Author: CookDiaries

Desserts

Nectarine and Berry Parfaits

There are breakfast parfaits with layered fruit and yogurt, and then there are dessert parfaits like this with crumbled cookies, slightly sweetened whipped cream and seasonal fruit. Here, the whipped cream gets a boost from mascarpone and lemon zest. If you don’t wish to use orange-flavored liqueur, substitute 1 or 2 tablespoons of orange blossom […]

Dinner & Lunch

Chicken Balsamic

The delicious sauce for this simple and hearty chicken recipe calls for demi-glace, which is a rich, concentrated brown sauce made by combining veal stock and espagnole sauce (one of the five mother sauces of classic French cooking). Although demi-glace is made by chefs in professional kitchens regularly, it’s lengthy process discourages most home cooks. But never fear, […]

Pasta

Pesto alla Trapanese

There are numerous variations on pesto today, such as garlic scape and cilantro-packed pesto, but there’s also a lesser-known ancient take on pesto: pesto alla Trapanese. The sauce is made with garlic, salt, cheese, herbs, olive oil, vinegar and almonds.  Notes Note: If tomatoes are in season, replace the canned and sun-dried tomatoes with 1 1/2 cup garden-fresh tomatoes. Ingredients […]

Cream of Crab Soup
Soups & Salads

Cream of Crab Soup

Cream of crab soup is as common in Maryland as clam chowder is along the New England coast, and it can be seen on menus at eateries all around the Chesapeake Bay region. There are many different recipes for this soup, but the most delicious ones are the plain, uncomplicated ones that highlight the sweet, […]

Classic Baltimore Rainbow Cake
Party Bites

Classic Baltimore Rainbow Cake

A rainbow cake is a multi-layered, vibrant cake that’s typically baked for weddings and other special events. The cake gets its name from the vivid colors it has, which are produced by incorporating food coloring into each layer’s batter. Typically, the colors of a rainbow consist of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. […]

Sriracha Aioli
Dinner & Lunch

Sriracha Aioli

Introduction: Elevate Your Culinary Game with Homemade Sriracha Aioli Looking to add a punch of flavor to your dishes? Look no further! In this article, we’ll guide you through crafting a delectable Sriracha Aioli that will elevate your culinary creations to new heights. This versatile condiment pairs perfectly with everything from crispy fries to grilled […]

Soups & Salads

Potato Salad Niçoise

Elevate your traditional potato salad recipe with this French twist. Enjoy a lighter side of this mayo heavy dish. Add olives, tuna, green beans and more to this savory salad to create a Niçoise-inspired salad.  This recipe is by Marissa Conrad and was originally published in the cookbook, “Summer Cooking: Kitchen-Tested Recipes for Picnics, Patios, Grilling and More,” […]

Bread

Black Russian Rye Bread

Simplicity is part of the reason home-baked dark rye breads are so good. Traditionally, black breads and pumpernickels were baked overnight, using the residual heat of the oven, and get their distinctive color from a long, slow caramelization of the bread itself in the oven. Short-cut commercial ryes get their hue from caramel colorings and are […]