"cobblers" news and stories

Photo: ImipolexG, Flickr

The mercury's dropping which means it's time to break out that trusty crock pot for set-it-and-forget-it cold weather cooking.

Move over pot roast -- did you ever think of making cobbler in a slow cooker? The ice cream on top might be worth the extra wintry chill down your spine. Try replacing the blueberries in this recipe with frozen or canned peaches.

Any dessert that involves fruit is a good dessert, but a cobbler is something special. Cobblers are the epitome of simple, homey fruit desserts, the type of recipe that even the least competent baker can put together because there is no crust to roll out and no special preparation of the fruit needed in the vast majority of cobbler recipes. Cobblers is a brand new book that starts with the easy, well-known classic cobblers and evolves them into the sort of desserts you'd expect to find at a four star restaurant, everything from Apple to Apricot and Lavender cobblers are covered, all with the same basic method. The book also offers some unique variations on what seems like a standard dish, with a dark chocolate cobbler, and even some savory cobbler recipes that a laden with veggies.

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On the restaurants scene, chefs are taking cobblers and crisps to the next level. SIV goes for midnight munchies at Magnolia Hollywood, then writes about camera-equipped kitchens for bi-coastal chefs. Tropicalia Brazilian Grill sizzles.

In the kitchen, a recipe for the chili from downtown Walt Disney Concert Hall and many ways with the artichoke. Giada de Laurentiis' new cookbook makes elegant dinners.

The Wine of the Week is 2003 Domaine de la Begude to perfectly pair with an Easter leg of lamb, but don't forget about the Greeks. Passover begins next week, so a few choices beyond Manischewitz.

[photo: LA Times]