A few weeks ago, a Mexican amiga showed me how to make tortillas from scratch, something I’ve always wanted to learn. It’s amazingly easy! Just mix masa harina (a corn flour that’s been treated with lime) with water and salt until it’s the right consistency, then shape into balls, press flat with a tortilla press, [...]
While this tome isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s certainly a wonderful addition to any cookbook shelf (assuming the shelf is sturdy). The history, description, and cultural significance of each ingredient is given, as are recipe collections–both historical and nouvelle–and tips on choosing, preparing, and storing the best of the best. In word, this [...]
Risotto is one of those luxurious dishes that I don’t take the time to make very often–the stirring and cooking seem to take forever. Maybe because it’s so hard not to immediately start eating something that smells so good! Fortunately, last week I invented a dish with that lovely creamy-crunchiness of risotto and a blend [...]
Continue reading about Visiting the Wild Side, Italian-Style
You may have tasted currant jam or jelly, but have you tried fresh currants? They come in a variety of tastes and colors: black, red, white (really more of a golden hue), and pink. The black ones are the most common and has a very distinctive flavor–they remind me of a woodsy, almost-creamy blend of [...]
Jeff Cox, former editor of Organic Gardening magazine, has brought together a beautiful collection of food information and recipes. He begins with a thorough explanation of organic and what it means for both our inner health and society’s health, then takes us through everything from vegetables and fruits to meats, dairy, and eggs. There aren’t [...]
Halloumi cheese makes one of tastiest salads you’ll ever find on your plate–it’s salty, tangy, and the perfect foil for fresh fruits and vegetables. Like kasseri cheese–you may have come across that amidst leaping flames and a waiter shouting “Opa!”–halloumi is best consumed fried. Made of goat and sheep cheese and occasionally seasoned with mint, [...]
An overlooked fact in the drink world: cocktails (or mocktails) have seasons. In the summertime, fruit-based drinks are light and refreshing; in the wintertime, hot toddies are much more appealing than an iced spritzer. Now that summer is in full swing, I thought I’d use the classic mojito platform to come up with some new [...]
