I went to the market earlier and picked up a gorgeous bunch of fresh carrots with an excess of feathery green tops as well as a can of coconut milk for no good reason except that it was on sale. When I got home, I came across the lone ghost pepper I'd bought last week. While cooking dinner for the boys, I thought about risotto...
Read MoreEach time we go to our favorite Lebanese restaurant, my husband orders the fatteh blameh or seriously considers doing so. He loves the yogurt sauce that's spread over the stew as well as the pluck that sprinkled-on pomegranate arils provides...
Read MoreTomato soup is the ultimate in comfort. Much of the time, I prefer it to chicken noodle soup because of the thick, hearty factor and because I am a mad tomato lover. Plus, you can't dunk a grilled cheese in chicken soup, but life is better when you do so with tomato.
I love the subtle notes of hot pepper, lemon and saffron in my recipe, and after once adding white beans to get my sons to eat more soup, I decided I really loved their inclusion too.
This glorious salad is summer on a plate. The tomatoes and peaches pair beautifully and are elevated by the herbs, shallots, cheese and vinaigrette.
Use the best tomatoes you can find, and do not refrigerate them before using. Please- you will kill all their flavor and mar their texture. Use a young chèvre if you can, or really, any good goat cheese will do. If you're growing herbs in your garden, use those. They will taste more delicious than anything you buy. And use a ripe peach but not one that is remotely mushy.
I recently had an outstanding meal in Richmond, VA. My appetizers were the stars, and the flavors of the simple but perfectly executed arancini have stayed on the tip of my tongue since. Orbs of Manchego, rosemary and creamy rice were fried to a light, greaseless crisp and perched atop fig compote and adorned with pea tendrils. Each bite was breathtaking. As such, I simply had to recreate.
Because I don't love to fry at home and because I wanted more of an entree than appetizer, I decided on risotto; after all, the primary ingredient -rice- is the same.
Caramelized shallots, cabbage and tasso suspended in an egg custard and studded with goat cheese: this is just so, so good. It's rustic, full of flavor, easy to pull together and even better the next day. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner!
Read MoreCaramelized Brussels sprouts and shallots concentrate in flavor and soften just enough to provide a slight textural contrast to the pasta. The sherry offers a touch of sweetness that perfectly matches the savoriness of the veggies and the speck. The dish is subtle yet each bite suffuses your mouth with flavor. Sublime!
Read MoreFull of white beans, shrimp, aromatics and tomatoes, this is a simple, flavorful, one-pot, hearty stew for a cold night.
Read MoreA potage incorporates the vegetables (and/or meat) one has on hand, and today, a cold, gray one, I considered that a comfort dish like a fresh potage would not only satisfy but help me clean through my kitchen.
In my fridge I had a fresh pound of parsnips and some lingering rutabagas. My pantry proffered a handful of small red-skinned potatoes, some shallots, garlic and good olive oil. And a glance at my windowsill reminded me that one of the persimmons I’d plucked last month was finally seriously ripe.
This fennel confit is really delicious in a marvelously simplistic way. Eat it plain, or better, atop grilled bread slathered with ricotta.
Read MoreI adore sunchokes; they're nutty, earthy, flexible tuber. Here, I've used them in a wonderfully flavorful, robust, rich (but not heavy) winter soup!
Read MoreWhen the weather shifts towards a decidedly fall-into-winter temperature range, my cooking shifts too in an almost subconscious way. I like the way this makes me feel connected to the natural patterns of the world around me. The produce at the farmers market has been glorious of late: the deep greens of the lettuces, kales and their kin and the rich sunset-like hues of the tree fruits, winter squash and cruciferous clan. You almost can't avoid making a casserole or two and such was the impetus for this simple, satisfying bake.
Read MoreThis pasta dish was inspired by a meal I devoured in Florence, Italy. I don't actually recall what was in the ravioli there, but the creamy sauce flecked with speck (an Italian bacon) was out of this world. This is my homage to that.
Read MoreThis combination of fresh figs, caramelized onions and blue cheese is absolutely scrumptious, a perfect blend of sweet, salty and savory.
Read MoreAn unexpected salad, this is delightful in every way!
Read MoreJambalaya is a Creole specialty. Meat, traditionally tasso which is a cured ham from south Louisiana, is browned with onions, garlic and parsley and then cooked with rice and Creole spices. This is the recipe my Mom has been using as long as I can remember, and it is perfect! This is the recipe my Mom has been using as long as I can remember, and it is perfect!
Read MoreA wonderful, wintry blend of flavors. While delicious as a crostini, I suspect this would also be delicious as a savory dessert, atop french toast or tossed with pasta.
Read MoreThough I'll always prefer lobster rolls, a good shrimp roll is a fair second!
Read MoreThese are divine: great on cheese, bread, grilled meat, sandwiches, pretty much anything. I use them on pizza and in my caramelized shallot and tasso tart all the time!
Read MoreAn absolutely divine, perfect dish adapted from Cooks Illustrated. This is a time-consuming dish but well worth it. This recipe makes four Kievs; even if you don't plan to eat all four at the time of making, make them all and freeze your extras. You'll be glad you did!
Read Moremusings from a stay-at-home, cooking-obsessed mom
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