Kestrel's Favorite Members
Updates from Kestrel's favorite members
jenncc reviewed Cottage Cheese pancakes from Cooks Ilustrated/ from A Feast for the Eyes
Really tasty and of the cottage cheese pancakes I have tried these are most like regular pancakes in taste and texture. These are no where near as tender as the Marion Cunningham recipe (NYT), making more »
jenncc reviewed Marion Cunningham's Lemon Pancakes from The New York Times
These are delicious! This makes a very delicate/tender pancake which practically melts in your mouth. They are a little tricky to flip (at least for me) but if you let them cook long enough and use plenty more »
jenncc reviewed Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping from Fifteen Spatulas
These are very tasty and very delicate. Made them in my popover pan for a taller muffin and they looked and tasted great! It was difficult to remove the paper liner and they did fall apart. more »
jenncc reviewed Perfect Swiss Meringue from Sally's Baking Addiction
This was going so well, looked so promising, then totally fell apart. I heeded all the precautions - carefully separating the yolks from the white, making sure all equipment was clean and cool, wiping more »
jenncc reviewed Sweet Potatoes with Tahini Butter from Bon Appetit
Loved this. I added a clove of garlic to the sauce and thought it improved it greatly. My potatoes weren't large but did take closer to 35 minutes to steam. I suppose you could also roast them. Simply more »
jenncc reviewed Lemon Chicken Chickpea Soup from Simply Recipes
Hearty and delicious! Next time I will cut the chicken smaller or shred it. Really enjoyed this. more »
jenncc reviewed Blueberry Pie Bars from The Food Network
These are EASY to throw together and present nicely. Flavor wise I think a lot depends on your berries - mine were good (not great) so my bars were good (not great). I think I could have added some lemon more »
jenncc reviewed Teurgoule (baked rice pudding) from Life's Sweetest Moments: Simple, Stunning Recipes and Their Heartwarming Stories: A Charming Guide to Baking with Stories That Warm the Heart, Share t
This is one of the best baked rice pudding recipes I have tried. It is a touch too sweet for me but I think everyone else that tried it thought it was just right. I did over cook it a bit, so it became more »
jenncc added Life's Sweetest Moments: Simple, Stunning Recipes and Their Heartwarming Stories: A Charming Guide to Baking with Stories That Warm the Heart, Share t
22nd May 2025
jenncc reviewed Banana Bread Blondies from King Arthur Flour
I thought these were better than "very good" but not quite "excellent". Mine came out a bit cakier than the ones pictured on the website or a typical blondie. I used walnuts and a very small handful of more »
jenncc reviewed Roasted Tofu Grain Bowls With Miso-Tahini Sauce from Epicurious
I had to sub the cabbage with brussels sprouts, but otherwise followed the recipe closely. This was tasty and filling. I think you could add other veggies or swap grains and it would still be delicious. more »
jenncc reviewed Double-Ginger Sour Cream Bundt Cake with Ginger Infused Strawberries from Epicurious
Loved this cake, as did my guest (including one who claimed not to be a fan of ginger -and then came back for seconds!). The cake came out beautiful and moist. The raw sugar made the cake slightly "sparkle" more »
jenncc reviewed Strawberry Lemonade Bars from King Arthur Flour
These were good and I think I would try them again with a few tweaks. My biggest issue was that they were just too sweet! The cake itself is good, a bit dense but with a nice light lemon flavor. The more »
jenncc reviewed Just Keeps Getting Better Lentil Salad from Epicurious
This seems a little fussy at first but it's worth it. Be careful when salting each component and consider the salinity of your feta and olives. Mine was delicious but definitely hit a tiny bit salty. more »
jenncc reviewed Chicken Piccata from The New York Times
We really enjoyed this dish! I have always used white wine to deglaze the pan but didn't miss it here. I did add a little thinly sliced garlic but otherwise followed the recipe closely. Be sure to slice more »
jenncc reviewed Greek Olive Bread with Rosemary and Oregano from Milk Street
This was fun to make and tasty to eat! My loaf came out very soft, but well browned at around the 40 minutes mark. Next time I will roll my loaf a little tighter as mine did flatten out just a bit more more »
jenncc reviewed Rizogalo Greek Rice Pudding from All Recipes
This really hit the spot! I only used 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, and I continued cooking for a few minutes after adding it so it would not have the taste or texture of the cornstarch. more »
jenncc reviewed Nigella Lawson's Very Smart Strawberry Streusel Cake from food52
Love it but honestly, I think I like the all AP flour version (on the NYT Website). It's never a very sweet cake (I have made this more than a few times) but this one had very subtle sweetness. My thinking more »
jenncc reviewed Smashed chickpea salad from Smitten Kitchen
