Recipes

Rich chocolate cream pie. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Rich chocolate cream pie

About once a year I indulge myself with chocolate cream pie, using someone’s potluck as an excuse to make one. This is a very rich… Continue reading

 

Tortilla “dry soup” ready to consume. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Tortilla ‘dry soup’ (sopa seca de tortillas)

This recipe is based upon one in an old Mexican cookbook I’ve had for ages. Over the years I changed it to make it a… Continue reading

 

Mary’s extreme bars, ready to slice. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Mary’s extreme bars

For at least 20 years, my sister Mary Watson has been making these cookies frequently, especially for her piano music recitals and music history classes.… Continue reading

 

Braised carrots with garlic and thyme, freshly cooked. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Braised carrots with garlic and thyme

When I was growing up, my parents never, ever served cooked carrots for dinner. Nor were they even mentioned as a possible vegetable option. They… Continue reading

Braised carrots with garlic and thyme, freshly cooked. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Just-baked cinnamon rolls ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Easy cinnamon rolls

My father really loved cinnamon rolls. In his later years I would make bargains with him in which he would make a repair for me… Continue reading

Just-baked cinnamon rolls ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
A bowl of gumbo. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Shrimp gumbo for Mardi Gras

I love gumbo. Several years ago I was lucky enough to go to New Orleans and sample it at many of their wonderful restaurants. I… Continue reading

A bowl of gumbo. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Cooked Chinese-style fried rice. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Chinese-style fried rice

At most of the Chinese restaurants I’ve eaten at over the years, the fried rice accompanying the meal is usually quite boring. You know that… Continue reading

Cooked Chinese-style fried rice. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Orange apricot muffins ready to eat. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Orange apricot muffins for breakfast

A few years ago when I had a bag of oranges and a half eaten bag of dried apricots, I thought a mixture of the… Continue reading

Orange apricot muffins ready to eat. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Caesar salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Restaurant-style Caesar salad

When I go to a fine restaurant and Caesar salad is on the menu, it is usually the first thing I order. When I was… Continue reading

Caesar salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Szechwan-style fish ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Fish Szechwan style

Ever since I started writing this column, I have debated whether to include this recipe which I have made for many years. Although complicated to… Continue reading

Szechwan-style fish ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Tortilla casserole ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Tortilla casserole with leftover turkey

This is a great way to use leftover turkey should you have any remaining from Thanksgiving. If you don’t, this casserole is very flexible in… Continue reading

Tortilla casserole ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Pumpkin cheesecake with a pecan crust being served. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Pumpkin cheesecake with a pecan crust

For those of you who struggle with trying to figure out how to bake pies and also put a turkey in the oven on Thanksgiving… Continue reading

Pumpkin cheesecake with a pecan crust being served. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Finished Mexican cornbread loaf with roasted green chiles and cheese. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Mexican cornbread loaf with roasted green chiles and cheese

Many years ago when I lived in Tucson, Arizona, I was lucky enough to have neighbors of Mexican descent who were great cooks. From them… Continue reading

Finished Mexican cornbread loaf with roasted green chiles and cheese. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Nine-hour pork roast ready for serving. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Nine-hour pork roast with crackling

For a few months now I have been craving an old-fashioned pork roast, one with the skin on that gets real crispy, sort of like… Continue reading

Nine-hour pork roast ready for serving. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Green salad with blackberries, pecans, pears and blue cheese. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Green salad with blackberries, pecans, pears and blue cheese

This is an unusual salad that I love to serve as a first course for a company dinner. The slight bitterness of the greens are… Continue reading

Green salad with blackberries, pecans, pears and blue cheese. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Sugar cookies in various flavors ready for serving. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Crisp sugar cookies with your choice of flavors

When I was about 14 years old I babysat for a very fine cook who gave me this wonderful sugar cookie recipe, one that I… Continue reading

Sugar cookies in various flavors ready for serving. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Curried rice artichoke salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Curried rice artichoke salad

One of my family’s favorite picnic salads is this one with curried rice and marinated artichokes. I originally got the recipe off the back of… Continue reading

Curried rice artichoke salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
A prepared ratatouille tart ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Recreating a ratatouille tart from a trip to southern France

The other day my sister Mary and I were reminiscing about our favorite things to eat when we were in the south of France (on… Continue reading

A prepared ratatouille tart ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Ingredients for cauliflower shrimp salad ready to prepare. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for pleasure: Cauliflower shrimp salad

I realize that this combination sounds a bit odd, but I’ve become quite fond of it. Many years ago in a now-defunct local restaurant, a… Continue reading

Ingredients for cauliflower shrimp salad ready to prepare. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Sockeye salmon in a red chile sauce, ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Sockeye salmon in a red chile sauce

Every summer I look forward to finding fresh sockeye salmon for sale in one of the local stores. Several years ago I happened to taste… Continue reading

Sockeye salmon in a red chile sauce, ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)