We’ve always been fans of Hilarybee, but she caught our eye this week with her gorgeous, envy-worthy Secret Swap gifts to vvvanessa. Pepper jellies. Peach and amaretto jam. Crabapple and Damson plum conserve. Cinnamon applesauce. We swoon at the thought of these in our larder, and, so it seems, they are the labors of love; as she tells us on her FOOD52 profile page, Hilarybee spends her weekends on the back roads of Ohio, searching for the best ingredients her state has to offer. A “dedicated locavore,” she describes herself – and from one look at her generous holiday gifts, we’d have to agree.
As promised, Hilarybee’s recipes wholeheartedly embrace the products she labors to find – in fact, many of her recipes have just five ingredients or less. Take, for example, her Vanilla Bean Applesauce, her Blueberry Lassi, her Raspberry Lemon Balm Jam (and, of course, her Poor Man’s Kirsch). Simple yet creative, her recipes spark that “of course!” feeling within us: Of course we should lace our pizzelle with citrus (in her Meyer Lemon Pizzelle, pictured above)! Of course we should cook our quinoa with leftover spinach water! No matter what the season, no matter what the combination, Hilarybee’s recipes are celebrations of flavor, soaring odes to produce; she humbly bows down to her ingredients, and we, in turn, bow down to her.
Read our profile Q&A with Hilarybee below, and check out her beautiful blog here.
- What's the strangest food you've ever eaten?
Rattlesnake - What do you cook when home alone?
Recently, scrambled eggs with salad or toast. Bread with a hunk of good cheese. - Your most treasured kitchen possession:
Toss up between my vintange hand crank pasta machine and my Kitchen Aid mixer. - The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
6
-
brette warshaw
I'm a reader, eater, culinary thrill-seeker, and food nerd.
Some past articles from this author you'll love:
8 Peas, Shoots and Leaves
Essays: Remembering How To Cook
Mastering Leftovers
28 Comments on Hilarybee:
As the recipient of Hilarybee's preserves, I can testify to their deliciousness. The peach jam is simply WOW, and I'm hoping it will magically multiply in the fridge because I will be very sad when it's all gone. What fun to see her in the spotlight!
Thank you, Vanessa! I'm glad you are enjoying them.
Great write-up- congratulations!
Thank you!
Great spotlight! Way to go Hilarybee! Your creations are really spectacular!
Thank you fiveandspice!
Congratulations on a well-deserved cook's spotlight! Your kirsch makes me want to get my hands on some moonshine!
Thank you! These days, decent moonshine isn't so hard to find in the alcohol section. Hudson makes a great moonshine for just sipping. For the kirsch, I usually spring for the cheaper stuff- Gerogia brand (Kentucky) Moonshine. I've driven across the Ohio/Kentucky and there are definitely some very interesting finds, whisky, bourbon and corn whiskey abound.
Congratulations :) lovely spotlight!
thank you! And thanks for organizing the secret santa!!
Great spotlight!
thanks and much thanks to bstar!
Hurrah! So great to see you here - perfect spotlight. I need to try that jam. You really lit your oven on fire?
Thank you!! Yes, yes I really lit the oven on fire making Helenthenanny's Devils on Hatchback- (Devils in her heart for my Beatles Bash). I didn't use a sided pan, and the grease pooled in the oven and ignition!
After a very thorough scrub and running the oven clean cycle three times, it is still in wonderful condition.
Lovely write-up of lovely you!
Thank you!
So great to see you in the spotlight, hillarybee!! It's much deserved. Many congrats, and keep cooking all your wonderful food!!
Thank you!
so nice to see you in the spotlight, Hilarybee!
Thanks, mrslarkin!
Hilarybee, your recipes have given us great pleasure! The Vanilla & Earl Grey Italian Cream Soda spawned a whole summer of soothing cold drinks, from the original on to adaptations using your model. The Crustless Quiche was served at a New Years Day brunch... thanks for all the inspiration.
I am so glad to hear it and so honored that you would use my recipes! Thank you!
So wonderful to see you in the spotlight, you are a wonder!!
Thank you!
Congrats, Hilarybee!
Thanks, BlissfulBaker!
Kristy is the Associate Editor of Food52.
added 4 months agoHilaryBee also knows how to throw a great party! Remember this fun Holtine thread? http://www.food52.com/hotline/3448-i-need-some-food-ideas-for-a-beatles-themed-party-i-d-like-to-have-dishes-inspired-by-songs-strawbe
All possible thanks to the help of wonderful food52-ers! My husband was extremely surprised and everything went well...except for lighting my oven on fire!
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