This week it finally got cold. I can smell a crisp chill in the air. You know what that means. It’s chili season!! When I add chili powder and cumin to a big stewpot, my kitchen is instantly converted into a space of warmth and comfort. I have always found bean chilis to be more […]
I am basically convinced that pickled onions are the best condiment in the world. They are tangy and just a little sweet, with a crisp bite. You can put them on almost anything, from sandwiches to eggs to grain salads to tacos (and, trust me, when you do, you will be taking your food to […]
Question: What do you serve your family when they visit for Thanksgiving? I’m not talking about the big meal. I’m sure you do the whole turkey and pie thing. (Or maybe you like to order takeout Chinese, who knows?) I’m talking about the rest of the meals. When your out-of-town family comes to stay for more than […]
Thanksgiving is next week. It’s next week! How did that happen? My feelings about Thanksgiving have changed pretty significantly since I was a kid.
We recently spent two weeks in Ireland. Ireland is gorgeous, in case you were wondering. Wildflowers are absolutely everywhere, peeking through the cracks in ancient stone walls and clumping along the sides of the roads. There are rock-bordered, green fields for miles, thanks to the soft, misty rain that falls almost every day. We loved […]
Beet Hummus
Last week, I made these amazing beet burgers. Beets are lovely, aren’t they? I think beets are the most beautiful color in the whole world. But…I have to admit that I really hate to eat them plain. I’ve tried them in salads with goat cheese and soaked in butter and horseradish sauce. But my favorite […]
Chana Masala
I adore Indian food. I love the spices and the warmth. I love that Indian food is packed with things that are good for my body, and that it doesn’t taste like “health food.” Indian food is fantastic. But I’ve got to admit that I don’t cook Indian food at home very often. True, I love going […]
Here is what you get when your husband “helps” you write a blog post: “I made the chips! The chips were many-colored, made of quite different root veggies. Including potatoes… potatoes… and…not potatoes. Salt is tasty. I want more of that.” And with that brilliant introduction…
Slow-Cooker Black Bean Burritos
Do you know what mothers of newborns need? (Aside from more sleep, looser clothing, and a cadre of friends who volunteer to bring them food for several weeks—thank you friends!!) Mothers of newborns need meals that require almost no effort to put on the table. Things that basically cook themselves while we attempt to entertain […]
Pico de Gallo
I so want to tell you about how awesome this pico de gallo is, and how I grew some of the tomatoes and all of the green peppers. But first, I have to tell you that while I was making this delicious, amazingly fresh summery salsa, my son was eating crayons. CRAYONS! I cannot get […]