Recipe Index: Vespa Woolf's Favorites
Vespa Woolf's Recipe Index
A 7-year-old girl in pigtails and a sweat-soaked sundress, I lingered in the shade of our old oak tree. Stains from the neighbor's cherry tree dotted our sidewalk and perfectly good fruit was going to waste. Too young to cook, I wondered what to do? And then I had an epiphany—I’d make cherry wine!
Of course, I'd never really tasted wine. But I could imagine the crimson liquid sparkling in my parents' glasses as they toasted my success. I'd sell my famous liquor to the neighbors and relatives. I'd be rich. I'd be the talk of the town.
Knowing nothing of sterilization, I chose containers of doubtful cleanness to bottle my concoction. I corked them and waited, shaking the bottles daily for several weeks. When my patience ran its course I tasted the cloudy, unappetizing liquid. Bitter and biting, it was cherry vinegar at the very best. I spat it on the ground, repulsed.
My journey with food had begun. I eagerly cooked for the family as soon as I was old enough to stir a pot. As a grown-up I started to work with food, cooking under some of the best chefs I know.
I am the kind of person who hangs out in the produce section, thumping and sniffing in search of the perfect mango or melon. My background in food eventually led to food writing. The rest is history.
We hope this index makes it easy for you to zero in on a recipe you'd like to duplicate in your own kitchen. You'll find plenty of photos and step-by-step instructions. Let’s start with my favorite—dessert!


Desserts/Candies
Do you have a sweet tooth? Even if you indulge infrequently due to health concerns, there's always the time and place for a decadent dessert: a cake bake-off, perfect cupcakes for a baby shower or homemade chocolates for that special anniversary gift.
- Homemade Butter Caramels with Pink Sea Salt Recipe
- Dark Chocolate Bark with Caramelized Nuts & Pink Salt Recipe
- Chewy Blondies With Chocolate Chips & Salted Caramel
- Blackberry & Lemon Mini Bundt Cakes
- Moist Chocolate Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting & Cherry Ganache Filling Recipe
- Moist Chocolate Cupcakes With Buttercream Frosting
- Creamy Mango Cheesecake Recipe
- Vanilla Panna Cotta
- Exotic Wild Berry Sauce
- Frosted Sugar Cookies & Easy Decorating Tips
- Quick & Easy Mug Brownies
- Yellow Cupcakes With Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Carrot Cake Frosting Recipes
- 20 Apple Recipes: What To Do With So Many Apples?
- How to Make Powdered Sugar

High Altitude Dessert Recipes
Ice Cream
I scream, you scream~we all scream for ice cream! Nothing cools us off faster on a mid-summer's day. Try an old standby like ice cream sandwiches or something new and unique like horchata ice cream. Either way, your family will thank you.
- Horchata Ice Cream With Bananas & Salted Caramel Sauce
- Decadent Mocha Almond Sundaes
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Waffle Cones
- How to Make Fried Ice Cream with Sopapillas & Pear-Honey Sauce
- Fudgy Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
Appetizers/Snacks
Looking for Super Bowl appetizers? Or comfort food for that lazy Saturday afternoon? Sample these satisfying snacks.
- The Best Homemade Mexican Salsa Recipe
- Authentic Pico de Gallo (Fresh Salsa) Recipe
- Mexican Guacamole Recipe
- Smoky & Creamy Baba Ganoush
- Chewy Whole Grain Pita Bread Recipe
- Healthy Mexican Recipe: Easy Grilled Tostadas

Mexican-Style Recipes
From mole to guacamole, nothing satisfies like that south-of-the-border flavor. Learn to make homemade corn tortillas from dried corn and lime or throw together a quick batch of fresh salsa. The choice is yours!
- Sweet and Smoky Mexican Mole
- The Best Chili con Carne Recipe
- The Best Homemade Mexican Salsa Recipe
- Authentic Pico de Gallo (Fresh Salsa) Recipe
- The Best Mexican Guacamole Recipe
- Homemade Corn Tortillas from Dried Corn & Lime
- Healthy Mexican Recipe: Easy Grilled Tostadas
- Smoky Steak Fajitas
Main Dish
Are you craving Asian take-out or a plate overflowing wth homemade spaghetti? You'll find an assortment of main dishes for special occasions and everyday dining.