Simple and delicious! This is infinitely adaptable - I used some jarred spicy Italian antipasto (olives, pickles, red pepper and onion) which was terrific and added a tablespoon of sun dried tomatoes.... more »
jenncc reviewed Whipped Ganache (Frosting) from Sugar Geek Show
I halved this recipe to top a 8x8 inch single layer chocolate cake. Easy, tasty and exactly the right amount with 4 ounces heavy cream and 4 ounces chocolate. more »
jenncc reviewed Chewy Brown Butter Cookies (with Oats and Pecans) from The New York Times
This really is a very tasty oatmeal cookie, with the special addition of pecans toasted in brown butter. It's simple to make and they do come out chewy with crispy edges. The author formulated this recipe more »
jenncc reviewed Galette Bretonnes (Buckwheat Crepes) from Serious Eats
These are wonderful! I did leave batter to "rest" a couple hours before cooking and more importantly I used a French Buckwheat flour. The French flours are lighter both in color and texture and have more »
jenncc reviewed Charred Leeks with Honey and Vinegar from Epicurious
This was a surprise hit! So delicious and simple, this will be a new grilling staple. more »
jenncc reviewed Caramelized Banana Upside-Down Cake from food52
Delicious!! For such a showstopper this is deceptively simple. Made with ingredients I always have on hand and ready in no time this will be a repeat for sure. Followed directions to the tee and was... more »
jenncc reviewed Brown Rice Pudding from Champagne Tastes
Very simple and really comforting. This was the best brown rice pudding I have had, perhaps because you are starting with cooked rice?? In the past my brown rice pudding has always been a little to al more »
jenncc added Champagne Tastes
23rd February 2025
jenncc reviewed Catalonian Rice Pudding from Tartine All Day: Modern Recipes for the Home Cook
This is delicious! Rich, creamy and comforting, this reminds me of a rice pudding my grandmother made. I opted for the original, no-egg version and was very happy with it. I did not have creme fraiche... more »
jenncc reviewed Traditional Scottish Style Oatmeal with Butter from Serious Eats
This is more technique than recipe. I soaked my oats overnight subbing 1/3 of the water with low fat milk. Cooked for about 5 minutes the next morning with a pinch of salt. This can go savory or sweet more »
jenncc reviewed Baba Ganoush from The Mediterranean Dish
This is delicious - a zhuzhed up version of baba g. I grew up eating! Mine turned a little pinkish from sumac so I think next time I will just sprinkle some on top rather than mixing it in. more »
jenncc added The Mediterranean Dish
4th February 2025
jenncc reviewed Broccoli Spoon Salad with Warm Vinaigrette from Epicurious
I thought this was great but docked a star because not everyone loved it as much as I did. Don't skip the dates, I'm not a huge fan but they were perfect here. more »
jenncc reviewed Ciabatta Bread from Sally's Baking Addiction
This is a very simple recipe. Time is the one ingredient you certainly cannot skimp on, since it gives this bread it's flavor. Though I didn't find it quite as airy as I would have liked, it was delicious more »
jenncc reviewed Classic Rice Pudding from The New York Times
Creamy and delicious. Perfect texture at 35 minute mark and just the right sweetness with 1/4 cup sugar. I did skimp on the salt (used about 1/2 teaspoon) and added a cinnamon stick to the milk and sugar. more »
jenncc reviewed One-Pan Harissa Orange Chicken and Broccoli from The Kitchn
Easy and delicious one pan meal. I served over rice. more »
jenncc reviewed The Big Lasagna from The New York Times
This is delicious but fussy. I love a bechamel/white lasagna but not sure how much it added here with the red sauce. The filling is great and egg free. The instructions are clear and the finished product more »
jenncc reviewed Pecan Shortbread from Preppy Kitchen
These are really tasty, not too sweet -in fact I'm not sure if I skimped but I think it could use a tiny bit more sugar and I never say that! They do soften a bit within a couple days but they can be more »
jenncc added Preppy Kitchen
30th December 2024
jenncc reviewed French Walnut Tart from Milk Street
This was decadent without being cloying or too heavy. I really had to work on getting the pastry dough to fill the pan up to the rim but it was enough, and resulted in a crust of the perfect thickness. more »
jenncc reviewed Japanese Milk Bread from Milk Street
Used this recipe to make rolls. They came out beautiful with excellent texture. However I thought they were lacking a bit - needed another pinch salt maybe? I baked the rolls in a deep dish pizza pan more »
jenncc reviewed Chicken Piccata (Giada) from The Food Network
Even simpler than Ina's version. Very easy, very good. I added some sliced garlic along with the broth, capers and juice. Might double the sauce next time! more »
jenncc reviewed Baguette Pan Baguettes from King Arthur Flour
Fail - that said flavor was terrific. I think I messed this up by over-proofing but I will try again and update.
