Swiss chard is just beautiful, isn’t it? Deep, green leaves shot through with brightly colored veins… The first time I ever made chard, I combed my favorite sites for a recipe that was sure to be delicious. I rinsed off the chard, dutifully pulled all those bold, red stems off the leaves, and chopped everything […]
At last, at last! Asparagus is in season! Do you know how wonderful spring is to me? Don’t get me wrong…I have a somewhat masochistic enjoyment of the gloomy gray end of winter. But I am so excited to welcome back the most wonderful of all vegetables: asparagus. (Side note: Did you know that Germans […]
I have never been one to celebrate or otherwise observe St. Patrick’s Day. I was always the kid who forgot and wore blue and got pinched all day long, while exclaiming that no one had the right to pinch me, regardless of what color I was or was not wearing. But! I married an Irishman. […]
Guess what? I also joined the Daring Bakers! The challenge for the Daring Bakers this month was quickbread, which, as the name suggests, was quick. Also, it allowed me to make something I’ve been planning for quite some time: beer bread! The first time I ever had beer bread was at one of those sales […]
The first time I ever tried a crackle cookie was seriously disappointing. It was kind of flavorless and much too stiff, and every time I tried to take a bite my face and lungs got covered in a fine layer of confectioner’s sugar. After that experience, I basically decided I didn’t like crackle cookies at […]
My husband loves mushrooms. Possibly the only vegetable in the whole world about which he feels enthusiastic. Unfortunately for both of us, he likes them cooked (and drenched in some kind of sauce) where I prefer them raw on salads. I’ve been working to edit my tastes, and occasionally I find a dish that really […]
One of the challenging aspects of being a vegetarian is how hard it is to find Italian food. Most Italian restaurants only offer vegetarian options that consist entirely of carbs, cream, and cheese. I shouldn’t really complain about that, because homemade ravioli is heavenly, but I do often find myself wishing for more variation. The […]