Jessie Cross
Jessie Cross is a cookbook author and creator of The Hungry Mouse, a monster online food blog w/500+ recipes. When she's not shopping for cheese or baking pies, Jessie works as an advertising copywriter in Boston. She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and two small, fluffy wolves.
Classic Bread & Butter Pickles (No Canning Required!)
This recipe produces classic bread and butter pickles—the kind my mom used to make every summer when I was a little mouse. They're sweet. They're tangy. They have a fabulous crunch. Like my Quick,...
Salem’s West India Goods Store
Ya know, you can find treasure in the most unexpected places. For example, I never would have guessed that this small shop in Salem, Massachusetts would have some of the freshest—and most economically priced—spices...
Maple Sugar Candied Bacon
I know. Here I am again, going on about bacon. (I can admit it. I might have a problem.) Ever since I made candied bacon with a chili and peach jam glaze a few weeks ago, I can't get the stuff of my mind. This time, I wanted to try a different method. (All in the name of science, you understand.)
Couscous Salad with Bacon and Cremini Mushrooms
This dish combines the deep, earthy flavors of fried bacon and caramelized cremini mushrooms with the crispness of red pepper and green onion. It's easy to make and gets even better overnight as the flavors mingle.
Orange Melba Sauce
This is my take on classic Melba sauce, that exquisite raspberry sauce that famed French chef Auguste Escoffier whipped up for his favorite opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba.
The original sauce is a heady mixture...
French Cheesecake
(Last updated: November 2021) This French Cheesecake is my favorite Secret Weapon Dessert.
Easy to make.
Easy on the eyes. Practically guaranteed to stun everyone—including your best friend's chatty new girlfriend—at your dinner party into blissful,...
Pasta Salad with Shrimp, Goat Feta, and Basil
We've been pining for summer weather here in Boston. It's been cold, dreary, and drizzly for days. This pasta salad is like a little dose of summer—it's cool, creamy, and an absolutely fabulous thing to bring to a picnic or barbecue. Assuming, that is, that the sun ever comes out.
Super Simple French Fries (Crisp & Crunchy in Just One Step)
No soaking? Only one fry? Start the potatoes in cold (yes, cold) oil? Come on. I had to try it. And man, am I glad I did. Hands down, these are the easiest, most delicious fries I've ever made.
Spicy Guacamole
I'm totally guilty of having guacamole for dinner. Not the most well-balanced meal, I know, but I don't do it that often. (And hey, I do usually dip veggies and rice crackers in it, as well as chips!) When we're in a pinch and don't feel like cooking, chances are I'll grab a few avocados and go to town.
Classic Whoopie Pies
This recipe makes the quintessential whoopie pie. The cake is moist, chocolate-y, and dense. The filling is creamy, fluffy, and decadently sweet. If our friend D. Bunnyhunter hadn't stopped by and taken it when he did, The Angry Chef and I may have come to blows over the last one. (Phew! Thanks, man!)