Brie and Grilled Artichoke Tart with Pesto

Serves 4 or 6-8 appetizer portions Nothing says “You’re the best, Mom” like brunch… Parenting is such hard work, now more than ever, this year, if you happen to be sheltering in place with Mom, embrace staying in and do it up big! For this special day, treat her to a fabulous brunch spread or…

Framboise Chocolate Torta

Serves 10-12 Framboise chocolate torta is a European-style cake that is extremely moist with deep chocolate notes that conspire with Framboise (raspberry liqueur) and fresh raspberry purée then draped with a chocolate butter glaze. This is a chocoholics dream which is why I always make it for Valentines Day for Timothy. I recommend using artisanal…

Chocolate-Caramel Pecan Sandies a.k.a Shortbread Cookies

Lovers of pecan sandies a.k.a. pecan shortbread cookies will love and adore these crisp, buttery treats that are a cinch to put together. One of the ultimate holiday treats which always makes for beautiful delicious packaged holiday gifts. Sandwiched between 2 of these buttery treats is a dollop of chocolate-caramel or, if you prefer you…

Pecan Chocolate-Caramel Tart

Serves 12-14 Pecan chocolate-caramel tart is a pâte sucrée crust (shortbread cookie crust) filled with pecans enrobed in a homemade chocolate-caramel sauce. It’s kinda like a premium candy bar with the chocolate-caramel coated pecans set in the buttery, sweet shortbread crust — which is to say perfect! The crisp texture and buttery flavor goes perfectly…

Pâte Sucrée

(Rich, Sweet Shortcrust Tart Pastry) Pâte sucrée is fussy, difficult to work with and sensitive. Having said that, I will add this: it also makes a dynamite tart crust! It is buttery, sweet and tender, like a good shortbread, and is perfect with fruit tarts. Don’t even try to roll it out – just press…

Deep Caramel-Chocolate Sauce

Makes 3 cups Caramel and chocolate is a wonderful marriage made in dessert heaven. For depth of flavor caramelizing the caramel to where you think it’s about to burnt is what you want. Also selecting premium bittersweet chocolate in the 68% – 70% is key, I use Valrhona (available at TraderJoe’s) Scharffen Berger or Lindt….

Meyer Lemon-Lavender Tart with Rich Nut Tart Crust

Sweet and juicy, Meyer lemons are prized by chefs and loved by home cooks. The Meyer lemon has always been something of a California secret, and every year when its brief growing season begins in early Spring, eager cooks passionately seek them out. The Meyer lemon is not as assertive as the common supermarket varieties,…

Rich Nut Tart Pastry

This is a very rich and flavorful pastry, perfect for frangipane tarts, fresh fruit tarts and tarts with plain chocolate or mousse fillings. As with all pastry recipes, all the ingredients should be as cold as possible, and the dough must be given sufficient time to rest and chill between steps. 1 10 TO 11-INCH…