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    • Dinner
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  • Recipes
    • starters/first course
    • main courses
    • sides and salads
    • desserts
    • breakfast/brunch
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  • Inspiration
    • The art of the table, and knowing which rules to break
    • how many and how much? how to estimate the right quantities for any meal
    • seating…or who sits where?
    • mindfulness…practice it everyday at the table
    • The challenge of timing or how to flawlessly get everything on the table
    • thoughts about manners, table and otherwise
  • About
  • Contact
  • Menus
    • Dinner
    • Lunch
  • Recipes
    • starters/first course
    • main courses
    • sides and salads
    • desserts
    • breakfast/brunch
    • drinks
  • Inspiration
    • The art of the table, and knowing which rules to break
    • how many and how much? how to estimate the right quantities for any meal
    • seating…or who sits where?
    • mindfulness…practice it everyday at the table
    • The challenge of timing or how to flawlessly get everything on the table
    • thoughts about manners, table and otherwise
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Desserts

Ending a meal with a really good and sweet dessert is a plus.  If you like to bake then preparing a dessert can be a very satisfying experience.

But for many, baking is a real chore and there is no need to struggle.  Go to you favorite bakery and buy something decadent.

You can garnish and decorate any treat to make it your own by topping it with fresh whipped cream or fresh seasonal fruit, a dusting of cocoa or confectionary sugar.

baked pears with mascarpone cream & granola

Baking pears is a super easy dessert that is best right when all the luscious variety of pears are in season

Yotam Ottolenghi’s no churn raspberry ice cream

An ice cream that does not need to be mixed in an ice cream maker-- and you can use frozen raspberries!

lemon almond butter cake

This cake had me at lemon and almond but then add the word "butter" and you have a dream dessert.

brown sugar layer cake with cranberry buttercream

This recipe looks so delicious and it takes advantage of the fresh cranberries that are still in season.  If you are feeling ambitious, try to...

easy to make homemade granola- you’ll never buy it again

You’ll never make granola again after realizing how easy it is to create a delicious mix.  You can even experiment with different spices, nuts or sweeteners.  I make this every...

raspberry crostata

Do you like a slightly crispy crust that is not too rich and not too thick?  Here you go, this recipe is just right for you.  Often pie crust can...

orange lime olive oil cake

Any cake using olive oil rather than butter creates a dessert that feels more decadent.  Don’t get me wrong, traditional butter pastries reign high but...

Julia Child’s Berry Clafoutis

Is it a pancake, a crepe, a cake?  Clafoutis, pronounce klafuti, is delicious and a welcome change to other desserts.

Buttermilk marble cake

Can't decide between a vanilla or chocolate cake then this is the choice for you.  I adapted the recipe slightly from The New York Time's cooking website. 

Vanilla cake with orange cream cheese frosting

Sheet cake is often thought of for a big party, birthday or otherwise. But why? It is really no different than a regular layer cake...

Orange cream crêpe cake

Making a crêpe cake requires a bit of time and patience (and now I understand their high prices in retail).  But if you break the process up into two days,...

Lemon olive oil cake with blueberries and almonds

The bright beautiful fruit brings sunshine inside -whether you squeeze their juice into a cake, make a lemon sorbet or fill large bowls and vases to adorn tables.

strawberry cheesecake cupcakes

The "cheesecake" in the recipe is nothing more than cream cheese icing.  Rich and delicious icing that sits atop a fluffy vanilla cake containing fresh...

lemon tea loaf

I started making this cake many years ago for weekends in the English countryside. Making the cake using grams as the form of measure assures a super easy recipe. It...

Viennese crescent cookies

Another of my mother’s “famous” Christmas cookies.  These are melt-in-your mouth delicious because they are rather delicate.  I love the flavor of almonds with the dusting of confectioner’s sugar with...

Christmas tree pressed cookies

The Christmas season begins when my mother makes her “famous” Christmas cookies. As our family has grown, her quantities have increased and she freezes the...

Peppermint meringues

I love making meringues and these are ideal for the holiday season.  The little mouthfuls of sugar, egg white and a hint of peppermint are delicious and perfect for after...

vanilla coconut panna cotta with persimmons, oranges and pomegranates

I developed this recipe for an Indian dinner where I thought a creamy dessert with some type of coconut base would balance the  spiciness of the main meal. The topping...

Almond biscotti and half with mini chocolate chips

Pumpkin roulade with mascarpone and chocolate chip cream

I have been making this recipe for years, first finding the idea from Ina Garten's cookbook, Back to Basics.  I have adapted slightly with the use of a bit of...

Pumpkin bread with cinnamon crumble topping

When the weather begins to cool down, and the leaves are changing color, I start to crave anything pumpkin.  Pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin bread are all such wonderful...

