Most supermarkets sell big bags of coarsely chopped curly-leaf kale. I couldn’t have imagined such a product when I started writing fruit-and-vegetable cookbooks almost 20 years ago. Back then kale was only available in bundles, if at all. For the most part, the chopped product is free of thick stems, but the occasional sturdy bit or two sneaks in. That…
Cathy Thomas
Beautifully browned and coated with flavorful spices, these florets can be turned into a irresistible vegetarian meal by serving them over a bed of cooked farro or pasta. America’s Test Kitchen explains that cutting the cauliflower into top-to-bottom planks and then into flat-sided florets, maximizes the surface area for plenty of flavorful browning. The cooking process starts in a covered…
Fuyu persimmons are the tomato shaped variety that are a beautiful orange hue. Because they are not astringent, they can be eaten when apple-like firm, or when slightly softened. They are generally available late September through December. I love to add them to a ginger-enriched spinach salad. First, I create some ginger juice to create an irresistible edge to the…
Crunchy, tasty pizzazz = Tossed and toasted with agave syrup and oil. This recipe makes more of the crunchy quinoa topping than is used in the dish. The mixture can be thoroughly cooled and stored airtight up to 1 week at room temperature. Use it atop rice, baked apples or sliced stone fruit. Breakfast Bowls with Toasted Quinoa, Kiwi and…
Grocery shopping has its challenges. I try to strategize so that I get everything thing I need once a week. That usually means that at week’s end, all the lettuce has been consumed. So, I plan on end-of-week salads that don’t require lettuce. Japanese-style cucumber salad is one choice: it’s a light and refreshing side dish or starter. One of…
Are you ready to fall in love with the sweet side of lemons? Renowned French pastry chef Pierre Herme will win you over with his Ligurian Lemon Cake, a cake that shows off fresh raspberries and a crown of lightly browned meringue. It is delightfully moist, boasting both butter and extra-virgin olive oil to give alluring flavor and texture. Hungry?…
Something like a custardy baked pancake, clafouti is a French dessert that showcases fruit that is covered with a thick flan-like batter. Often dusted with powdered sugar, it’s served lukewarm or within 6 hours at room temperature. In this version, raspberries are the stars. Butter a 9-inch gratin dish. If you prefer, use a 9-inch cake pan. In a medium…
After our interview, I tried cookbook author Mark Bittman’s recipe for Turkish Breakfast, a cinch-to-make hummus paired with sliced tomatoes, cucumber, olives and whole-wheat toast. I added a slab of watermelon and served it for a luscious eat-every-bite dinner. Better yet, I tried it for breakfast. Delicious. Much – so much – more flavor-packed than my lonely egg. Turkish BreakfastYield:…