When it comes to produce, greens are one of the most versatile items you’ll find at the market: there are hearty greens and dark leafy greens, tender greens and micro-greens, “ethnic” greens like bok choy and “classic” greens like iceberg. The same greens are even sold as babies or adults. That might seem like just [...]
Join me in reclaiming one of summer’s classic dishes! While pasta salads are often drowning in commercial mayonnaise that pretty much consists of refined (i.e., rancid) soy oil and various refined sweeteners, your homemade version can be so much tastier and nutritious. Instead of pre-fab mayo, try tossing your next pasta salad with an instant dressing [...]
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While I’m normally not a fan of smoked cheeses, there’s something irresistible about the combination of smoked Gouda and fruit. Pears, apples, berries, and even peaches and apricots pair beautifully with smoked Gouda. (So do grilled polenta slices, but that’s another post for another time.) It’s that whole “savory/smoky + sweetness = sublimity” equation. And [...]
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With temps heading back up into the 80s this week, fizzy sodas are getting more and more appealing. Good thing it’s so easy to make your own! Point of comparison here: 12 ounces of Coke has 36 grams of refined sugar, whereas this homemade soda has 6 grams, and those are all coming from fresh [...]
The next time you make bacon, save that grease!! It’s great for making fried eggs, slow-cooked collard greens, sauteed chicken … just about anything, really. And rendered bacon grease is essential for making your own tortilla chips. Fresh-off-the-stove chips are worlds away from the pre-bagged varieties you find at the supermarket (which are usually made [...]
It’s hard to say whether the current status quo is due to an onslaught of commercials featuring kids eating carrots while playing in valleys or whether Americans have a group-mind when it comes to dressings, but one thing is clear: Ranch is just about everybody’s favorite dressing. I love the concept, too — you can’t [...]
Few culinary traditions labor under as great a misconception as sushi does. Yes, most sushi is served with raw ingredients. Sushi, however, does not mean raw fish. (Although I think sushi made with raw fish is utterly lovely.) Sushi simply refers to a mode of preparation, namely to serve raw or cooked seafood or veggies with vinegared short-grain rice. [...]
Eat, don’t spray! No need to buy fancy spring specials at the market when your lawn is full of free, fresh greens and herbs. I’m talking dandelion greens, purslane, and wood sorrel; wild alliums like chives, ramps, and scapes. Instead of spraying Roundup and contaminating our water supply — when it rains, all those herbicides, [...]
Crepes are one of those things that sound hard to make. They’re not. In essence, they’re pancakes with extra milk, so if you can make a batch of flapjacks, you can make crepes. Admittedly, crepes are thinner and therefore more prone to breaking, but all you need to deal with that is a spatula to [...]
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Nuts make great snacks — they’re delicious, they’re convenient to carry, and thanks to the fact that most varieties of nuts are mostly fat and protein, nuts are one of the most satisfying foods on the planet. But there is something better than plain nuts: DIY seasoned nuts! I say DIY because most commercially seasoned [...]