Apple crisp bars

I was asked to bring a dessert to a friend’s house and she requested something with fruit.  I normally make Pavlova but given it was...

Portuguese Pastéis de Nata

These creamy little custard tarts can be eaten in two bites should you choose, but they are best slowly savored.  A quintessential Portuguese sweet, I was determined to make them...

chocolate fudge brownies with white chocolate chips

Delicious fudge-y brownies with the just the right amount of white chocolate chips.

A Pavlova topped with Cream and Fresh Fruit

I was introduced to this recipe at a friend's house by her 11-year old son!  He made the dessert and finished it off table side...

A tale of three summer fruits in pastry

Stone fruit is in its glory at the end of the summer….along with fresh figs.  When I see these fruits in the market my mind races with recipe ideas. Making...

luscious lemon olive oil ice cream

Lemon ice cream...it does not curdle, and it does not disappoint. 

Sliced oranges with cinnamon

I was first served this for dessert at a restaurant in Portugal.  At the time to me it was pure genius.  So simple and bringing...

Oh my, lemon & basil sorbet

When lemons are ripe in California, my friends know I love using them and send me dozens straight from their gardens – my sister Joanna’s from Sonoma, my friend Bernadette’s...

The perfect, classic chocolate layer cake

To end a meal with any type of chocolate creation – whether a cake, a mousse or some other treat – is heavenly.  This chocolate cake recipe is just right...

torta caprese – chocolate almond tart with orange whipped cream

What I love about a Torta Caprese, is that like so many Italian desserts, it is not too sweet, and the consistency of the cake...

a trio of mini desserts – ode to the sweet tooth

A super simple dessert that requires just a bit of imagination and some small size portions!  I think of this dessert for all those cooks who hate to bake… and...

the best ever key lime pie

Ahhhh….key lime pie is creamy and tart and creamy and delicious, and the recipe is a real showstopper. Making the pie could not be more simple, and the cookie crust...

apple of my pie – caramel apple pie

The first time I made this caramel apple pie was for an Easter lunch with my then boyfriend, and now husband, and his family.  I...

tres leches cake

Three milk cake, or Pastel de Tres Leches, is one of the most common cakes in Latin American.  Similar to mole, the cake recipe differs slightly by country and also...

rich vanilla bean ice cream (with pistachios)

For this recipe you need an ice cream maker and must follow the directions for how to use the machine. I love making ice cream.  There is something so satisfying...

butterscotch pot de creme

I’ll admit this recipe sounds complicated and rather fancy but despite the French sounding name, these “puddings” are relatively simple to make and delightful to...

let it crumble crumb coffee cake

Who doesn’t love crumb cake?  Maybe it is a little old fashioned but that’s what makes it even more wonderful and heartwarming.  The crumbly sugar, butter and cinnamon crust baked...

matcha cake with buttercream icing

I love the color and texture of this cake.  The recipe is straight from Real Simple without any modifications because it is perfect.

bright burst meyer lemon tart

I love baking but given the chemistry in the process, I rarely change a recipe I find.  Yes, I may add or change a spice,...

tiramisu di Alessandra

My very good friend Alessandra is from Padua, Italy and a fantastic cook.  Actually, both she and her husband, Luigi, are incredible hosts.  An invitation to dinner from them is...

all american chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are almost like vanilla ice cream, maybe considered a bit bland, not very creative and somewhat ordinary.  But not only do I love vanilla ice cream, I...

meringues with fresh cream and seasonal fruit

Meringues are always a crowd pleaser for adults and children alike. Meringues can be made with relative ease though many people feel they are complex

Barbara

Barbara

table&spoon is all about entertaining and bringing your friends and family around the table.

Born out of years in the hotel and restaurant industry, and love for entertaining, table&spoon brings you tricks, tips and the ‘art of the table’ to create more confident hosts.

And if you need advice with a party, from deciding a theme, to table settings and arrangements to menu selection, please contact me.

Buon appetito!
Barbara

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This has become one of my all time favorite dishes This has become one of my all time favorite dishes- miso chicken with leeks, broccoli, noodles in a chicken broth. It’s actually more of a floating main course because it is so full of ingredients and hearty in flavor.
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We made this last night in the table&spoon cooking club! Thanks to Jennifer for the picture!! 
Recipe now! Try it and don’t delay!

