Leftover Gingerbread Berry Sundae

There are some leftovers that require a lot of creativity to use up, and then there are desserts, like the gingerbread in this Leftover Gingerbread Berry Sundae, which hardly require anything other than a fork. But maybe you wouldn’t have guessed that fresh berries are really good with fresh gingerbread? Or you want to turn a regular old delicious snack into an elegant guest-worthy dessert? Regardless of whether you saw this coming or not, I have to admit that I like the fresh gingerbread recipe that’s used to make gingerbread croutons for my Gingerbread Crouton Fall Panazanella so much, that sometimes I make the gingerbread on its own and never get to the croutons. It’s soft and spongelike, perfect for reheating and serving with vanilla ice cream or lemon sorbet. The spiciness of the cake is amazing against the sweet, bold flavors of fresh berries (a definite treat this time of year) make the fact that this Leftover Gingerbread Berry Sundae extra special. When you serve the Leftover Gingerbread Berry Sundae, you can leave off the “leftover” because there definitely won’t be any leftover gingerbread after you’ve made these, and it’s so good, that any negative associations with the word “leftover” will all but … Continue reading

Gingerbread Crouton Fall Panzanella

The inspiration for this Gingerbread Crouton Fall Panzanella comes from a spread I saw in a Williams-Sonoma catalog! quite some time ago, and I must say, I’ve never made the recipe as it’s written. I served it as the salad course on my Caribbean Thanksgiving Menu and it’s so good, it’s made it into my regular fall repertoire. I always make all dishes served at Thanksgiving vegetarian (except the main dish). When I have lots of guests coming, I try to make all of the food as accessible as possible, at least in terms of accommodating allergies and dietary restrictions, but tastes, not so much. It’s the Wild West in my kitchen and you just have to give it a try, right? When I decided to make the Gingerbread Crouton Fall Panzanella it was in no way an exception to the feed the vegetarians rule. The original calls for bacon, which I’m sure would be good, but I like it just fine without. The gingerbread croutons are very rich and when paired with pickled berries and onions, well, let’s just say there’s plenty going on. I will admit that I do salt the squash and even the arugula itself liberally, … Continue reading

Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Glaze

I really love citrus in the winter when it’s at its peak. Fortunately, my dear friend Elena and her mother try to keep me in citrus in the winter. I already have been gifted a big bag of limes and more recently some Meyer lemons, which her mom ships to us in Philly from her trees in Arizona. This cake is one of Marc’s favorite winter desserts and since it has a strong lemon flavor, it makes me happy too. It doesn’t seem sweet between the lemon and the molasses and the hint of spice from the ginger adds some intrigue. I made it a day ahead, so it would be ready for us after a long day out in the cold. It goes great with a dollop of crème fraîche or whipped cream and a cup of tea.  We had both while we watched the Rose Bowl and enjoyed a cozy fire. ½ cup butter (room temperature helps it along, but it will be fine if you start straight from the refrigerator) ⅔ cup hot water 1 cup dark molasses ¼ cup dark brown sugar 1 large egg 2 ½ cups flour 2 tablespoons cake enhancer 1 teaspoon baking … Continue reading