Vegetarian and Kosher

Not Your Grandmother's Fruitcake

A modern, flavorful version of fruitcake that is full of fruit-and-nut deliciousness.

Christine Silk

Dec 24, 20235 min read

How to Salt Eggplant

This technique of salting eggplant removes bitter compounds and improves the texture.

Christine Silk

Jan 24, 20233 min read

Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

A smooth, delicious soup that captures the flavors of fall. You can use any combination of winter squash, sweet potatoes or yams. It can...

Christine Silk

Oct 23, 20224 min read

Pizzelles: Italian Waffle Cookies Flavored with Lemon and Almond

Pizzelles are Italian waffle cookies, crisp and not-too-sweet. They pair well with ice cream and coffee.

Christine Silk

Sep 6, 20223 min read

The Cheddar-Dill-Onion Bread That Won an Award

This is a delicious, savory bread that won an award in 2007

Christine Silk

May 5, 20223 min read

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Custard

This diary-free pumpkin custard is every bit as delicious as pumpkin-pie, and is much easier to serve.

Christine Silk

Jan 26, 20222 min read

Tartiflette: Rustic Potato-and-Cheese Gratin, French-Style

A cheese-and-potato tartiflette is perfect for cold weather. About 20 ounces of potatoes (I prefer waxy potatoes for this dish, such as...

Christine Silk

Oct 11, 20213 min read

Potato Pancake with Poached Egg

The backstory follows the recipe. About 5 or 6 ounces (by weight) of shredded raw potato OR the same weight of leftover baked or boiled...

Christine Silk

Nov 12, 20203 min read

Cheese Triangles: Forget the Greek Word, Just Call Them Amazing

Savory phyllo triangles filled with four different cheeses are perfect with cocktails or as part of a Mediterranean meal

Christine Silk

Sep 25, 20203 min read

Queen of Hearts Strawberry Tart

This strawberry tart includes rhubarb compote and vanilla pastry cream -- a dessert fit for a queen.

Christine Silk

Jul 12, 20205 min read

Pot de Crème: The French Version of Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients: 250 g dark chocolate such as Lindt 70% (see below for suggestions) 150 g whole milk 350 g heavy cream 60 g sugar Optional: 1...

Christine Silk

Jan 30, 20203 min read

Rugelach: A Cookie Recipe from Pittsburgh

I met Muriel Fleishman at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, in the 1990s. I was a graduate student and she was a secretary to...

Christine Silk

Oct 22, 20195 min read

Award-Winning Peach & Cherry Coffee Cake

A friend of mine, who speaks several languages and learned English as an adult, once asked me whether "coffee cake" referred to a cake...

Christine Silk

Sep 24, 20195 min read

Chocolate Cupcakes, Dairy-Free

When you think of dairy-free cake, what comes to mind? Sponge cake? Margarine- or shortening-based cake? This version uses a combination...

Christine Silk

Sep 18, 20193 min read

Eggplant 101: How to Cook the Purple Globes

Eggplant is hard to cook correctly. Here's an easy method for succulent grilled eggplant that can easily become a vegetarian main course.

Christine Silk

Sep 4, 20193 min read

A Writer's Kitchen

Not Your Grandmother's Fruitcake

How to Salt Eggplant

Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

Pizzelles: Italian Waffle Cookies Flavored with Lemon and Almond

The Cheddar-Dill-Onion Bread That Won an Award

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Custard

Tartiflette: Rustic Potato-and-Cheese Gratin, French-Style

Potato Pancake with Poached Egg

Cheese Triangles: Forget the Greek Word, Just Call Them Amazing

Queen of Hearts Strawberry Tart

Pot de Crème: The French Version of Chocolate Pudding

Rugelach: A Cookie Recipe from Pittsburgh

Award-Winning Peach & Cherry Coffee Cake

Chocolate Cupcakes, Dairy-Free

Eggplant 101: How to Cook the Purple Globes