more »
jenncc reviewed Perfect Buttermilk Pancakes from The New York Times
These were not thick and fluffy for me- more thin and eggy. I didn't mind at all, because with a good dose of vanilla the flavor was really nice, however the fluffy pancake lovers were not as impressed.... more »
jenncc reviewed Lemon Poundcake from The New York Times
Simple and delicious. The lemon soak (not glaze) really helps the lemon flavor, otherwise it would have just tasted like a really good poundcake. Watch the cooking time- mine went from under to almost more »
jenncc reviewed Chicken Wings with Angry Sauce from Food & Wine
Have made this many times - always a crowd pleaser. Sometimes I use drumsticks. more »
jenncc reviewed Braised Chicken with Lemon and Olives from New York Times - Recipes
This was delicious! I read many reviews and opted to brown the chicken/crisp the skin before baking in the oven uncovered, then covered, and finish off with a few minutes under the broiler. The meat more »
jenncc reviewed Sourdough Discard Crackers from Little Spoon Farm
Best discard cracker I have tried so far. This recipe is simple, requires no extra flour and is infinitely adaptable. I made mine with dried thyme, rosemary and a combo of butter and olive oil (mostly more »
jenncc added Little Spoon Farm
24th August 2024
jenncc reviewed Meera Sodha's Naan from The New York Times
Simple and delicious. Stay soft with just the right amount of chew. Served with Meera Sodha's Chicken curry. more »
jenncc reviewed Shredded Chicken and Tomatillo Tacos w/ Queso Fresco from The Food Network
This was really simple and delicious! more »
jenncc reviewed Lemon Rosemary Shortbread from Two Peas and Their Pod
This is a wonderful shortbread. Thin, crispy, buttery and melt in your mouth delicious! I might add more rosemary and lemon zest next time but otherwise really nice. They bake up a little pale in color, more »
jenncc reviewed Ding Dong Cake from Sugar Spun Run
This was the second or third Ding Dong Cake I have made. I love the I Am Baker recipe but was curious as to what a little brown sugar, an extra egg yolk and some melted butter would bring. I have to more »
jenncc reviewed Peanut Butter Crisscrosses from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: 100 Dairy-Free Recipes for Everyone's Favorite Treats
Mine took about 10 minutes and had a nice crisp and sandy texture. I made these with crunchy Skippy (recipe calls for natural/smooth) and they were great. more »
jenncc reviewed Vanilla Ice Cream /The Only Ice Cream Recipe You'll Ever Need from The New York Times
This is an ice cream base recipe - I made the vanilla version. I only had 5 yolks and found it plenty rich and certainly delicious! I don't think it would suffer if you wanted to sub a little of the heavy more »
jenncc reviewed Light, Fluffy and Rich Pancakes from The New York Times
I love these! They are fluffy and thick, definitely rich, and some how a little custard-y without feeling undercooked. I used cottage cheese and Greek yogurt which I processed, along with the egg yolks, more »
jenncc reviewed Chimichurri Lamb Chops from food52
Though I am sure this would be great with lamb, I used this sauce as both a marinade and a dressing for skirt steak. It was very good but a bit "sharp" with the red wine vinegar and the lemon juice - more »
jenncc reviewed Spiced Roasted Cauliflower with Feta and Garlic from The New York Times
Took a little less time in my oven (around 30-33 minutes total) but came out fantastic! Some reviewers did not appreciate the Feta but my household really enjoyed it. I followed others suggestions and more »
jenncc reviewed Chewy Earl Grey Cookies from The New York Times
These are excellent as long as you don't over bake! Mine took 12-13 minutes for a chewy cooky with crisp edges - any longer they were more of an all around crunchy cookie. The flavors are wonderful (Earl more »
jenncc reviewed Honey Whipped Goat Cheese with Marinated Olives from Half Baked Harvest
This is excellent! I only had 8.5 oz log of goat cheese so I used 3 oz cream cheese to keep the flavors balanced. The only thing I will do differently next time is either omit the fig jam or be more more »
jenncc reviewed Thick and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes, and More
These are certainly thick and slightly chewy. I really enjoyed them but felt they were just a bit too sweet. Do not cook longer than 10 minutes and keep in mind they stay pale and do not spread. more »
jenncc added Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes, and More
5th April 2024
jenncc reviewed Takeout-Style Sesame Noodles from The New York Times
