Unless you’re allergic, you’ve probably had sesame in one form or another: tahini (which is sesame paste), sesame oil, or outright sesame seeds. But have you ever tried toasted sesame oil? It’s pressed from seeds that were roasted as opposed to raw. Much like the seeds themselves, the oil from the roasted version has a [...]
Looking for a fresh twist on a holiday favorite? It occurred to me that kale would be just as tasty to cream as spinach is, plus kale would have a heartier texture. And since kale is in season, it’s very inexpensive, too. (Get an extra bunch and make some kale chips to serve as appetizers!) This [...]
What to do with hearty garden greens? Make pasta! Now that the weather is cooler, kale and chard and beet greens and turnip greens are enjoying a growth spurt. Luckily, they’re so versatile that you can use them in everything from soups to stir-frys. For this dish, I opted to combine kale with pasta, two [...]
Cooking is fun, but it’s even more fun when you’re doing an Extreme Food Makeover challenge! This weekend, I’ve been brainstorming recipe ideas for Cooking Matters Michigan‘s EFM contest. I and my fellow competitors have each been given a dish to remake with what we have on hand plus three purchased ingredients AND a “secret” [...]
Continue reading about What Do You Get When You Cross Pizza with Curry?
In my continuing quest to make use of every inch of my garden, I thought I’d share another broccoli-leaf tip with my fellow gardeners: sauté them! Like kale leaves, broccoli leaves make great chips, so it’s no surprise that that they’re ideal for steaming and sautéing, too. And the leaves are even tastier when you [...]
Continue reading about Salami, Broccoli (Leaves) & Avocados: Why Hasn’t It Been Done Before?
Here’s something I bet you didn’t know. I didn’t know this, either, until about two weeks ago: you can eat broccoli leaves! They’re quite similar to kale, in fact. Which makes sense seeing as they’re in the same plant family. (Brassica members also include cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.) Seeing all those lush leaves — [...]
Continue reading about Broccoli is More Than Stems & Flowers
Recently, I was introduced to a West Coast singer/songwriter who — along with being an inspired and inspiring artist and entertainer — is also a proponent of gluten-free cuisine. Chris Levy’s band is called “Son of Levi” in honor of his father, and his album “Always” was released earlier this year. (You can check out [...]
With the days so dang hot, odds are you don’t want to fire up all of your burners to make dinner. You also might be inclined to lighter, satisfying-without-making-you-feel-stuffed fare. Maybe you even have some veggies growing rampant in your garden. What does all this add up to? No-cook soups. Just toss everything in a [...]
Kale chips seem to be the Hot Food Thing right now…and they’ve also been on my personal Obsessed with These Yummies list for the last two years. I’m always on the lookout for an ever-tastier chip. Last weekend, I found inspiration for my quest in the form of a side order of onion rings at [...]
Continue reading about Crispy, Savory Addiction: Yes, I’m Talking Kale Chips
While attending the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) annual conference in NYC earlier this month, I had the pleasure of taking a cooking class from one of my favorite cookbook authors. Not only is Pierre Thiam an innovative cook, he’s an incredibly genuine and enthusiastic gentleman. He hails from Senegal, a country on the [...]
Continue reading about Culinary Inspiration from Africa’s West Coast
