Nothing proclaims “SUMMER!” like a simple tomato and herb pasta. Basil is a perennial favorite herb to use, of course, along with thyme and oregano. Dill is another. This year, though, I decided to plant a new herb in my garden: lemon verbena. As its name suggests, it’s quite lemony! Its softly fragrant leaves are [...]
The arugula piles up sometimes, doesn’t it? (Especially now that we’re getting into lettuce-growing season.) Even if you don’t have a lettuce garden, I bet you’ve stared down a half-full container of baby greens and wondered what to do with it. Salads are great, but no dish can tickle your gastronomic fancy 100% of the [...]
Fritattas are Spain’s answer to France’s omelettes, albeit baked to a finish rather than folded. The concept is the same, however — mix eggs with savory veggies, a bit of milk, and/or fresh herbs, then cook gently and serve piping hot. And like omelettes, fritattas don’t have crusts, which makes them very easy (and quick!) [...]
You can add visual appeal, flavor, and exotic flair to any dish just by topping it with an edible flower or two. (Which you probably already have growing in your backyard.) Sprinkle rose petals onto a bowl of vanilla ice cream, and suddenly you have a romantic dessert guaranteed to knock the socks off of [...]
Fruit soups are the easiest soups to make…and they’re also the most refreshing summer dessert I can think of. You only need two basic ingredients and two optional ones: fruit and cream/coconut cream, spices or herbs, and a natural sweetener like honey or raw agave (which you won’t even need if you’re using ripe fruit). [...]
If you’ve ever planted zucchinis in your garden, you know what happens: they take over. In a good way. (Although I probably should have planted my corn and peppers a bit farther apart…) Since my fledgling zucchinis are offering a bounty of blossoms right now, I decided to see what I could do with them [...]
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 [...]
Ah, the soups of summer are almost here! This year, along with savory cold classics like borscht and gazpacho, try serving your guests fruit soups. It’s easy to create a new signature soup each time–just pair any fruit with any of these bases to make a creamy, fresh dish to remember: – Thick, Greek-style yogurt [...]
It seems like summer is just around the corner…and with it, long sunny days and warm starry nights. It’s almost time to dust off our BBQs and reconnect with the most American of all cooking traditions. While you’re donning your apron and taking up the tongs, however, why not try incorporating other cuisines into your [...]
In the course of researching cocktails for an article I’m writing, I inadvertently stumbled upon one/created one that I really liked. It takes the concept of strawberries and balsamic vinegar to a whole new level of sweet and sour (which is why I decided give it this name): Heaven and Hell 5 fresh strawberries or [...]