#misosoup #miso #feedfeed #f52grams #food52 #nytimescooking #whatsfordinner #asianfoodie #asianfood #ramennoodles #ramen #dinnerideas #dinnertime #dinnerrecipes #dinnerrecipes #buzzfoodfeed #foodies #foodie #foodstagram
Not everything on Instagram needs to be perfect? W Not everything on Instagram needs to be perfect? What do you think? We all post these incredible creative images that often make it look easy. But it is not and often there are many iterations leading to the final post.
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I have been trying to make ‘perfect’ donuts with my 13 year old son for the last two weeks. Inspired by our nightly binge watching of The Great British Bake Off @britishbakeoff, we have been working on our donut skills. And sadly it has not gone as well as our time and effort hoped. 

This morning my son was ready to give up (after getting up an hour early before school) but I said we will persevere and eventually get it right. And here is our post of this morning’s efforts. Not perfect, not inspiring but beautifully normal.  No recipe posted yet....
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If you have a good donut recipe please send! 

#britishbakeoff #donuts #donutsofinstagram #whatsforbreakfast #huffposttaste #food52 #f52grams #tablenspoon #buzzfoodfeed #feedfeed #yesws #cookingathome #notperfect #foodie #tastesogood
A healthy salmon bowl. Delicious teriyaki salmon b A healthy salmon bowl. Delicious teriyaki salmon baked with a sesame seed crust served over brown rice, pickled ginger and crunchy cucumber. Recipe up now!
Can’t decide what to have for dessert? Make a sm Can’t decide what to have for dessert? Make a smorgasbord of little delicious treats. Here I made individual tiramisu with homemade almond and chocolate biscotti along with dried fruits, fresh fruits and we cannot forget chocolates! 

We will not be celebrating New Years with anyone but the 5 of us this year and I’m thinking up ideas to make it fun, create interesting foods and most of all have us feel like we are truly celebrating (the end of a very interesting year).
 
Hope you’re finding ways to make your night special. 

Recipe for tiramisu on website.

#newyears2020 #dinnerideas #newyorktimescooking #yesws #husdsongrace #italiandesserts #huffposttaste #yahoofood #f52community #food52 #buzzfoodfeed #eatlocal
Looking for a super delicious and inspiring fish r Looking for a super delicious and inspiring fish recipe? This one is something that will get you excited from @sabrinaghayour.  Cod with tamarind, cilantro and fenugreek- Persian in flavors and universal in appeal! 

We made this as a quick fish in the table&spoon cooking club when exploring cuisine from Persia. The sauce is made from onions, turmeric, fenugreek, cayenne pepper and a touch of sugar then blended with tamarind paste and water.  The fish cooks quickly after the sauce simmers for just 15 minutes. You can’t help but enjoy powerful spices coating a delicate piece of cod.  Served over regular rice or a more traditional tahdig- that is prepared with a crispy top.  My oh my this was good! Join us as we explore new cuisines! 

#buzzfoodfeed #yesws #dinner #dinnerideas #foodiesofinstagram #foodies #huffposttaste #dinnertonight #dinnerpartyideas #yum #persianfood #cod #iranianfood #foodstagram #tablenspooncookingclub #nytimescooking #whatsfordinnertonight #foodiesunite
What makes beef stroganoff such a classic dish? We What makes beef stroganoff such a classic dish? We made this recipe from @nytcooking for the table&spoon cooking club. 
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Beef stroganoff is something that is not difficult to make despite its sophisticated reputation. I worried that maybe this would be too complicated to finish in our cooking club meeting which is 1.5 hours. But to surprise, the rich, creamy sauce tossed with mushrooms and beef that is poured over egg noodles is easy! 
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To offset the richness of the stroganoff, we made it with a green, green, green salad that added the perfect fresh crunch. Just what was needed for a family dinner.

What’s a classic dish you’d like to try?
Who likes cranberries? Well jump in to this cake w Who likes cranberries? Well jump in to this cake which does require a bit of steps but wow! The final results are delicious- and aside from a cranberry jam filling flavored with orange juice, zest and fresh ginger, the cake is made with brown sugar that adds caramel undertones. And to top it off there are sugared cranberries. Think they’re hard to make? These are not, just simple syrup and then a roll in caster sugar- there you have it! The recipe is from @nytcooking and was part of the last cooking club menu pack. The perfect holiday cake to celebrate!
It’s the time of year to make your peppermint me It’s the time of year to make your peppermint meringue kisses! One of my very favorite sweet Christmas treats- light, airy with a bit of crunch and a hint of peppermint. I like to give these as gifts- tucked into a jam jar, tied with a bright ribbon and a candy cane. 
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I’ve been making meringues and pavlovas for years. They are the ideal ending to most meals because they are light and sweet but never overpower or sit heavy in your stomach. You can break them up, mix with cream and fruit for an Eaton Mess, serve with a layer of ice cream and nuts or fold in air dried fruit into the egg white to add color and flavor. Let your imagination run wild as the combinations are endless.  Recipes posted on www.tablenspoon.com
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