This falls somewhere between good and very good. I stuck close to the recipe - only having to replace Chinese sesame paste with tahini and cutting the sugar a bit since my peanut butter seemed very sweet. more »
jenncc reviewed Chewy Lemon Cookies from The New York Times
I thought I was going to love these! I love rosemary in sweets, I LOVE lemon in anything, I love the cornmeal crunch, I love a chewy cookie.... I just do not love these. They spread way too much (almost more »
jenncc reviewed A Very Banana-y Banana Bread from Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook
This is a wonderful banana bread with bananas as the star and brown butter in the supporting role. No spice, no chocolate chips and no nuts needed. My 4 bananas came in closer to 400-410 grams and the more »
jenncc added Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook
25th March 2024
jenncc reviewed Elaine’s Fettuccine Alfredo from The New York Times
Not sure if this is authentic but I found it to be simple and delicious! Sauce looked very thin at first but thickened up with the pasta and cheese. Finished with a grate of nutmeg and sprinkle of salt. more »
jenncc reviewed Fettuccini Romano from food52
I was skeptical but decided to try it - and so glad I did! It was delicious! Creamy but not heavy and the perfect compromise between red sauce and Alfredo.
It is quick and simple, and all ingredients more »
jenncc reviewed Spiced Irish Oatmeal with Cream and Crunchy Sugar from The New York Times
This came together easily and was so comforting, creamy and delicious! I made half a recipe and used a little less than three cups of water (based on others reviews). I never achieved the crunchy sugar more »
jenncc reviewed Favorite Vanilla Buttercream from Sally's Baking Addiction
This is a nice, typical buttercream that is easy to put together, highly pipe-able but can also be spread smooth. Like most buttercream, I found it too sweet for my taste. I think it worked best on my more »
jenncc reviewed Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting from Add a Pinch
Smooth and decadent without being overly sweet. I used mostly regular cocoa powder, subbing about 1/3 cup with Hershey's special dark c.p. This frosting was easy to spread with a smooth finish and pipe-able. more »
jenncc reviewed The Best Chocolate Cake from Add a Pinch
This is a very quick, simple recipe, and a darn good cake too. I made a three layer cake (8 inch) without having to adjust the recipe and filled it with her Perfect Chocolate Buttercream. Moist and chocolatey more »
jenncc added Add a Pinch
10th February 2024
jenncc reviewed Ginger fried rice from Smitten Kitchen
Really enjoyed this! I used leftover short grain brown rice and added green onion and a little jalapeno. Quick and easy. more »
jenncc reviewed Chocolate Cake (The I want chocolate cake cake) from Smitten Kitchen
I'm not the chocolate lover in the house, but this was well received by everyone who tried it. I thought it was slightly dense and, at least in my oven was ready by the 25 minute mark. The frosting is... more »
jenncc reviewed Toasted Rice Pudding from Sweet Enough: A Dessert Cookbook
This was good but not a stand out recipe. Toasting the rice and cinnamon gave it nice flavor for sure but also made the rice break down faster. Not wanting to overcook my rice I took it off while still more »
jenncc added Sweet Enough: A Dessert Cookbook
3rd February 2024
jenncc reviewed Nova Scotia Oatcakes from The Spruce Eats
Love these cracker/cookie snacks. They are a little salty, a little sweet and very versatile - great with cheese or fruit but also nice on their own. These came together easily. The flavor is buttery more »
jenncc added The Spruce Eats
19th January 2024
jenncc reviewed Spicy Garlic Noodles with Crumbled Tofu and Cucumber Salad from food52
This was delicious. I used dried Udon noodles, only making half a recipe and I happily have plenty of leftovers! There are several components but they come together easily. Make sure the mushrooms more »
jenncc reviewed Brown Butter Blondies from Fifteen Spatulas
These are delicious but not as fudgy/gooey as my usual blondies. This was more of a wonderful brown butter snacking cake with great caramel, brown butter flavor. Perhaps beating the eggs 2 minutes is more »
jenncc added Fifteen Spatulas
15th January 2024
jenncc reviewed Chickpea Vegetable Bowl with Peanut Dressing from food52
I really enjoyed this salad! It's hearty enough as a stand alone meal but could also be a side or topped off with tofu or chicken. Love the tang and spice of the dressing and it def doesn't hurt to make more »
jenncc reviewed Taylor Swifts Chai Sugar Cookies from joy the baker
