real recipes. made up people, places, and things
Yes, cheese bread! Rich in color and flavor, crackling with crisp parmesan and studded with pockets of tangy sharp cheddar cheese this quick bread is everything its name suggests and more. All the careful considerations of America’s Test Kitchen’s quick cheese bread but brought up a notch, with more cheese and more spice. If you […]
I suppose that pizza is not the only thing this lemon garlic white sauce might be good with but it pairs so perfectly with winter vegetables like brussel sprouts or cauliflower that I haven’t used it for anything else. Roasted the garlic mellows the garlic flavor enough to allow you to use a whole head […]
Like all the best recipes these easy sautéed mushrooms allow for substitutions and modifications. chanterelles out of season? shiitakes too darn expensive? cremini cramping your style? switch it out. just follow a few basic principles and you have a most simple, delicious, easy and satisfying side dish or garnish. Bonus points for being vegan and […]
Dead simple and delicious, marionberry or blackberry hard cider poached pears served with luscious honey whipped cream.
A little nutty, a little tart, smooth and somewhat sweet. This is a frozen drink for cold days, it’ll give you chills in the best sort of of way. Because you love it, and because you want more. The only problem with this Pear Pomegranate Amaretto Cocktail is that is that if you’re not careful […]
These are the cookies that get requested each holiday season. Dark with molasses and loaded with spice, as a gingersnap should be, they warm and comfort. Delicious on their own, with hot chocolate, spiced cider, or dipped in milk. They can be soft and a bit chewy or crispy- it’s up to you. The Gingersnap […]
What’s more comforting on a cold autumn evening than roasted winter squash? Mostly savory with just a little bit of sweet, this stuffed acorn squash can be an easy weeknight meal or the centerpiece of a delicious vegetarian feast. The sweet and creamy nature of the squash is balanced with a dose of ancient grains […]
Deliciously easy sweet peppers and onions roasted with balsamic vinegar
An autumn squash pie made with fresh roasted kuri squash (or your favorite pumpkin type winter squash), a not quite pumpkin spice blend of spices, and a don’t ask don’t tell one hundred percent deliciously graham cracker like honey whole wheat flaky pastry crust. Best of all this bad boy bakes up in an 8” […]
Inspired by chimichurri this is my all purpose, add to almost anything sauce. It has a little heat, a little zest, and a lot of green.
Small batch summer vegetable fritters are for those of us who can’t choose just one. Corn? Green beans? Peppers? Have one or have them all- it just takes a few more bowls and and less than five more minutes to make a fritter buffet showcasing all the summer vegetables. I won’t mention the summer squashes […]
Some may see this as a desperate attempt to make something other than enchiladas or salsa verde with my bounty of tomatillos but I’m going to stick with sort of genius. Not full on genius, that’s reserved for novels that make me both laugh and cry, math with all sorts of symbols, and world peace. […]
The subtle spice of cardamon and clove play nice with a kick of brandy, and a not too sweet chocolate chaser. Best of all, on a hot summer evening- frozen. Chai Brandy Alexander cocktails are the dessert drink I can’t wait to share with a crowd. The brandy alexander is a lesson in moderation. When […]
There is something immensely satisfying about baking something that is both beautiful and tasty, add two notches of oh yeah for using up some garden fresh tomatoes. With just a whisper of sweet, this mostly savory skillet cornbread does double duty as a summer tomato upside down cake. Whether you call it cornbread or corn […]
Luscious, rich caramel ice cream softened with spice and the subtle bitterness of black coffee. The kind of dessert that you feel compelled to tell every one who tries that you made that, that ice cream is you. Take said coffee caramel ice cream and sandwich it between two layers of soft, rich chocolate cookie, you […]
There is nothing quite as perfect as a salsa fresca made with summertime ripe and bountiful tomatoes, fresh tomatoes bursting with flavor and variety, no uniformly red hot house fruit but the variety and zip that only something fresh and local has to offer. Now is the time for this summertime chilaquiles recipe made with […]
Nothing cools on a sultry summer night like this easy to assemble coconut panna cotta- dairy free and not too sweet it’s the more sophisticated and relaxed grown up version of jello you’ve been waiting for. A dessert with the tang of fresh lime, tropical back notes of banana and coconut milk, and just the […]
These coconut curry noodles with grilled pickled vegetables are a quick and simple spicy noodle dish- inspired by bahn mi and thai coconut curry, and delicious hot or cold. If it wasn’t for those charred pickled vegetables this would fall into the weekday food in my mouth right now catagory. But those veggies are worth […]
