Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Welsh Rabbit (Welsh Rarebit)

 Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I made -- and ate! -- Welsh Rabbit. Are you familiar with this cheese-on-toast tavern fare from 18th-century England? Click the "play" arrow above to watch the dish come together in my kitchen. Then scroll down for some fascinating historical notes...
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Welsh Rabbit (Welsh Rarebit)

Quiche with Hash Brown Potato Crust

This is a gluten-free twist on a traditional quiche. The crust is simply made from store-bought frozen shredded potatoes (a/k/a "hash browns"). There's no butter to cut in, and no dough to roll out! I used spinach and ham for my quiche filling here, but other fillings would work as...
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Quiche with Hash Brown Potato Crust

1950s Sweet Cream Cake

If you've never tasted Sweet Cream Cake, please take note: It's delicious! I found the recipe in the "Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook" that was originally published in 1950. The cake is blessed with a light, fluffy crumb and an irresistible vanilla perfume. It's an easy cake to make even for...
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1950s Sweet Cream Cake

New Washing Machine!

THIS IS NOT A PAID ADVERTISEMENT. I simply wanted to tell you that I purchased a Maytag Commercial washing machine. Would you like to meet this old-school appliance? My former washer -- a high-efficiency, high-tech Cabrio -- bit the dust after four years of modest use.  Although the machine was...
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New Washing Machine!

My Favorite Peach Recipes

Happy Fourth of July, friends! Today, in true roundup-form, I wanted to share some of my favorite peach dishes. Hope you find something that floats your boat! 1950s Peach Cobbler. This is my maternal grandmother's ridiculously delicious recipe. It's a cinch to make -- all you need is a can...
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My Favorite Peach Recipes

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe

Please enjoy this recipe from my "Garden Tour and a Cocktail" video that was published this morning on YouTube. The cocktail in question? A thick, rich, uber-refreshing Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri! It's the ideal signature cocktail for a summertime get-together. Here's how to make this luxurious poem with just three ingredients:...
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Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe

Classic Sandwiches for Afternoon Tea

Can you get away for a moment? Please join me for Afternoon Tea! The menu includes fragrant tea, yummy petit fours, and  three classic sandwiches. The sandwiches are the same cucumber, chicken, and egg-and-cress subjects that I enjoyed at Kensington palace. Their beauty is in their simplicity. Watch: Afternoon Tea...
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Classic Sandwiches for Afternoon Tea

Homemade Sandwich Buns

Probably I was a French baker in a previous life. How else can I explain my great passion for yeast dough? I love to mix it, knead it, shape it, and -- after it has been baked -- eat it! Today's recipe is for the Homemade Sandwich Buns you see...
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Homemade Sandwich Buns

Zucchini Jack Casserole

Ah, Zucchini Jack Casserole.  I loved it when I was a teenager, and I still adore it today. The squash is suspended in a voluptuous Monterey Jack cheese custard that puffs up in the oven. And should I mention the casserole's crunchy crouton crown? Here's the recipe for this creamy...
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Zucchini Jack Casserole

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...
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How I Smother Weeds with Newspaper

How to Dry Parsley in the Oven

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 21 Comments

Got a bevy of beautiful parsley in your garden? You might like to dry it for winter culinary use. Dried low and slow, this culinary staple usually retains much of its peppery/grassy aroma. The following oven-dehydrating technique has proven successful for me: Oh. … [Read more...]

Welsh Rabbit (Welsh Rarebit)

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 31 Comments

 Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I made -- and ate! -- Welsh Rabbit. Are you familiar with this cheese-on-toast tavern fare from 18th-century England? Click the "play" arrow above to watch the dish come together in my kitchen. Then scroll down for some … [Read more...]

A Lovely Little Chocolate Cake

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 13 Comments

There's nothing about this Lovely Little Chocolate Cake that isn't wonderful. It's moist. It's light. It's gorgeously perfumed, too, thanks to the addition of freshly-brewed coffee in the batter. And no dessert could be easier to put together. All you need is a bowl, a … [Read more...]

Quiche with Hash Brown Potato Crust

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 13 Comments

This is a gluten-free twist on a traditional quiche. The crust is simply made from store-bought frozen shredded potatoes (a/k/a "hash browns"). There's no butter to cut in, and no dough to roll out! I used spinach and ham for my quiche filling here, but other fillings … [Read more...]

How to Cure Onions for Winter Storage

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 13 Comments

I usually harvest my "keeper" onions in mid-August. Of course, before the bulbs go into winter storage, I first let them "cure" outdoors in warmth and air. Well-cured onions retain their good eating quality for months. Read on, and I'll show you how to cure and store … [Read more...]

Tex-Mex Casserole

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 19 Comments

Hungry? I have a (meatless, gluten-free) Tex-Mex Casserole to offer you! It's a layered dish of corn tortillas, fresh veggies, black beans, and melty cheese. You can make the casserole well ahead of time, and then bake it off at your leisure. The baked casserole can be … [Read more...]

1950s Sweet Cream Cake

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 19 Comments

If you've never tasted Sweet Cream Cake, please take note: It's delicious! I found the recipe in the "Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook" that was originally published in 1950. The cake is blessed with a light, fluffy crumb and an irresistible vanilla perfume. It's an … [Read more...]