Following a lovely weekend at the coast in Castine, Maine, we returned home with what I believe is the largest turnip that I have ever seen. Let’s face it, turnips can be a tough sell, but Lollie and I were up to the challenge. Ultimately, we decided it would be pickled. Of course, I turned to […]
Most commercial ricotta cheese is ubiquitous, nondescript. It works just fine as a filling for lasagna or as a base for Italian cheesecake, but ricotta is not usually the belle of the ball. I have a new favorite ricotta to eat off the spoon: Maplebrook Farm Whole Milk Ricotta. It is creamy, even silky. Its taste […]
As the temperature starts to cool, the way we cook begins its seasonal shift. Bright red tomato salads give way to brilliant, roasted butternut squash. The grill gets used less often and we re-introduce ourselves to the oven. Sage is one of my favorite fall herbs. It is pretty in the Autumn garden and it lends itself […]
It happened last week at Whole Foods; I found a vegetable new to me! I LOVE when this happens. It feels like striking gold on the clearance rack but instead of something to wear, it’s something to eat. What is the remarkable vegetable in question? Watermelon Radish. These stunning roots are an heirloom variety of daikon radish. Watermelon radishes do […]
My seven year old son, Maverick*, grew potatoes this year. For two years, he has been a single crop farmer. Last year, he grew corn in his 3×4 foot patch of earth. Planting seed potatoes was fun: Prep the soil. Make little mounds. Insert seed potatoes. Water and watch for potato worms. Harvest (late summer/early fall). […]
Every September, the struggle begins. I am not talking about spelling lists, multiplication tables or strict bedtimes. I am talking about school lunch. More specifically, what is going to fill the lunch boxes that belong to my children? I find packing lunches to be a big challenge. I want the contents to be nourishing, to […]
I am wrapping up a writing/recipe assignment that revolved around cooking with wine. One of the dishes is a crispy duck breast served with a port, fig and shallot wine reduction sauce. My love affair with port began my freshman year at Cornell. Port was simply delicous, yet at the same time exotic and complex. I’ve […]
Pickles are one of the most brilliant items that can grace a plate and accent a dish. With a salty, sour, sometimes sweet punch; it’s a win win. Seriously, what would sushi be without pickled ginger? Two years ago, I received a fantastic book called Quick Pickles – Easy Recipes for Quick Flavor. You can purchase used at […]
When I was little, my dad, grandfather and uncle had an annual competition to produce the first garden tomato of the summer. It was a very cut-throat contest that involved seedlings, secrecy and a year’s worth of boasting for the winner. To this day, my dad eats garden tomatoes with a thin layer of Hellman’s […]
Truly addicting, www.tastespotting.com is eye-candy for food lovers. Honestly, an hour can pass before we’ve noticed any missing time. We just cannot look away.