Feel like spring in a glass? plus gin. Because. Well. Gin. Whip up a batch of Garden Gimlets: gin gimlet w/fresh cucumber, lime, & basil. When spring arrives each week at the farmers market (or in your garden, if you are so lucky) brings new revelations. Berries, basil, cucumbers of all varieties. The first week of […]
Topped with fresh berries and brightened up with just a hint of lime zest- this could be breakfast or brunch or a delightful summertime dessert. All of the tender eggy goodness of a swedish pancake but baked in one go on a sheet pan. So no hot stove just bake and go! I was once […]
A little bit kofta, a little bit gyro- these ground beef kebabs with yogurt dipping sauce have all the fresh herbs you want in a summer time grill with just a hint of the warm spices you traditionally find in kofta. Addictively good, on the grill or on a grill pan, with a healthy heap […]
This quick and easy mushroom salt is the umami addition to all your favorite savory treats that you wonder why you haven’t tried yet. So quick and easy you can whip up a batch in under five minutes and start spreading it with flair. Go ahead, be the mushroom salt bae. This mushroom salt can […]
Crispy potato wedges breaded with a flavorful mixture of mushroom salt and garbanzo flour then baked to crispy goodness. These Jo-Jos are flavorful enough to eat on their own but oh so addictive when served with ranch dressing (I’ve included my favorite quick and easy off the cuff Ranch dip in the recipe below) Jo-Jos […]
This is the grownup slushy that I’m willing to wash the blender for. Refreshing, red, laced with a hint of orange blossom, and just a little bit boozy so, as long as you can manage to sip slowly, it’s the perfect hot afternoon yard beverage. Campari Orange Slushy with triple sec and orange blossom water […]
Most days tortillas are one of the few items I give myself permission to buy pre-made, but some days call for homemade, for the flavor and slight imperfections of made from scratch. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a perfectly round tortilla lacks the flavor found in a tortilla just slightly off center. Sure, […]
A rhubarb jam where rhubarb is the star. With half the sugar of the recipe that inspired it this not too sweet rhubarb refrigerator jam is addictive on toast or waffles and is the perfect filling for pop tarts or a slab pie. You would think by now I would learn to always write things […]
Jam packed with fruit and flavor- I was delighted to “have” to test this recipe more than once. The first batch was just the right amount of tender and perfectly balanced between rhubarb, pastry, and sweet cardamom glaze, in short, amazing, once I finally got it together, but handling the dough, measuring out rectangles, […]
Bring on the sunny days and brightly colored drinks. Refresh yourself with this easy/fancy sipper made with homemade hibiscus infused vodka. Mostly a sidecar but perhaps more like the sort of sidecar you might find in the tropics- bright pink, strong enough for the bumpy roads. Maybe like this vintage vespa 150 from Bali ? […]
Five ingredients, twenty minutes, tender, flavorful. These pickle brine biscuits, lined with a green layer of pesto, just happen to be vegan. I’ve been happy to test and re-test this recipe over the last few days. These make an amazing lid for egg salad (or its faux egg alternative if vegan is your thing). My […]
Egg rolls so packed with flavor you don’t need a dipping sauce- making them the perfect party snack. Fried or baked, these crispy egg rolls are jam-packed with green vegetables and, wait for it, here’s the genius part, a secret cream cheese layer that adds flavor and structure. Plus a prosciutto bonus round. Your guests […]
Tajin Chile Lime Seasoning and Chocolate Marbled Banana Bread: whew that’s a mouthful. I’m addicted to this not too sweet combination of dark chocolate swirled with a subtly spiced banana batter, the result is tender and flavorful without veering too far into dessert territory. Even the Mr. who, maddeningly, can take or leave most desserts […]
An easy creamy stove top macaroni and cheese studded with a healthy serving of spring greens that comes together in less than 15 minutes. Bowl optional. For a lighter slightly more grown up, but equally quick, take on peas and pasta you might want to try my summer peas and angel hair pasta This is not […]
New England style hot dog or lobster rolls made without a specialty hot dog bun pan: a little bit classic buttery top loading New England style bun, a little bit deliciously soft yet structured Japanese milk bread. Stuff it with lobster, shrimp salad, or a dog. want something equally soft and squishy but a little […]
Guinness Irish Stout and Mushroom Gravy Another recipe that is not really a recipe. More of a guideline, a picture map that encourages substitution and experimentation. It is just gravy after all. Initially the Guinness was the only liquid but when I re-heated it this morning for biscuits and gravy I added some milk because […]
Mizuna Citrus Salad w/ avocado and jicama A simple refreshing salad, lightly dressed, and studded with tropical flavors and textures. Do you remember when there were only three brands of tequila and three kinds of greens? Now I can barely keep up. Yes kids ,there was a time when Patron and Arugula were considered fancy/exotic/unusual. […]
