Summer lingers on, and so do some of our favorite seasonal foods. My passion for fresh local corn invariably results in enthusiastic overbuying at the local farm stands. After I have eaten as much grilled corn as I can, what to do with excess before it shrivels up and loses its juicy sweetness? As the […]
Welcome to late summer! The corn is high, and I am in a race to pick the cherry tomatoes at just the right stage of ripeness before the birds move in for a crafty peck or two. The zucchini are abundant on the vines and need to be harvested before they turn into inedible monsters […]
If you are searching for the perfect summer dish that is quick to prepare with minimal ingredients, then look no further than the national dish of Spain. This tapas bar favorite is pure simplicity and ideal for a quick and filling lunch or dinner and robust enough to qualify as a picnic staple. A slice […]
I have a lot of respect for the brave people who first tasted rhubarb in its raw and natural state and experimented until they finally rendered it edible. Its virtues are not immediately evident, with its poisonous leaves and sour stalks. Yet, once cooked with the required amount of sugar, this fruit (which is really […]
When late April hits and we have a few warm days, I start scouring the roadside stands for signs that fresh asparagus has arrived. I had my heart set on making a spring vegetable risotto for May and the press deadline left little wiggle room for finding my prize. A knock on the door and […]
As we head into spring, I am craving lighter meals with a comfort factor to see us through this fickle weather. Both of this month’s featured recipes are plant-based and quickly prepared with store cupboard staples. One-bowl, one-pot chickpea and spinach stew is vibrant with spices and the first of the local spinach. Hearty organic […]
I have been enjoying my friend Patty Zelinski’s Italian-influenced comfort dishes for more than three decades, and this month she shares her family recipe for Pizza Rustica. For me, nothing compares to her magnificent Easter feasts, and I particularly enjoy this delicious pie. In fact, I must restrain myself from consuming too much, as I […]
In a surprise twist, this coffee cake actually includes coffee in the ingredient list! Based on a traditional British favorite, I have substituted pecans in place of walnuts and added Bailey’s Liqueur to the buttercream frosting. This rich and moist cake is best served in small slices, with a fresh brewed cup of your favorite […]
Farmers in the ancient Franco-German region of Alsace had a unique way of testing the temperature of their wood burning ovens. Before they consigned their bread to the embers, they would first bake a Flammekeuche. If that was done to their liking, they could then trust the oven to bake the loaves that would feed […]
The bleak days of winter call for warm and comforting dishes. After the festive feasting, let’s take a leaf from our forebears’ book and embrace nourishing staples that store well over the winter and can be turned into inexpensive and filling meals. The Italians gave us polenta, yellow flint corn that is coarsely ground and […]
