My grandmother makes food that is proof of the goodness of simplicity. She doesn’t fuss around with trendy ingredients or laborious techniques. Instead, she does everything with the careful precision that comes from her years of experience, and pays attention to even the minutest details, both of which result in dishes that are nothing short…

You know those cookies that go with a glass of milk? And they’re so insanely rich and chewy that you eat them right out of the oven although they’re scalding hot? Oh, and they’re just about the easiest thing to make ever? Well, these are it. 1 cup creamy peanut butter, not natural 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar…

During winter, there’s nothing more comforting than a cup of hot cocoa. Of course, that can only be improved by a couple of additions, such as whipped cream and peppermint. Double-boiling the milk (a tip I acquired from Jacques Torres, the acclaimed “Mr.Chocolate”) makes the cocoa rich and velvety, perfect for sipping in front of a…

I remember the first time I tasted lemon bars. I was a kid, and my mom had made them (along with a host of other desserts) for my dad’s birthday. As a kid, I had a hard time appreciating the delicate, yet wonderfully tart lemon flavor. But today, there’s nothing I love more than a…

Although lately I’ve been into fruit based desserts (some here and here), I’ll be honest and admit that nothing can ever take the place of chocolate. Whether it’s a square of dark, satiny, 70 percent or a sweet, milky truffle, I’m really not picky. (The only exception is that I can’t stomach white chocolate, but…