Kevin Lee Jacobs – Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Rustic Apple Galette

I made this apple galette the other day, and it was everything I'd hoped it would be: delicious, dramatic, and downright addicting. A brushing of melted red currant jelly gives the tender apple slices a sexy sheen. And oh, the crust! It's crunchy, buttery, Pâte Brisée Sucrée. Need some easy elegance in...

Glazed Strawberry Tart

I love this seasonal tart. I made it last Saturday, when my cousin Heath was visiting. I also made it on Tuesday, as part of a live cooking-demonstration for the Kinderhook Garden Club. And this morning, I whipped up the tart yet again, in order to photograph the step-by-step recipe for...

Recipes from “A Colorful Dinner to Welcome Spring”

Here, for your convenience, are the printable recipes from my "A Colorful Dinner to Welcome Spring" video that was recently published on YouTube. Each dinner course -- Roasted Bell Pepper Salad, Penne with Parsley, Peas, Bacon and Mint and Mixed Berry Crumble -- is very easy to do. I hope...

Turkey and Sweet Potato Pie

I made this Turkey and Sweet Potato Pie the other day, and it was love at first bite. Below a golden blanket of mashed, cinnamon-scented sweet potato is a satisfying symphony of ground turkey, leek, tomato paste, and peas. Need a comforting dinner dish that you can make ahead of...

Huevos Rancheros

I love Huevos Rancheros. I love the crisp corn tortilla base. I love the spicy black bean center. I love the colorfully-garnished egg that sits on top. Do you love what I love? Here's the recipe for this Mexican magic that comes together in about 15 minutes: Tip! To watch...

Bundtlettes with Strawberry Glaze

I love these mini Lemon Pound Cakes, or "Bundtlettes." I love how they look. I love how they smell. I love how they taste! The ornate cakes have a moist but tight crumb that is downright addicting. You can enjoy them as-is, or top them, as I did for a...

A Beautiful Beet Soup

Please enjoy this Beet Soup recipe from my "Romantic Make-Ahead Dinner | Recipes | Flowers | Setting the Table" video that was recently published on YouTube. Brilliantly-hued, the soup is the ideal first-course for a Valentine's Day dinner. It's earthy with beets, bright with lemon, and exquisitely perfumed with dried...

Little Lemon Pudding Cakes

Little Lemon Pudding Cakes are dreamy-delicious for afternoon tea. They are made from a simple custard batter to which a small amount of flour and some softly beaten egg whites are added. When the batter is poured into ramekins and baked in a water bath, or "Bain Marie," the egg...

Make-Ahead Appetizers from “Cocktails in the Parlor”

Love cocktails? Appetizers? Stress-free entertaining? Then you will love the appetizers from my latest YouTube video, "Cocktails in the Parlor. " The appetizers in question can all be made ahead of time. This means that you, the host who might also have to wear the hats of cook, butler, and...

Make-Ahead Brunch: Video + Recipes

Thinking of hosting a brunch party for Father's Day or any ole day? I think you'll enjoy my latest YouTube video. Please join me as I set the table, make a flower arrangement, and prepare several cook-friendly recipes for an elegant make-ahead brunch! I hope the above video is useful...

Beef Stew with Dark Beer and Bittersweet Chocolate

Holy shamrock, Batman! I made this stew the other day, and it totally rocked my world. It's a symphony of carrots, parsnips, and seriously-tender beef, all gloriously perfumed with dark beer, strong coffee, and bittersweet chocolate. In other words, it's...The Most Delicious Stew In The World.

Rice Pudding

Here's the printable recipe from my latest YouTube episode, "Classic Rice Pudding." This long-forgotten dessert deserves a comeback. Why? Because it's creamy-dreamy delicious. It's gluten-free, too, if that dietary aspect is important to you. And few desserts of silken custardy-ness require so little effort to make. All you need is...

Cabbage Pie

Here's the printable recipe from the "Cabbage Pie" video that was recently published on my YouTube channel. The pie is delicious at any temperature -- hot, warm, or even cold from the fridge. And nothing could be easier to make. Make this vegetarian masterpiece once, and I promise you will...

