Good Things by David

Anyone in need of a pick-me-up would probably appreciate a good chiffon cake made with lots of fresh citrus.  Chiffon cakes are classified under the sponge cake family, just as angel food and jelly roll cakes are.  What sets them apart from other cakes is that they don't contain any butter whatsoever, and the fact that they are baked in ungreased cake pans so that the batter can cling to the sides during baking. They are immensely delectable, delicate and very easy to make.  I find them to be the ideal choice for weekend get-togethers, a birthday luncheon or for those occasions when a little sweetness is in order. I recently turned to a Martha Stewart recipe that I hadn't tried before but had noticed in several of her publications.  Intrigued by the recipe's use of freshly-squeezed orange juice, orange and lemon zest, I decided to have a go at this scrumptious cake. A variation of the cake covered in a Swiss Meringue icing, much like a lemon meringue pi...

Many of you are familiar with the iconic Martha by Mail spice rack that was available through the catalog back in the late 90s.  I wrote about  the one in my kitchen   several years ago, and quite a few collectors that I know of were fortunate enough to have bought one when they were available. People continue to enjoy those beautiful spice racks in their kitchens to this day! They are timeless, heirloom-quality pieces that will continue to be collectors items due to their beauty and fine craftsmanship. I thought that the seventy-spices rack was the last word on spice organization, but I was proven wrong fairly recently.  About month ago, a friend of mine from the midwest commissioned an even larger rack to accommodate the spices that he frequently uses in his catering kitchen (above), from craftsman and friend, Nick Stein. The finished rack is nothing short of exquisite with its twelve shelves, one hundred and fourteen custom-labeled spice tins made to look ...

Antique shops are alive and well in Southern California.  A cluster of them can be found at The Orange Circle in Orange County, California, all within a block of each other.  It's a place which I had been told about in the past by several individuals, but had never visited until recently while on vacation. I'm so glad I finally made it to this area because it is a true shopper's dream come true for all things vintage and antique.  Scattered along The Orange Circle on Chapman Avenue and Glassel St., it's safe to say that there are at least half a dozen or so antique shops in the area, all stocked to the gills with wonderful treasures. Mom decided to go with me this time around and shop for herself, while I toured the floors and shelves on my own.  It was a perfect afternoon of casual vintage shopping for us, and yes, we both found stuff we liked. If you walk along Glassel St. you will notice that both sides of this street contain shops, cafes and restau...

Melissa Clark's recipes make you want to get into the kitchen and start cooking all sorts of savories and sweets.  Whether through her New York Times column 'A Good Appetite' or the corresponding video series, and her previous cookbooks, Melissa Clark is one of those chefs who understands how to perfectly combine ingredients.  She is a boss when it comes to creating delicious recipes for home cooks. Melissa's latest cookbook, 'Dinner', is due to be released on March 7th, and let me assure you when I say that you're going to want to add this publication to your culinary library, because it has everything you want from a cookbook. New recipes using flavorful ingredients and easy how-to techniques found at the beginning of every chapter, are just some of the things to anticipate from Clark's latest culinary triumph. I absolutely love the way the main ingredient chapters are organized: chicken, meat (pork, beef, veal, lamb, duck & turkey...