For working folks and busy families, the slow cooker can be a life saver. There was a time when I thought it was the greatest addition to kitchen appliances since the toaster, now there are simply too many to choose from. It was the one recommendation that I made to my father and my brother […]
Meatless
The Fully Loaded Baked Potato
When I say “loaded baked potato” probably the first image that comes to mind is a piping hot, fluffy Idaho russet potato loaded with butter, bacon bits, sprinkled with chives and topped with a dollop of sour cream and maybe a handful of shredded cheddar cheese for good measure. Sooo good, but sooo bad at […]
Simple Corn Pudding with Roasted Hatch Chile
This simple corn pudding recipe marries the nutrient-dense egg with America’s favorite vegetable: corn. Throw in mild hatch chiles complemented with a subtle sweetness and warm flavor of freshly grated nutmeg and you have a winning dish that screams “company is coming”, yet is secretly guilt-free. While many corn puddings call for a generous amount […]
Trufflicious: Low Fat Truffled Mashed Potatoes
Welcome to December 12, 2012! 12/12/12 is either lucky or the end of the world as we know it according to the ancient predictions of Nostradamus and the Mayans. Considered auspicious by some, doomed by others, and just plain easy to remember by many. The number certainly holds significance in human existence through the millennia, a […]
Saffron Rice with Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts
Saffron imparts a lovely golden hue and a touch of the exotic to fragrant basmati rice, and, combined with golden raisins and bit of crunchy nuttiness from pine nuts, produces a sweet and savory combination that I love. It’s easy to make and a dish that you can turn to for everyday meals or special […]
Cheese Board Pizza with Champagne Grapes
Jump to Recipe Saying “Yes” to the best in seasonal produce when approached by companies like Melissa’s Produce, is one of the perks of being a food writer and occasional recipe developer. I’m grateful to receive some fingerling potatoes or plumcots or, most recently, champagne grapes to play around with in the kitchen; it saves […]
SOL’s Sweet Potato and Black Bean Taco
In February, I attended a party at SOL COCINA to celebrate Chef Deborah Schneider and her Baja-style tacos being featured in Oprah’s O Magazine! (February issue). Writer Julie Powell declares a Taco Fiesta: the Easiest Dinner Party You’ll Ever Throw; there’s no argument from me that a taco bar with an array of fillings and toppings is a […]
Quinoa Tabbouleh with Endive
About a month ago, I received a box of California endive from the wonderful people at Discover Endive! Inside the box was a bouquet of red and white endive as well as two packages of endive to play with in the kitchen. I had never seen endive still attached to the root ball and it […]
Super Food: Kale with Caramelized Squash and Onions
Depending on what Super Food list you’re reading , kale may or may not be on it. Regardless, kale is enjoying the limelight these days because “healthy” kale chips have found their way into markets such as Whole Foods and Trader Joes and publicity surrounding a Vermont T-shirt maker face-off with a certain fast food […]
Hoppin’ John and Football
Eating Hoppin’ John with blackeyed peas is a Southern New Year’s tradition to bring good luck and, with the addition of greens, which represent money, prosperity in the new year. Some suggest that the origin of this “good luck” tradition dates back to the Civil War, when Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General Sherman, typically […]