When I mention that I love to cook, the next question is usually, “what do you like to cook?” It’s a good question that has sometimes led to a rapid recipe exchange but more often to painfully awkward moments while I strain to come up with some response. I didn’t grow up with a strong […]
Ready or not, fall schedules are here with all of the busyness this brings to our weeknight meal planing. At this time of year I find that even my well-intentioned meal plans fall by the wayside if I can get away with serving leftovers for dinner a night or two in a row. And then […]
A breakfast of fruit and yogurt often brings back memories of summer 2009 for me. Friends and I had just watched Food, Inc., which had served as a wakeup call to avoid processed foods and support local farmers. Newly energized to support local food producers, a friend and I joined a CSA. Several friends started making […]
Summer is the season for tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes. When I was in middle school, a friend and I used to enjoy homegrown tomatoes by the slice, with just a little salt on them to bring out those rich flavors. A tomato mozzarella (caprese) salad makes good use of all that fresh tomato […]
Pizza is one food that just about everyone can agree on loving from an early age. Even my two-year-old loves pizza night. The love of pizza not only transcends generations, it spans the centuries. Forms of pizza have been a beloved food since ancient times. Records show flat breads topped with vegetables, herbs and cheeses […]
If you’re planning a brunch for Mother’s Day (or any other fun excuse to have brunch), it’s a great idea to serve savory, protein-rich, veggie-filled dishes. After all, you want to keep chatting and enjoying time with friends and family, which can be hard to do if you’re crashing down from a sugar high. I […]
On particularly busy days, a melody from the Sound of Music floats through my mind. But instead of “how do you solve a problem like Maria,” what I’m singing to myself is, “how do you solve a problem like our dinner?” Sometimes cooking dinner is the last task of a day full of many other […]
Lately I’ve been reading The Curious Cook by the food scientist Harold McGee. He addresses some of the most perplexing kitchen questions, like “does blowing on hot food actually cool it down?” And “what can you do to keep guacamole from turning brown so quickly?” One other important question he tackles: is it okay to […]
When my husband and I lived in Chicago, we started a tradition of avoiding restaurants on Valentine’s Day. We figured they would be just too crowded. But since we still wanted to have a special meal without having to cook all day, we began to put together a great big indoor picnic with different kinds […]
If you’re familiar with the squeaky deliciousness of cheese curds, then you may have also had them served in one or two classic ways. You may have had them deep fried (maybe at home, or maybe at a state fair). Or, you may have had them in poutine, a dish that originated in Quebec and […]