Hmmm.. This should have been everything I love in a cookie, soft/chewy with crispy edges, warm spices and easy to throw together, but they just missed the mark. Mine were very bland even with freshly more »
jenncc reviewed White Spice Pound Cake from The Cake Bible
This is falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. Mine was slightly dry. Liked the flavor - could up the spices a bit. Good use of leftover egg whites. more »
jenncc reviewed Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction
These were as promised, soft and chewy, flavor is good and easy to throw together. My first batch spread a little too much perhaps because my dough got a little warm. I refrigerated the rest of the dough more »
jenncc reviewed Honey Whole Wheat Rolls from Sally's Baking Addiction
Mine were "Four Stars" but this recipe deserves 5! I made the mistake of not covering with foil halfway into the bake (as is recommended in the recipe) and they got too brown. Still delicious, just more »
jenncc reviewed Cranberry Lemon Bars from The New York Times
These were tart and tasty. I made them in a smaller pan to have nice thick, defined layers which worked out nicely. I liked, not loved, them, but others thought they were great. more »
jenncc reviewed Double two-Apple Pie from Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe
Wanted to try a different Apple Pie for Thanksgiving, and because I love the Super Pumpkin-y Pumpkin Pie from this book, I thought I'd give the apple a try. It was good but still prefer the Apple- Brown... more »
jenncc reviewed Best Ever Pie Crust from All Recipes
I never expected this to be "best ever", mostly due to the lack of butter (which IMO gives better flavor to a pie crust). I was short on butter and chose this all shortening crust recipe. It was very more »
jenncc reviewed Malted Wheat Bread from King Arthur Flour
Followed the recipe exactly and was rewarded with a delicious loaf. Docked one star because the exterior/crust is a little soft (even after extra minutes in the oven). more »
jenncc reviewed Worlds Best Lasagna from All Recipes
I have made this with meat, without meat (using mushrooms/veggies), with sausage, without sausage, with spicy sausage instead of sweet, etc.. I have even left out the tomato sauce, just using crushed more »
jenncc reviewed Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies (Tosi) from The Splendid Table
This is a great recipe but docked a star here because oiling the pan did not work well for me. I baked some on a greased cookie sheet and some on parchment lined sheet. The cookies on the greased sheet more »
jenncc reviewed Rice Pudding from The New York Times
This is delicious - creamy, comforting and just rich enough without the egg yolks. I made this with Arborio rice and it came out great using the same times, amounts etc. I was operating in an unfamiliar/not more »
jenncc reviewed Pear Crumb Cake from The New York Times
I followed the recommendations of others and used twice as many pears, otherwise followed the recipe. Mine was cooked in about 55 minutes. It is probably a little denser than the cake pictured (due to more »
jenncc reviewed Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Galette from Budget Bytes
This was easy and a nice twist on the delicious combination of lemon and blueberry. I used low fat cream cheese and my own pie crust recipe. more »
jenncc reviewed Seeded Oat Bread from Sally's Baking Addiction
This was a tasty little loaf. It's a bit dense and mine could have used an extra pinch of salt (could have been my error?) but was certainly hearty and delicious. I let this rest overnight in the fridge more »
jenncc reviewed Easy Banana Bread from The New York Times
I wanted to try this recipe to compare to my usual oil based recipe (Flour Bakery). This one is slightly less fussy, uses brown sugar and less sugar, and calls for double the sour cream (or creme fraiche). more »
jenncc reviewed Portokalopita - Greek Orange Cake from Souvlaki For the Soul
This was a tasty bread pudding type of dessert. I did not expect this to puff up as much as it did - definitely did not look like the picture. I did notice this recipe called for more baking powder than more »
jenncc added Souvlaki For the Soul
9th October 2023
jenncc reviewed Coconut Pound Cake from The New York Times
This is a wonderful little cake! It is moist and coconutty with the perfect crumb. I forgot to top with toasted coconut but after reading reviews this may be a good thing as some report it burned (topping more »
jenncc reviewed Sweet Tart Dough from Dessert Person
This is a very simple, very good tart dough. I love her technique of rolling the dough into strips and pressing into the pan. And truthfully that is probably the only way to work with this very soft more »