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Entertaining Recipes for the Budget Gourmet

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Old-Fashioned Lemon Squares

May 10, 2012 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 13 Comments

Mary Anne here. It seems every family has their own version of these sweetly tart cookie bars and ours is no exception. They’re a snap to whip up and they store beautifully in a sealed container in the fridge. They’re the perfect foil to a steaming cup of hot tea and an elegant addition to[…]

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Rich’s Light New York Cheesecake

April 10, 2012 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 24 Comments

Mary Anne here. Or should I say, Rich Doscher here! Rich is a registered dietician at the hospital where I work. Together with a physical therapist, the three of us give seminars at local senior centers and churches, instructing folks on keeping one’s joints healthy. For such a young “kid,” Rich has an amazing grasp[…]

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Finska Kakor, aka Finnish Cakes with Sweet Butter and Almonds

January 17, 2012 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 9 Comments

Mary Anne here. Mariel’s BFF is getting married in May, and naturally we’ll be hosting her bridal shower. Mariel’s gal pal is like the second daughter I never had, and so of course I want the party to reflect how much we love her. One of the best ways to express our devotion is through[…]

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Chocolate, Walnut & Coconut Pie Bars

November 29, 2011 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 14 Comments

Mary Anne here. Sadly, the Thanksgiving family feast is over and the holiday bustle is officially in full swing. Between Black Friday, which now apparently launches during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (gasp!), to Cyber Monday we are inundated with pressure to buy, buy, buy! Not so fast. I’m still glowing from our unequaled Turkey Day[…]

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Spiced Cheddar Cheese Twists

October 6, 2011 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 19 Comments

Spiced Cheddar Cheese Twists Makes about 3 ½ dozen Note: You can see in the photo some of these are twists while others were fashioned as the straw variety. I was simply playing with length, width and shape and found that a 6 or 7-inch long straw works best as the longer ones tend to[…]

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Strawberry Mousse

August 18, 2011 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 30 Comments

Mary Anne here. While Mariel is busy trimming her caloric intake with naturally sweet, healthful condiments like this Cucumber and Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, I seem to be channeling my Southern ancestors, conjuring up sweet strawberry confections like this delicious mousse. Did I mention that not one, but TWO kinds of sugar candy-coat this[…]

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Old-Fashioned Devil’s Food Cake

June 16, 2011 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 31 Comments

Mary Anne here. In honor of Father’s Day, I opted to plumb the pages of my catering archives and recreate a Devil’s Food Cake that was a favorite “special occasion confection” from gigs past. While both my dad and step-dad are no longer in this world, I humbly offer a culinary tribute to two equally[…]

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Smoked Salmon Challah Bites

September 16, 2010 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 7 Comments

Mary Anne here. As I’ve mentioned before, the Ellicott clan was raised in a Christian-Judeo household. We were confirmed Catholics but our step-dad, George, was a devout Jew. And as he embraced our Christmas and Easter traditions with all the enthusiasm of an excited toddler, we honored his religious holidays as well – and none[…]

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Chocolate Cheesecake

September 6, 2010 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 7 Comments

Mary Anne here. If you’ve never baked in your life – not one solitary cupcake, nary a Pillsbury Crescent Roll –  then I recommend you start with this foolproof Chocolate Cheesecake. Regardless of your prowess with a whisk, this puppy whips up in under 30 minutes and takes about 35 minutes to bake, yet it’s[…]

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Irish Soda Bread

March 16, 2010 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 2 Comments

Mary Anne here. If you’re a novice baker and intimidated by the mere thought of bread-making, then this loaf’s for you! Irish Soda bread literally takes fifteen minutes to prepare and under an hour to bake. I whipped up these two loaves right after work and still had time to prep dinner and start writing[…]

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Happy Birthday Feast on the Cheap!

February 17, 2010 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 7 Comments

Mary Anne here. Exactly one year ago today, Mariel approached me with an idea for a blog. She suggested I compile a collection of recipes that addressed our distressing economic recession by converting my extravagant catering recipes into thriftier renditions, without compromising either flavor or presentation. Initially, I balked at the idea of writing an[…]

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Linzer Tarts for Your Valentine’s Day Sweetheart

February 10, 2010 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 8 Comments

Mary Anne here. Like most of us, I spend Valentine’s Day indulging in the most delicious, most decadent foods I can find. As a young woman, I loved Valentine’s Day not only for the traditional sweetheart reasons (and promise of gifts with gold and glitter!), but also as another occasion to celebrate the blessing of[…]

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Mrs. A.’s Pizzelle Cookies

October 4, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 16 Comments

Mary Anne here. After the spectacular wedding and much-needed vacation for this “M.O.B.,” I’m happy to report that we’re back in full cooking mode and will hopefully make up for the past few weeks of “radio silence.” I can’t wait to try the recipes Mariel has brought back from her honeymoon in South America! She’s[…]

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Afternoon Tea for Twenty

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 2 Comments

Mary Anne here. I find this menu is perfect for bridal showers…in fact, I served all of these treats at Mariel’s shower this summer. Throughout my years of catering, I found that afternoon tea parties became incredibly popular in the village where I live. As a result, I’ve spent countless hours slicing cucumbers, baking miniature[…]

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Afternoon Tea: Organizing Your Time

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse Leave a Comment

Up to two weeks before is the best time to begin the baking and freezing process.  Sit down with your menu and write two separate shopping lists: one for the baked goods you will produce in the weeks before, and one for the fillings that will be made in the days before. The Cheese Biscuits,[…]

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Cheddar Cheese Biscuits with Smoked Ham

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 1 Comment

Mary Anne here. Most men tend to turn their noses up at the very suggestion of a “tea”, envisioning delicate concoctions that leave them largely unsatisfied.  When I invited some friends, along with their spouses, to be critics for this menu, the men found themselves converts to the idea of tiny, unmanly sandwiches, as they[…]

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Orange Bread with Turkey and Ginger-Apple Butter

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 2 Comments

Mary Anne here. This bread can be made up to three days before.  With the bread remaining un-sliced, seal in a layer of plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil and store at room temp. This also freezes very nicely for up to two weeks. You’ll need a blender or food processor for this one as[…]

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Curried Shrimp Puffs

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse Leave a Comment

Mary Anne here. These delicate sandwiches look like you spent hours slaving over them, but in reality, the pastry is one of the simplest to execute.  Stash this one as a master recipe for desserts as well.  Use the “puffs” portion of the recipe along with a pastry bag to create Cream Puffs or Éclairs[…]

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Fresh-Baked Scones

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse Leave a Comment

Mary Anne here. What’s a tea without fresh baked scones? These tasty little treats are very versatile served either with butter and blackberry jam, or used as the base for strawberry shortcakes.  The dough is incredibly simple to prepare.  As always, when preparing pastry, the lighter your touch in the rolling, the fluffier and moister[…]

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Lemon Pound Cake with Fresh Strawberries

March 17, 2009 by Mary Anne Rittenhouse 1 Comment

Mary Anne here. I may be a bit biased, but in my opinion, this is simply The Best. Lemon Cake. Ever.  Not only because of its moist, dense texture and lemon tang, but its flavor actually improves with one or two days in the fridge.  I serve it with sliced strawberries, but any fresh berries[…]

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