Black-eyed Peas with Collard Greens and Ham
It happens to be fast, cheap and healthy, but that’s not why we love this dish.
I have an impulsive aversion to any recipe that is advertised as being “easy,” “cheap,” or “healthy.” Those are good things, but I often worry that the writer was more focused on easy or cheap than what I really care about- flavor. Back when I was learning to cook, the “quick and easy” staples of the supermarket checkout line magazines generally tasted “quick and easy.” And the “healthy”recipes? Let’s just say that applesauce will always be a dreadful substitute for fat.
This recipe is like that girl in high school who dressed in Salvation Army garb and looked fabulously chic. While she’s cheap (make your own judgement about whether or not she was easy) you can’t help but be fascinated by her. Read more
Hummus
Based on Jane Brody’s recipe from Good Food Gourmet
I’m not a big Oprah watcher these days, but there was nothing on TV last week and I happened to have it on Tivo. She had Queen Rania of Jordan on the show to discuss her new children’s book. The book uses an incident from her childhood to illustrate the importance of being open to people who are different. In the story as it happened in her childhood, she was eating a Hummus sandwich and another girl was eating a PB&J. Each girl learned that the other girl’s sandwich was tastier than she imagined and world peace was initiated.
That’s all lovely, but all I could think was, “Hummus! Why has it been so long since I’ve made hummus?” Guess what I made for lunch the next day.
Hummus has become rather ubiquitious in the last decade and for good reason. It is not only delicious, but incredibly versatile at adding flavor (and nutrition!) to so many foods. It makes me cringe when I see folks spending $10 for a big tub of it at my local warehouse club. It is so ridiculously easy, and cheap, to make at home. Read more
Minestrone Soup: The Reshoot
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
