August = Preserving in the Heartland + a new Ball Blue Book
Oh friends, these sultry days make my heart sing. Typically I’m a fan of autumn, with my sugar maple in its yellow glory, friends wearing chunky sweaters at the campfire after apple picking. Since...
View ArticleRed Gold’s new sriracha ketchup, and burger slaw magic
If you live at my house, burgers are on the menu and home and away. At home Lauro swears that “a caballo” is the best way to enjoy a burger or pizza. To my American ear, this makes no sense, because...
View Article5 ways to rock mothers day brunch – and a menu
In my dreams, Mothers Day always brings fair weather and fresh air. Mothers Day is simply the essence of spring. When gathering your family to celebrate mom, keep a couple things in mind for your...
View ArticleEggs in tomato sauce: quick and simple
As much as I love spending hours puttering in the kitchen, sometimes I want something quick and comforting. What could be easier that warming up my favorite tomato sauce and then poaching an egg? More...
View ArticleAnna’s full of greens fritters
Full of greens fritters from Anna Jones of A Modern Way To Eat We have a number of smashing great springtime cookbooks, and I’m lucky enough to have received some gifts from the good folk at Ten Speed...
View ArticleEspresso shortbread tart with dark chocolate glaze
Coffee in a shortbread cookie – hello! A marriage meant to last. Or dessert for any time. This simple, elegant dessert is great for the finale of a romantic dinner, or a great hostess gift if you’re...
View ArticleHandmade pasta how-to
I read recently that we never forget out childhood neighbors. So true for me. I was the babysitter for the Williams family from the time I turned 13 to when I went away to school. Toward the end it...
View ArticleLucky new year black-eyed peas with citrus cilantro gremolata
Can we talk about beans? Simply put, they may just be a perfect food. Economical, versatile, easy, healthy. So why such a challenge, I wonder? Lauro spend his university days in England, where it...
View ArticleWhiskey sour: a frothy cocktail for any occasion
A whiskey sour is just as delicious shaken in a mason jar. My cocktail shaker is the most popular guest at my gatherings, and thus it is often occupied when I’m ready for a beverage (hello,...
View ArticleChocolate-drizzled potato chips, for the easiest of entertaining
Chocolate-drizzled potato chips Are you another passenger on a freight train roaring toward Christmas? I can’t call mine the polar express because there’s been absolutely no snow in Chicago, although...
View ArticleEasy pie dough recipe & notes on a perfect pie crust
Few delights surpass a delicious, flaky homemade pie crust. I’ve had my share of fails, and when I taught team building cooking classes I even had a team declare itself the “Soggy Bottom Tarts.” I...
View ArticleWhite beans with tuna: a quick anytime lunch
Janine’s tuna and white bean salad My recipes on this site typically focus on farm fresh ingredients from the market. This is a bit of a departure from that, because sometimes a quick recipe from...
View ArticlePear love: open-faced sandwiches with blue cheese
Ralph Waldo Emerson said “there are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat. ” I understand Mr. Emerson‘s sentiment. Pears are picked unripe, and they ripen from the inside...
View ArticleFresh-juiced bloody mary with cilantro oil = brunch splendidness
When I was traveling to research Farmers’ Markets of the Heartland, I fell in love with tomatoes all over again. As a child, late summer meant toasted mayo-smeared tomato sandwiches on Spatz Bread,...
View ArticlePeanut butter granola with pepitas for summer house guests
August marks the home stretch of summer and, for me, a headlong rush to squeeze in every flip-flop wearing, campfire s’mores roasting, U-pick berry farm visiting that I can pack in before Labor Day....
View ArticleDorie’s Cherry Crumb Tart
My friend Dorie Greenspan is a wonder. She writes these big, comprehensive, fun, delicious cookbooks, collaborates with the likes of Pierre Hermes and Daniel Bouloud and knows how to tie a scarf so...
View ArticleA cheese course to relax over: for Paris in July
I was invited to participate in Paris in July. Actually, I may have invited myself, because who doesn’t want to fantasize about Paris? In July! Or any time really. First I spotted it spotted it on...
View ArticleTomato white bean salad: what goes with the grill
When I taught cooking, one of my most popular classes was What Goes With the Grill. It seems that people feel pretty confident about cooking over an open flame, but are a little flummoxed about what...
View ArticleStrawberry fest: recipes for a luscious summer
Strawberries are in! I wait all year for this time. I remember as a second grader and visiting my friend Michelle. Her family had rows and rows of strawberries in the backyard. On sunny summer...
View ArticleA sweet and bitter salad: arugula with honey and salty cheese
My visit with the good people of the National Honey Board reminded me that there are so many ways to enjoy honey, beyond using it to sweeten things up. Like drizzling it on yogurt. Or making Honey...
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