- Savory Oven-Baked Pot Roast Recipe
- Osso Buco: The Elegant Alternative to Pot Roast
- Easy Cheesy Calzone Recipe
- Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe Made With Fresh or Canned Tomatoes
- Fresh Basil Pesto: Peruvian & American Pesto Recipes
- Fluffy Gluten-Free Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
- Spicy Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles Recipe
- Succulent Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs
- XXX Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Chicken Salad
Main Dish Soups
Whether you choose comforting tomato soup or exotic mulligatawny, these soups will warm you up and fill your belly on frigid winter nights.
- Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
- Sultry Mulligatawny or Spicy Lentil Soup
- Thick & Creamy Tomato Soup From Fresh or Canned Tomatoes

Sides
Nothing complements your main course like a tasty side dish. Try a pile of Crispy Homemade Fries, some healthy Tabouli salad or a bowl of Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
- Three Italian Side Dishes: Meatballs, Chicken Cacciatore & Eggplant Parmesan
- How to Make Crispy Homemade French Fries
- How to Fry Sweet Potato Fries
- Tabouli, the Gluten-Free Super Salad
- Smoky & Creamy Baba Ganoush
- XXX Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese
- 10 Easy Steps for the Creamiest Mashed Potatoes
- Authentic Peruvian Aji Sauce Recipe
- Top BBQ Sauces: 5 Recipes by Region
Homemade Breads
Learn about the artisanal pleasure of kneading dough. Your mouth will water as the fragrance of baking bread fills your home. Throw together a quick batch of blueberry-lemon scones for the gang at work.
- How to Make Perfect Homemade English Muffins
- Overnight Egg Bagels with Blueberry Cream Cheese
- Chewy Whole Grain Pita Bread Recipe
- Nutty Whole Grain Naan Bread
- Heavenly Blueberry-Lemon Scones


Breakfast
Are you looking for the perfect pancake for Sunday brunch? Or a healthy breakfast like Swiss Muesli or Granola for the work week? Either way, you'll find it here. Check out my German grandfather's special recipe for Cinnamon Buns.
- Cracker Barrel-Style Pancakes
- Easy Recipe for Moist Banana Bread
- How to Make Perfect Homemade English Muffins
- Soft & Gooey Maple-Oat Cinnamon Buns
- Deluxe Cinnamon Toast
- Mini Bacon & Spinach Breakfast Soufflés
- Overnight Egg Bagels with Blueberry Cream Cheese
- Bircher Swiss Muesli
- Quick & Easy Applesauce
- Quick & Easy Breakfast Panini
- Heavenly Blueberry-Lemon Scones
- Quick & Easy Granola (lemonkerdz)
- How to Make Smoothies Without Yogurt
- Best Homemade Protein Shake Recipe
- Quick & Easy Breakfast Parfaits
- Italian Potato Frittata
- How to Make Homemade Yogurt
- Four Oatmeal Recipes for Breakfast
Beverages
What's the secret to the best limeade? Can you drink fresh milk? Read these articles to learn the answers.
- How to Make Perfect Limeade
- Tangy Mango Lemonade
- Pasteurizing Milk at Home: The Quick & Easy Way (lemonkerdz)
- Chicha Morada: Peruvian Purple Corn Drink That Fights Inflammation
- Frothy Pisco Sour Recipe
- How Do You Make the Best Margaritas?
- How to Make a Latte or Cappuccino
Ingredient & Cooking Information
So you want to overhaul Grandma's salmon croquet recipe but aren't sure how? Do you have a hankering for Asian-Mexican fusion cuisine but don't have a clue where to start? Learn how to create your own recipes in the following series of articles.
- Copyright a Recipe? How to Properly Attribute Recipes
- Get Inspired to Create Your Own Recipes
- How to Create Your Own Recipes
- How to Choose Healthy & Tasty Cooking Oils
- 15 Ways to Prevent Food Poisoning
- Andean Pink Salt of the Sacred Valley
- Purple Corn or Maiz Morado: Health Benefits
- Sacha Inchi: Source of Vegetarian Omega 3's and More
- How to Lose Belly Fat, Thigh Fat, Hip Fat
- How to Lose Belly Fat- Test for Dr. Abravanel's Body Type Diet
- Weight Loss Plan For Men--Dr. Abravanel's Body Type Diet
- Dr. Abravanel's Weight Loss Plan: Thyroid Body Types
- Body Types Diet-Adrenal Body Types
- Body Types Diet-Gonadal Body Type
- Body Types Diet-Pituitary Body Type
- How to Cope With Anxiety Through Diet
- What´s So Great About Hemp Oil? 4 Reasons to Try Hemp Oil
Restaurant Reviews
If you're planning a trip to Peru then you've come to the right place! Learn where to dine in Cusco and Machu Picchu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Best Upscale Dining in Cusco: Review of Cicciolina Restaurant
- Restaurant Review: Try Granja Heidi in Cusco, Peru for lunch
- Restaurants in Cusco: The Best Bakeries (lemonkerdz)
- Best Restaurant near Machu Picchu: Review of the Indio Feliz Restaurant
Last But Not Least...
