Fall Random Bites & Cookbook Giveaways

A lot of cookbook giveaways today.....keep reading!

I don't like to bore you with my fig obsession, so I wanted to just get in this one last fig cake recipe before the season is over until next year........file it under Random Bites.

It was a delicious fig skillet cake, very simple, I modified the recipe from this Plum Skillet Cake on Serious Eats.
(I have been swapping in 1/2 cup of almond flour for the regular white flour to all my cakes for lighter and better cakes).

My figs are done for the season and many of you ask how my little tree winters over in NJ.

Most people who have mature, established fig trees here, wrap them in burlap to protect them during the winter and let them go into dormancy.

Because my tree is potted, we prune it, then leave it bare naked in a dark cellar stairwell with Bilco basement doors (sounds cruel), where it stays cool and dark all winter....no light, no water..........see you in April!



When it comes to fall, my transition from tomatoes is a tough one, but focusing on carrots, beets and squash makes the change easier.

Bright, beautiful heirloom rainbow carrots roasted to perfection with some golden beets and my luscious beet pesto.

Sprinkle of hazelnuts and the last of the mint plant in my garden.


October is always a busy food event month for me.

You know about my love affair with Yotam Ottolenghi by now.

He visited Williams Sonoma in my town with pastry chef Helen Goh, promoting their new cookbook SWEET, so I had to go and say hello.

The book is one of the best baking books I have seen in a while.
I have bookmarked at least 15 baking recipes, so look out for them (and look at that cake on the cover with FIGS!).

I am giving away 2 signed SWEET cookbooks to my readers, so just leave a comment at the end of the post......


I am also giving away 2 copies of my friend Liz's new book Recipes from Raine's Roost aka Jillian's Kitchen .

Liz is a USA Today contributor and a published romance writer and her new book is chock full of delicious recipes (and I am mentioned in the forward of the book!).


Next up a NYCWFF No Kid Hungry Benefit at the historic 21 Club in NYC with Philly chef Marc Vetri and Chicago chef Paul Kahan from The Publican.

The NYCWFF benefits many local charities, local food banks being one of their major benefactor.

The food was off the charts......pressed octopus on garbanzo beans; homemade almond filled tortellini with truffle butter; NY cheesecake; baccala cappuccino shooters!

The last giveaway are 2 signed copies of Publican cookbooks for you lovely readers.

All 6 winners announced Friday.

Ok, I am done rambling for the day.

:)