Curried Lentils with Summer Squash
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
Tex-Mex Succotash
Corn and beans are the classic Mexican subsistence food. For thousands of years the Mayan civilization depended upon these staples for their existence. They had no idea how important to their survival this combination actually was. You see, the combination of the amino acids in beans and corn makes a protein that is perfectly complete for the human body to use. Arguably, succotash in its varying forms- just about any kind of bean combined with corn will do the trick- might be the most important food for vegetarians to make a regular part of their diet. Read more
Blueberry Lemon Zucchini Muffins
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
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
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
Buttermilk Pancakes
Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated’s “Best Buttermilk Pancakes” recipe
My mom and I have an ongoing rivalry about simple vs. good food. I’ve won her over on the superiority of homemade chicken stock and grass-fed beef. She’s still been pushing back on the breakfast foods. She routinely treks to Williams-Sonoma for their crepe mix. She swears by it. It makes me laugh because, seriously, the ingredients for a great crepe are just flour, eggs, milk, butter and vanilla. One year for her birthday, I gave her a mason jar filled with flour that I’d labeled “Jill’s Homemade Crepe Mix.” The instructions specified “Add 3 eggs, 1 C milk, 2 T melted butter and 1t vanilla to ¾ C mix.”
She’s also busted on me about making homemade pancakes. You know the argument: “Why make them from scratch when the mix is so easy?” I insisted on making these when we were all up at the Lake House for Memorial Day weekend. Everyone was amazed: “They’re so light. They taste so great. That didn’t take long.”
I TOLD you! Read more
Canapés with Walnut Butter, Apples and Aged Gouda
I’m going to tell you something about myself that will seem very incongruous with what you think you know about me. Revealing this bit of information forces me to uncover that- deep in my heart- I’m not as gracious as I aspire to be.
I hate bringing food to potlucks. I hate being asked to bring an appetizer, or side dish or whatever. That seems weird, doesn’t it? I mean, I love to cook and I love cooking as a gesture of affection. What’s my problem? Read more
Drinking With Your Kids
It is finally hot out- truly sweaty, summery hot. It’s the kind of hot that makes you thirsty. You know how important it is to keep yourself and your kids hydrated in this kind of weather. However, most parents turn to sugary or- just as bad- artificially sweetened drinks to whet their little whistles. Read more
Walnut Butter
There are many reasons to love walnut butter: it’s an interesting alternative to ubiquitous peanut butter, it’s rich with Omega-3s, and it’s incredibly versatile. You’re already sold, right? There’s an even better reason to love walnut butter: it tastes kinda like cookie dough. Really. Read more
Vadouvan Grilled Shrimp with Fava Bean Succotash
It’s time for more fun with favas! This dish is throw-your-head-back-and-moan good. You’ll be bewitched by the way that the complex spice blend, smoky grilled flavors and sweet succotash come together so perfectly. Best of all, you will love that this dish is so simple to prepare and execute. Read more
