Flaming Prune Dessert Adventure

June 30, 2022 by Alyssa D in dessert, breakfast

The list of things that Americans fear gets longer by the moment. If you scroll pretty far down, you’ll probably find prunes.

And it’s no wonder, given our unpleasant associations with brown juice usually consumed as a desperate measure. The attempt to rebrand them as dried plums didn’t do much, either.

Living in France changed my perspective, though. Prunes showed up there in luxurious full-fat yogurt, a true gourmandise. Those tiny packs became a favorite, second only to a local bakery’s buttery raisin and chocolate chip pastries.

Recently I searched for prune dessert recipes, hoping we’d made progress stateside. Disappointingly, most were for fibrous bars more healthful than indulgent. Then I spotted one that called for dousing prunes in brandy, setting them on fire, and baking them in custard. Hell yes.

Homemade English Muffin Adventure

April 30, 2020 by Alyssa D in breakfast

Our oven broke. Guillaume said he smelled burned electronics and saw smoke. We tried preheating. The inside stayed cold.

There’s never really a good time for something like this to happen, but during a pandemic was a big blow. In the moment, I was inconsolable. My tears weren’t just about the oven, though. They were the dam breaking on mounting losses.

Weeks have passed. The wrong replacement part arrived by mail. We’re still waiting for the correct one. In the search for silver linings, we still had a working stovetop.

Greek Breakfast Pitas Adventure

November 17, 2019 by Alyssa D in breakfast, sides

Eating the Greek breakfast wrap at the farmers market required sitting down — and both hands.

It was the perfect flavor combination and surprisingly affordable, too. Lemony potatoes spread on a giant warm pita piled with seasoned scrambled eggs, chicken gyro strips, fresh spinach, crumbled feta, tomatoes, and a dollop of tzatziki sauce.

Then one year the Mediterranean food stand failed to return. I was on my own.

Eggs Benedict Brunch Adventure

September 08, 2018 by Alyssa D in breakfast

Going out to brunch is one of the nicest treats I know. If eggs Benedict are on the menu — or in the buffet line — chances are that I’m going to make a beeline for a serving. It’s so decadent. So delicious. With so much fat, it’s kind of naughty, too.

And, like many brunch-goers before me probably buzzed from one too many mimosas, I thought, “Hey I should be able to make this at home.” Fast forward to me madly stirring a bowl of scrambled Hollandaise. The sauce was broken and, in all honestly, I cracked a little, too.

Since that maddening day, I was determined to figure out how to avoid those mistakes.

British-American Teatime Adventure

May 22, 2018 by Alyssa D in baking, appetizers, breakfast

“What is the difference between British scones and American buttermilk biscuits?” We must have asked this question at least half a dozen times in the past couple weeks. Eggs? Butter? Amount of flour? Folding? Shape? Rising agents?

Ultimately the answer didn’t matter as we gobbled Guillaume’s high-altitude buttermilk biscuits shaped like mini scones and my assortment of tiny crustless tea sandwiches. Our spread included Marcona almonds, a bowl of fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, and Pim’s orange cookies.

We’d waited long enough. Not just to eat, but to see Meghan and Harry get married. Although the latter was really just an excuse to make all this food.