I swear I don’t do it on purpose. But somehow, whenever John leaves town for a conference, I seem to end up cooking something I know he would love. Sometimes I feel guilty about this. He is in Recife, Brazil for 8 days. I will let you draw your own conclusions about my guilt level…
Oxtail Stew with Cinnamon, Star Anise, Orange and Gremolata
Each of the past few years Yotam Ottolenghi’s books (Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi; Jerusalem: A Cookbook) have topped my Christmas wish list. This year’s re-issue of this first book, Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, I was totally prepared to have it also topping my list. But before I could even get the title typed out,…
Thai Laksa Inspired Beef Stew with Mushrooms, Shallots and Tomatoes
It is funny, the way you can raise 2 kids close to the same (although of course not identically) and have them turn out so differently. I may have mentioned Sammy is my sensitive one where Alex is more prosaic. Well we have finally had a fish death.
Chorba (Moroccan Soup of Chickpeas, Vermicelli and Vegetables)
When I chose my island for my kitchen, my builder thought I was crazy for picking such a large one. Clearly he is not a cook, because there is just no such thing as too much counter space in the kitchen. I am a cluttered person, and being able to always have counter free for…
Farro Pasta with Mushrooms, Apples and Sausage
A long time ago, before kids, when I worked outside of the home every day, stovetop pasta dishes were one of my favorite fast standby meals. They have endless variations, leading to endless creativity, and they cook up very quickly. Since becoming a stay at home mom, I do have more time to putter in…
Quesadillas with Black Beans, Corn and Tomatoes
A few days ago we finally got a fish for Alex’s aquarium. We knew you were suposed to start small–i.e., don’t get 10 fish at once–so we just got one. But here is the problem. We got the fish at Meijer’s, where I had not been planning to buy a fish, but we were there…
Trofie Pasta with Bacon, Crimini and Cherry Tomatoes
You may have been wondering what is going on with the aquarium project (check out the Spanish Soup post for a picture). We have had some issues getting the heater working right, so we still don’t have any fish (much to Alex’s irritation). But stay tuned! I am hoping to have some tomorrow!
Spanish Inspired Soup of Cauliflower, Peas and Shrimp with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika
I have this recurring dilemma about summer food. I realize that for many people a soup or stew does not sound great during the summer. But a lot of soups and stews are traditionally made all over the world in hot climates. Sometimes I feel like it is only those of us who live in…
Indonesian Sour Fish From Sulawesi
I like my fish prepared pretty much one of three ways: dusted in a starch and fried or sautéed, in sushi, or smothered in a complex, vibrant sauce, stew or curry. In other words, I live in the midwest and never really learned to appreciate the taste of plain fish. In all seriousness, when would…