Comments
Candies are my favorites apart from a few more things you mentioned above. You have created a nice compilation.
i love that scezhuan noodles, must read your hub
Wow... Thanks for sharing this yummy hub.
I love all the details and imagery in your intro! Sounds like you have some great recipes here, too. Voted up!
OH wow. I never knew you had such a great collection of tantalizing food articles. Just Awesome!
I have just bookmarked this page so I can easily find your wonderful recipes when I am looking for something different...thank you!
What a plethora of recipes. I can wait to start trying them. Up and awesome.
This is definitely one of the best hubs that I have ever encountered! Oh my goodness, can you see my mouth watering!? Clicking on my bookmark button right now! I will be back for more. ;-) Great hub!
You have made me so hungry by reading your hub! You have listed many delicious things here. Have you ever considered becoming a chef?
When ever I make it rich, I will have to hire you to make all these wonderful dishes! sooo yummyyyy :-) Awesome, useful, interesting..Up she goes.
This is such a creative and awesome Hub! What a wonderful idea.
Oh, my! You are making me hungry in the middle of the night. You are one of my "cook books" now. This recipe index is a great idea. Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely day!
Now, I am hungry! lol
This was a good idea. You should author a cookbook. You have some very nice looking work. You always make me hungry!
I always like all your food recipes they all look so good. Voted up and shared.
Oh my do these photos tantalize! I am so hungry now! I will definitely be following you!
Yum! Everything here looks so good! Now i'm hungry.
A fantastic collection - thanks for putting them clearly on one page - much easier than sorting through the unordered profile!
NICE! What a great collection of recipes. I can't wait to try the cookies; I'm definitely going to be pinning this for future use. Thank you!
What a terrific Hub. So many great recipes, the pictures are wonderful and all the work you did to index them and put them at our fingertips. My family loves Baba Ganoush, so I think I will add that to tonight's stuffed peppers for dinner. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. :)
I love this hub and what a great idea! I never thought of indexing hubs together like this. I am amazed at the hub recipes you have! They all sound delicious and it is great to have them all in one place. Brilliant!
Vespa Woolf, you are definitely one talented chef. Thanks for organizing these delicious desserts and appetizers for us.
I always knew you are an amazing cook! But this hub for sure highlights it! Great job!
Great! You are one of my cookbooks now! I love how you put all of these links together. When I'm in the mood for something, I can do a quick browse and find something good!
Delightful! I am so glad I found you. The panna recipes are hardly ever heralded but I love them! Excellent!
Wow! Incredible presentation of such a wonderful idea and looks so delicious!
OMG! You really made me drool! I wanna' try that yummy spaghetti! I loove tomato-based sauces. Upped and shared this one, by the way. hihihi...
O my...I got dizzy viewing all of the choices. thank you for sharing this carefully organized cookbook. I am bookmarking it of course and pinning. thanks a bunch. The story of how you got here was a great introduction to this article too.
Sending Angels to you and yours this evening :) ps
This is wonderful! I love the way you consolidated all your recipes into this one hub and made it so interesting at the same time! I noticed some recipes in here that I had missed. Good reason for this hub, huh! Voted this up and sharing! :)
I *love* this list! I just had dinner but this made me HUNGRY! Sharing this! :)
What a fabulous way to consolidate your recipes in one hub. I love the way you can scroll and see all the recipes and go through each one. Clever idea and very well done. Big thumbs up and shared! Happy New Year!---Lisa
All your recipes sound and look so good. Enjoyed your cute story, thanks! Happy New Year!
Hurry up and publish that cookbook. You have the most awesome recipes.
Oh you are a foodie! My mouth is watering as I look through these--
This is gorgeous! I would love to try some of those Mexican food recipes. They look simply delicious. Nice work!
