Bruschetta (broo-SKET-uh), as you might suspect, is an Italian dish. It does not refer to the topping, however, but to the grilled bread. The word itself owes its origins to the 13th Century word “brusare,” which referred to the act of passing a flame over the keel of a boat to aid in waterproofing. A few centuries later, the word evolved to the Latin word “bruscare,” and came to mean to toast.
All of which is to say that bruschetta …
When I first started cooking, the first effort was just that – a rough, initial effort to make something edible. If things went awry, it was helpful to have ingredients in reserve. So I got in the habit of stockpiling my cooking ammunition. If a recipe called for a cup of something combustible, I tried to have an extra cup (or two) on hand.
But as my learning curve has progressed,…
Sunday pancakes are a bit of a family tradition. I can remember Dad yelling “PANCAKES” and all of us rubbing the sleep out of our eyes, and running down the stairs to plates full of warm, stacked pancakes. The first one down could usually claim the Sunday comics, and first dibs on the syrup. Brothers being brothers, we also competed to see who could out-eat the others. Fortunately, I think Dad usually ran out of batter.
Last week, a co-worker brought in a pumpkin pie – a real pumpkin pie, she noted. Not one of those …
Making your own pumpkin puree is fun and relatively simple. Two pumpkins will give you enough puree to last you through the winter, and is infinitely better than anything out of an orange can. To make the puree, be sure and choose a pie pumpkin; a carving pumpkin will not work! Pie pumpkins – unlike their carving cousins – are smaller …