruba

‘Tis the season and like many of you, I can’t wait to make holiday cookies for gifts (and to satisfy my sweet tooth). If you liked my simple methods for decorating sugar cookies from a couple weeks ago, check out this more advanced technique. Learn how to make royal icing and create cookie creations straight out of a bakery window. It’s easy to do with a little time, patience and lots of confectioners’ sugar!

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A Persian Feast

By Marilyn Hunter

Not every home cooked meal has to be eaten in our own home. Last night we went to our friend’s apartment for a Persian Feast. Her apartment is no ordinary place; rather it’s perched on a high floor of a skyscraper with spectacular views of the ocean, mountains and downtown city lights of Los Angeles.

Sweet spices, fragrant rice and roasted meats wafted down the elevator shaft for a delicious welcome long before we arrived on her floor. Persian meals are well-balanced affairs with salad, vegetables, piles of fresh herbs, pickles, walnuts, feta cheese and of course the famous rice dishes.

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After the Feast: Roasting Root Vegetables

By Lori Powell

Time to embrace the art of roasting roots. And what better way to celebrate the veggie pickings – small beets and turnips – found on the last day of the Hellertown Farmer’s Market in Pennsylvania?

Our Thanksgiving feast featured turkey three ways (brined breast and legs, whole stuffed turkey and turkey roulade), homemade creamed onions, mashed potatoes, stuffing two ways…and more. Then the desserts! All of that turkey day goodness leaves me with a hankering for simply prepared vegetables.

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