Rustic Beer Bread (Hand-Kneaded)

This is my own, original recipe for Rustic Beer Bread. The bread -- actually, it's a "boule" -- has a deep, fermented flavor and a crackling-crisp crust. Its crumb is delightfully chewy and baguette-like. Looking for a loaf that goes with everything, and that you can easily mix and knead...

French Butter Cookies (Sablé Breton)

French Butter Cookies -- Sablés Breton -- originated in the northwest region of Brittany, France. In France and elsewhere in Europe, the cookies are instantly recognized for their fluted edges, crosshatch markings, and brilliant sheen. To me, the buttery biscuits taste like a trip to Paris without the jetlag. They...

How I Smother Weeds with Newspaper

WHEN WEEDS INVADE MY PERENNIAL BEDS, I don't get mad -- I get newspaper. Newspaper-mulching, as we have discussed before, makes weeds disappear instantly. And it prevents them from re-emerging for an entire season, if not longer. I newspaper-mulched one of my weed-choked beds just this morning. Would you like...

Simple Lemon Loaf Cake

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 19, 2025 34 Comments

This Simple Lemon Loaf Cake is one of the lemony-est treats I've ever put in my mouth. Lemon zest and pure lemon extract give the cake its sunny flavor and intense perfume. And nothing could be easier to make. The only equipment you'll need is a bowl, a whisk, and a … [Read more...]

Meatloaf Wellington

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | December 22, 2024 Leave a Comment

Here's the Meatloaf Wellington recipe from my YouTube episode "Stress-Free Christmas Dinner!" Meatloaf Wellington offers the same "wow" effect as traditional Beef Wellington, but it is far-less expensive and much, much easier to make. You might like to make it for a … [Read more...]

Afternoon Tea: Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | November 10, 2024 4 Comments

Hello, everyone! Please enjoy this recipe for the Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars that were recently featured on my YouTube channel. The bars are as beautiful to look at as their are to eat. I love them with Autumnal Darjeeling tea, but they are equally delicious with … [Read more...]

Afternoon Tea: Perfect Apple Fritters!

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | October 27, 2024 2 Comments

Here's the recipe for the Perfect Apple Fritters that were featured in my latest YouTube video. If you have never made their acquaintance, Apple Fritters are diced apples suspended in a simple batter, and then deep fried. They are beyond delicious. You might like to … [Read more...]

Autumn Leaf Cocktail

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | October 6, 2024 4 Comments

Here's the recipe for the "Autumn Leaf" cocktail that was featured on my latest YouTube episode. You can make a whole pitcher of this deliciously-fragrant drink, and then serve it, just as I did, at your next autumn-themed party. The ingredients are simple indeed. All … [Read more...]

Goat Cheese Bites (Party Appetizer)

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | October 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

Sometimes the most basic ingredients make the best party or cocktail appetizers. Take, for instance, the Goat Cheese Bites that I made for my latest YouTube video. To make the bites, you simply blend goat cheese and a hard cheese (such as Parmesan) in a food processor. … [Read more...]

Amazing Beetroot Hummus

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | October 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

I love hummus of all kinds, and Beetroot Hummus especially so. Do you know this purple perfection? It's simply ordinary hummus, to which a cooked beet has been added. Besides the vibrant color the beet contributes, it also gives the hummus an earthy sweet flavor. Once … [Read more...]

Tex-Mex Baked Potato!

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | September 13, 2024 Leave a Comment

Take a Kennebec or Russet potato, bake it until tender, top it with chili, Cheddar cheese, salsa, red onion, sour cream and cilantro, and what will you have? Pure bliss! Here's the recipe for this "Tex-Mex" Baked Potato -- a dazzling lunch or dinner main course that … [Read more...]

September Dinner Party Recipes!

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | September 8, 2024 3 Comments

Hello, dear friends! Please enjoy these recipes from my "September Dinner Party" video that was published on YouTube today. If you wear the hats of host, cook and scullery maid, then you will be glad to know that all three dinner courses can be prepared well ahead of … [Read more...]