Laura Rebecca's Kitchen

Lemon Sugar Cookies that were rolled and patted before baking. These cookies, from the Hay Day Country Market Cookbook and made for the WCC, are very good: buttery with a bright citrus flavor. The bottoms are bit crisp – a gentle crunch – with the insides featuring a softer and chewier texture. Having said that, […]

Strawberry Freezer Jam (left) and Traditional Strawberry jam. I’ve shied away from making jams. Buying the jars, lids, and the special pots, measuring out the fruit, working with the pectin, sterilizing everything, timing the whole process — yikes. It just seems like a whole lot of trouble for something to smear on toast. But yesterday […]

Taken at Baker Park, Canandaigua, NY following the soccer game.(Photo Credit: Shane) Last Friday was Kian’s first game in his traveling soccer league -– a lovely league, as the traveling is, at most, 25 miles. (That, and I avoid all the parents at the game who can’t open their mouths but to brag about their […]

Sadie’s second grade class is a cornucopia of parties, games, and field trips. Sure, they’re forced to do work between recess, but by and large, it’s a fun place to be. Her teacher is nice, the kids are nice, the school is nice. Today, her class is having an end-of-the-year breakfast party, catered by parents […]

Just before I popped it in my mouth. This is based upon a Cook’s Illustrated recipe that I found and lost a number of times. As a result, I have a vague recollection of the original recipe and now just wing it. It’s delicious, if I do say so myself. One note: there’s no cilantro […]

On Tuesday evening, Shane and I returned from a fast trip to New York (City). We were there to catch a taping of The Colbert Report and, let me just say, it was FABULOUS. We had so much fun. I was a big fan before but now, I’m a colossal fan. (Incidentally, tonight’s Colbert Report […]

Photo courtesy of KraftFoods.com A few weeks ago, an old friend from high school mentioned his experience going on a field trip with his son’s class. Normally mild-mannered, in the company of 20 other 8 year olds hepped up on Capri Sun, Chips Ahoy, and sheer I’m-not-at-school excitment, his son was bouncing off the walls. […]

For the Weekend Cookbook Challenge, I turned to a simple dish from the homegrown (and published) Fall Favorites Cookbook 2005. Sure, I’ve done a lot of tomato-basil recipes lately, but the weather is warmer and I can’t get enough of them. They’re fresh and summery. This is a simple meal, great for a hot day […]

Sometimes, you just don’t have the time — or inclination — to create something extravagant. Fortunately, this time of year is perfect for understated cooking. The fresh produce speaks for itself. Two notes: make this salad shortly before serving (perhaps 20 minutes) and don’t refrigerate the tomatoes; doing so saps their flavor. Simple Tomato Basil […]

On Friday evening, Shane & I officially put our house up for sale. A few hours later, we had two separate parties asking to see the house the next day. Saturday morning, Shane ran around like a chicken with its head cut off cleaning the house, taking stuff to storage, etc., etc., where I was […]