The versatility of pilaf makes it a welcome dish in a cook’s repertoire. Because it can be supplemented with a wide variety of vegetables, it’s a delicious way to use up produce that you have on hand. Diced carrots and celery; slivers of fresh fennel and diced zucchini; diced bell peppers and green onions; thinly sliced green beans and green…
Mixed organic cherry tomatoes are the focal point of this delicious pasta, showcasing an assortment of flavorful bite-sized wonders in an herbaceous, colorful pasta sauce. The mix provides a welcome balance of flavors. Red tomatoes have more sugar than acid. Orange and yellow tomatoes are less acidic and milder. Black and purples have umami and earthiness. Warning: Don’t substitute grape…
Here’s an easy dish that will get you back into easy entertaining at home! Fish en Papillote! Dramatic? Yes. Delicious? You bet. Cooking en papillote creates dishes that dazzle. And they are easy to prepare, perfect for post-pandemic dinners at home with friends. It’s the classic French technique that bakes ingredients sealed in a parchment-paper pouch. Each parcel contains one…
My kumquat trees are full of fruit. Well, let me clarify. Two trees have fruit; one lazy producer has one lonely kumquat. I devote most of my tree-growing dirt in my tiny yard to this vibrant fruit because I love the alluring attitude that they lend to dishes. Eating them raw out of hand doesn’t have the appeal that they…
Roasting richly-coated-with-olive oil asparagus in a toasty hot oven, brings out the sweetness in the beautiful spring vegetable. Whether the stalks are pencil thin or have cigar-size waistlines, this Ina Garten recipe is delicious and goes together quickly. Tender from Tough: As for removing the woody ends, my mother broke off the tough ends one by one, holding each spear…
Couscous’ neutral flavor lends itself to a wide variety of flavorings. Once cooked (hydrated with hot water), those petite spheres of semolina are traditionally topped with a stew. At my house, couscous is most often served as a side dish or a vegetarian entrée. This Moroccan-themed couscous is augmented with roasted vegetables. It can be served hot or for a…
Gratefully, this Refried Bean Soup is made with ingredients that I always have on hand: chicken broth, canned crushed tomatoes, garlic, onion, and of course, canned refried beans. It’s quick to prepare and the garnishes make it over-the-top delicious: shredded cheese and/or sliced green onions, chopped cilantro and/or sour cream. Tortilla chips are a must. Sample a big spoonful of…
When Molly Gilbert’s cookbook “Sheet Pan Suppers” (Workman, $15.95) was published in 2015, I fell in love with her one-dish meals, concoctions created on a single rimmed baking sheet. Of course, slow cookers can be one-pot culinary heroes, but I appreciate that sheet pan cookery creates dishes that aren’t slow-cooker soupy. This sheet pan dish got rave reviews from kids…