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...

Farinata (Gluten-Free Italian Flatbread)

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | June 7, 2025 1 Comment

Few dishes deliver pure, simple pleasure quite like Farinata—a golden, crisp-edged flatbread from Italy’s Ligurian coast that’s as easy to make as it is irresistible. Crafted from just chickpea flour, water, olive oil, and salt, this naturally gluten-free classic … [Read more...]

Creamy Gratin of Hard-Cooked Eggs

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | April 13, 2025 3 Comments

FOR A BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH PARTY, nothing beats this Creamy Gratin of Hard-Cooked Eggs. It’s easy to make. It’s gluten-free. And it’s rapturously-delicious. It’s also cook-friendly, because you can make the whole dish a day in advance, and then simply pop it in the oven … [Read more...]

Tea Time Treat: Limoncello Cupcakes

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | April 6, 2025 4 Comments

Here's the printable recipe for the Limoncello Cupcakes that were featured in my "Afternoon Tea Just Got a WHOLE Lot Better!" video that was recently published on YouTube. The cupcakes are lovely, lively, and lemon-icious. They are no trouble to make. Just make sure you … [Read more...]

Four INSANELY Easy Appetizers for a Stress-Free Party!

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | April 4, 2025 2 Comments

Here are the recipes from my "Four Insanely Easy Appetizers for a Stress-Free Party" video that was recently published on YouTube. The appetizers are not only easy to make, but they are elegant to serve. And all can be made ahead of time with just simple ingredients. … [Read more...]

Victoria Sandwich Cake

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 16, 2025 2 Comments

Here, in case you need it, is the printable recipe from my "Surprising My Friend with a 19th-Century Cake" video that was recently published on YouTube. Filled with luscious buttercream and strawberry jam, the cake is a culinary miracle. It freezes perfectly well, too. … [Read more...]

Earl Grey Tea Cookies for Afternoon Tea!

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 26, 2025 4 Comments

Please enjoy this recipe for the Earl Grey Cookies that were featured in my latest YouTube video. The cookies taste and smell like a dream. They are crispy at the edge, soft in the middle, and exquisitely perfumed with both Earl Grey tea and a splash of rose water. … [Read more...]

Simple Lemon Loaf Cake

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 19, 2025 35 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 1 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...]