Author Archives: christinanifong

Better Than Ever Biscuits

I have made my own from-scratch biscuits for years but I’ve never been really happy with them (I feel the same about pie crusts). They were … fine. But never as fluffy or decadent as I dreamed they could be. So I began searching for help. Tips. New techniques. Whatever it took. And one ofContinue reading “Better Than Ever Biscuits”

Cookie Fever

  Honestly, I’m not sure what’s gotten into me. It’s June and my garden is up and growing. I’ve got leafy greens winding down, raspberries coming in, zucchini flowers begging for me to sauté them. But somehow I keep reaching for my large mixing bowl and reflexively softening two sticks of butter. Yes, it’s cookie-making that keepsContinue reading “Cookie Fever”

Panda Bear Cookies

These brownie-like treats were staples of my childhood, made from my mother’s favorite cookbook, Farm Journal’s Best Ever Recipe Book. Their dark dough with confectionary sugar patches has led my kids to call them “Panda Bear Cookies.” My mom’s cookbook names them “Chocolate Macaroons,” but these days that means something entirely different. Whatever you call them, knowContinue reading “Panda Bear Cookies”

Mexican Wedding Cookies

  I have adored these dainty treats for years but never gotten around to baking them myself. When my kids needed sweets for Spanish class fiestas, it was time to give them a try. I had recently tasted a friend’s batch of Mexican Wedding Cookies. When she said she’d made them from a Mark Bittman recipe, I knew IContinue reading “Mexican Wedding Cookies”

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

We all love oatmeal cookies at our house — the combination of chewy and crunchy, sweet and hearty. But raisins? Well, not so much. Some of us like raisins. Others prefer chocolate chips and after years of splitting my batch and making separate stacks of two different versions every time I made oatmeal cookies, IContinue reading “Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies”

Salad Days

  There’s been a stretch of hot here in Southwest Virginia and it’s spelling the end of what has been a wonderful few months of salad eating. We had red leaf lettuce from our cold frame in the chill of March and since late April we’ve been eating from a beautiful bed of mixed lettuces and endive, arugula andContinue reading “Salad Days”

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

I love a good honey mustard dressing. This one is a little less sweet and a little less creamy than those you might find in a restaurant. But the oil and vinegar make it pair especially well with fresh veggies. Feel free to stir in some from-the-garden herbs (oregano? basil?) dried or fresh to add yet anotherContinue reading “Honey Mustard Vinaigrette”

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

  This dressing is thick and creamy and best when it’s filled with fresh local herbs. It’s a more decadent, flavorful version than what you’ll find on your grocery store shelves. But that’s exactly why it’s worth making from scratch. Makes 2 cups Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup buttermilk (I use a local dairy that bottlesContinue reading “Buttermilk Ranch Dressing”

Poppy Seed Dressing

  This dressing is my absolute favorite for spring and fall when my salads consist mainly of leafy greens, herbs, tender peas and often even berries. The sweet complements the delicate flavors of the fruits and veggies and the vinegar provides just enough kick to keep things interesting. This is also a nice coleslaw dressing and would beContinue reading “Poppy Seed Dressing”