Recipes, methods & musings for the whip-smart home cook
This light and refreshing salad packs a tangy punch, but has just enough sweetness to balance out the pucker factor. Crunchy cucumbers and onions mingle with juicy tomatoes and summery herbs to make a colorful side for family dinner, or the perfect easy pot luck dish.
Holy pho, life has been moving lightning fast lately for our family.
Sweet, soft pears and pine nuts complement a mix of buttery, nutty and bitter lettuces dressed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Summer isn’t over yet and I’m trying to squeeze out every last drop, but… fall has undeniably started creeping into my thoughts. Maybe it’s just from spending the majority of my life in school and teaching, but once August hits everything goes into overdrive, hurtling toward September like a defensive end on a pass rush…
This Italian bread salad boasts the best summer garden bounties and toasted bread cubes, all tossed in a tangy white wine vinaigrette. It’s big enough to bring to your block party—and keeps well enough to keep all to yourself. Is there any better feeling than walking out to the garden on a sunny day, picking a juicy cucumber, rinsing it off, and eating it right then and there like an apple?
A rich, creamy pasta sauce with sweet onions, savory tomatoes, peppery seasonings and sharp parmesan. This sauce is versatile and easy to throw together with things you probably already have. Have you ever noticed how much colder it feels when it’s already been warm and the temperature dips back down?
Hearty steel-cut oats toasted in browned butter get the full pumpkin spice treatment with real pumpkin puree, serious spice and less sugar than your average PS treat. A batch can feed a brunch bunch, or be stored in the refrigerator for a week of healthy breakfasts. Two vital seasonal truths in my world right now: 1. Though we have left fall behind, I’m not yet finished with the pumpkin. 2…
Yellow squash, zucchini and grape tomatoes team up with herbs in this east side dish to sing the real song of summer. Nutritious and delicious, this simple side is surprisingly filling. If you could only ever have one side dish ever again, what would it be?
A lightly sweet griddle cake perfect for butter and jam. Buttermilk and sour cream add tangy flavor and a tender, fluffy middle to this cousin of pancakes. A few months ago I learned about a griddle cake, and it’s changed my life. Okay, maybe that’s hyperbolic—but only a little…
A tangy, summery sauce that’s both comforting and refreshing. Versatile enough to use over meats or in vegetarian dishes, this sauce works wonders over steak, chicken and pork; in tacos, salads or rice bowls; as a dipping sauce and more. I like to play this game at the grocery store. I pick one item that I’ve never cooked with or eaten before, buy it, and learn how to do something tasty with it.
A simple, delicious, rustic soup inspired by the flavors of Tuscany. This recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, but it’s incredible after the flavors mingle in the refrigerator overnight, so leftovers make this great for smaller families and individuals as well. Cannellini beans are one of my favorite foods. That’s probably kind of weird, but it’s true.
A simple and healthy side dish roasted to perfection. Lemon and parmesan come in clutch with nutty and tangy notes to keep a classic green beans dish fresh without complicating things. Everyone needs a few side dishes they can make in minutes from memory without a second thought…
