Curried Lentils with Summer Squash

Posted by    |  August 20, 2010  |  Filed under: Home, Recipes

Getting home from the pool or- soon enough-  soccer practice a little later than you thought you would?  This is the perfect, simple, nourishing dish to throw together in 30 minutes. Read more



Blueberry Lemon Zucchini Muffins

Posted by    |  August 1, 2010  |  Filed under: Home, Recipes

Don’t think I’m going all Jessica Seinfeld on ya, but you’ve gotta love this opportunity to sneak a little extra veggies into your family’s diet at breakfast. The sweet, warm, oozing blueberries burst with flavor in your mouth. The texture is heavenly- like a gauzy white shirt-dress on a breezy summer day. This is a healthy muffin that is light as air and yet is as filling as one of those leaden hockey-puck bran muffins.

Blueberries and zucchini are beautiful and bountiful right now. Take advantage. Read more



Grilled Summer Vegetable Ciabatta Sandwiches

Posted by    |  July 29, 2010  |  Filed under: Home, Recipes

A few weeks ago, I took a look at the amount of food I had for dinner and decided I needed some guests. I walked over to my neighbor’s house and asked if Kerry, her sister, Chris, and their kids would like to join us for dinner. “Wonderful! What’s for dinner?” Kerry asked.

“Roasted Summer Vegetable Ciabatta Sandwiches with hummus and basil,” I replied cheerily, spinning on my heel and racing for the door. “See ya in a few.”

You see, I know Kerry well enough to know that menu was going to make her nervous. She’s the Midwestern sort who likes predictable food. I knew this meal would sound a little exotic to her. Read more



Love-ya Lasagna

Posted by    |  July 15, 2010  |  Filed under: Home, Recipes


Another great thing about lasagna: kids can easily get in on the act, rolling noodles, drizzling sauce or dolloping ricotta. It is wonderful thing to make your act of hospitality a family effort.

 

I’m not sure that I’ve ever ordered it in a restaurant- or that I ever would- but lasagna is one of my favorite foods. It isn’t about the sweet/savory taste and cacophony of textures, though a bite of great lasagna is incomparably satisfying. It is a love thing. I’ve yet to discover another food that captures affection on a fork the way that lasagna does.

Lasagna is my go-to food as an offering to other people. They may have just had a baby, lost a loved one or be experiencing health issues. When I need to say “I love you and want the best for you,” I forgo cheesy cards in favor of a cheesy lasagna. Read more



Minestrone Soup: The Reshoot

Posted by    |  January 27, 2010  |  Filed under: Home, Recipes

Adapted from Summer Minestrone with Pesto recipe from Bon Appetit, August 2004

When we lived in Greenwich, we had a regular Sunday night ritual of going to a local pizza place, Bella Nonna, which had a variety of Italian dishes that were very tasty and wonderful, ebullient Italian service.  They made a killer minestrone with vegetables that were never overcooked, pasta that was perfectly al dente and a fresh, vegetal flavor.  When we moved to Chicago, I yearned for that minestrone and spent about 6 months working on it until I got it.  This is a fantastic way to use the bounty of the summer garden. Read more