Laura Rebecca's Kitchen

These are the easiest, and one of the tastiest, little treats you can make. You can whip up a huge batch in under 10 minutes, and if you bring them to a party, people will love you. There’s something about the combination of salty, crunchy pretzels, paired with chewy marshmallows and the sweetness of chocolate […]

Once again, Lis from La Mia Cucina and Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice have teamed up to host La Festa al Fresco. The event is a celebration of fresh, seasonal (and preferably local) ingredients. Such a good idea, no? So, armed with plenty of zucchini from my neighbors’ garden plus 2 lbs of fresh, […]

Written Saturday at 10:05 p.m.: I have to bring a side to a picnic tomorrow, and all out of energy (Kian’s birthday party was today and it was great, but we’re exhausted, especially me, and I’ve got the I’m-tired-bitchies — anyone looks at me crosseyed and I’m ready to rip their head off — along […]

This is a slightly adapted muffin recipe and, if I do say so myself, they came out very nicely. The flavor is gently sweet with a nice contrast between the warm, spicy cinnamon notes and the bright and fresh flavors from the raspberry jam. The crumb is tender and moist and the sugar topping even […]

My great-grandmother, Margaret Mulligan née Cummins, emigrated from Ireland when (as family lore has it) she was 14. She left her parents, never to see them again, crossed the Atlantic, went through Ellis Island and resided with some not-so-nice family members in New York. She got married to an Irishman in New York who –yes– […]

I don’t know how this bottle of dried lavender got into my cabinet, but it needed to be put to good use. And, as the snow continues to swirl, and the temperatures continue to dip, I needed to remind myself of seasons — warmer, sunnier seasons — that aren’t winter. So I found a recipe […]

Vanilla Garlic is hosting a Cupcake Round-up — such a good idea! Cupcakes are so lovely: petite and beautiful, who doesn’t love a little cake topped by a swath of rich frosting and a few sprinkes? But sometimes you’re not in the mood for something light and sweet, but something a bit denser and spicy. […]

‘Tis the season to be a lazy — no, let’s use a better term — efficient cook. With kids jingle-belling, and everyone telling you to be of good cheer, there really isn’t much time to do any cooking other than roasting those marshmallows. But there’s always a need for last-minute gift, and making them in […]

This is Carolyn’s recipe, which I had the fortune to taste when her daughter, Kathryn, recently made it. It was delicious – sweet, spicy, packed with flavor. Mine isn’t as flavorful, and I think it’s because I forgot to put in the vanilla. (Yeah. Oops.) It’s still very good, just not as delicious as Carolyn […]

There are a number of joys involved with teaching at MCC. The students are (by and large) interested in learning. The faculty is committed to teaching. The department chairs stick up for their staff (!!!). Employee morale is high. The campus center is alive with student life. And there are cereal bars and Starbucks* coffee. […]