This is a great way to find your recipes. Although I'm wondering how you were able to use titles as is without getting the duplicate flag. When I tried to list my titles this way in my indexes, HP wouldn't allow me because it considered them duplicates. So I had to reword my titles. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Gorgeous photos that make everything look so tempting! Your idea of an index is great and bookmarking this hub will get a person access to so many of your yummy recipes. They all look so good it's hard to decide which ones to try first . . . voted up, UA and will share.
Vespa-thanks for your thorough response and encouragement. I'm about 5 hours drive from Charleston and it happens to be the city my nephew will be moving near when he graduates from high school here.
I did see the movie Julie and Julia and am in agreement with you-it was so inspirational I had to watch it over again just to relish the moments of triumph Julie had with her dinner parties and meals, such as conquering the duck. I don't have that much determination, that is to get through J.C's entire book in a year. I picked the book up at the bookstore thinking I might buy it and was turned off. I like a cookbook with lots of colorful photographs. I think I am a visual and kinesthetic learner. BTW-you mentioned you were originally from the Midwest? Which state? I'm originally from Michigan.
I'd love to have a tea room, but I doubt that Michigan would be the place for that business and its where I'm headed once J is on his way to college. My grandkids live there and I'm missing out on being with them.
You have already wrote your cookbook. It is all right here. Beautiful mouth watering pictures to make people want to cook your recipes, and an index that shows them where they are. An internet cookbook E-book is already made bundle it up and send it to Kindle as an ebook and good luck . This is a great project. This is hands on information. WOW. Do something daring today!
THANK YOU! This awesome hub is not just useful as an index to your specific recipes, but inspiring. It seems the longer I am writing on HP the more recipe hubs I've written. I've actually considered starting a separate account for just food and food related articles, but this hub appears to be a problem solver. I like the layout. Would you mind if I 'borrowed' your idea and categorized my recipes in the same way?
I was so thrilled to read that you have studied with famous cooks/chefs. I have been struggling with trying to find out where I fit in with being a grown up in this world and making a living. (I'm burned out from my current career). As time has passed these last two months, I've realized that I love food, not just to eat, but to create something good and to nurture those I love.
Second, I love to take photos of food, ha ha. I drive my family crazy when all they want to do is eat and I'm still standing there with my camera yelling, "hands off!".
Third I love tea and have fantasized about having a tea room, but realize how financially risky it is right now, not to mention that I have no experience in the food industry or retail.
And yet, I feel a strong urge to take culinary classes. Any suggestions? BTW-rated up/A/U/I Thanks!
What a fun hub! I can just picture that little girl you were! Thank you for all these amazing recipes! up+ and sharing!
A helpful hub packed with all of your tasty recipes, drool-worthy photos and sweet childhood memories. I will check out more of your recipe hubs. You are indeed an amazing cook and you created wonderful gourmet dishes. You ought to open a restaurant-chain of your own and create a huge success story. Way to go!
Thanks for SHARING. Useful & Awesome. Voted up, pinned & shared
Oh wow! I knew I should have waited to read this hub when I had more time! There are so many recipes that I want to learn from your hub and right now I am busy. I'll definitely come back to read the recipes! Thanks for sharing!
This is one of the best hubs I have seen. It is laid out beautifully and thoughtfully. Stunning photos. I agree with others, you should publish a cookbook. Definitely sharing and voted up, up, up.
I can see that I have already clicked on many of your super recipes, but have more to go to read them all. How nice that you have them all arranged in one hub for easy access. I got a kick out of reading about your early cooking adventure with the cherries. Obviously you have greatly improved since that first experiment! Haha! Up, useful and sharing.
How great, all in one place - bookmarked, pinned etc. Great idea, no more taking ages to type in things one by one. By the way, I made your blondies last weekend - OMG.....they were gorgeous!
This is quite a collection of yummy recipes..Love the blondies and others. Will bookmark this for future needs. Great photos...best ever. Voted UP+++
What a great resource! I'm pinning this.
Seriously - when is your cookbook coming out. This is a great idea with awesome recipes! I made your guacamole last week. Pinned and shared. Voted up too!
Hi Vespa,
What a brilliant idea!! How cool to have all my vespa recipe's in an easy index - love this idea!! So many mouth watering delights, you never fail to come up with gorgeous ideas for all occasions, congrats on a great hub, love your intro story of you and cherry wine!!
Such an eloquent writer, look forward to more stories!!
VU, everything else, shared and pinned!!
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