Holidays
Spooky Squash Claws and Treats for Halloween! So Scary!
Look for the smallest Sweet Dumpling squashes so you can cut them into curved “claw” shapes, then roast to sweet tenderness. Use the black sesame seeds often sold in the sushi section at the store, to get a natural black color.
Celebrate St Pat’s With Colcannon
For St Patrick’s Day, try my latest rendition of Colcannon, the classic potato dish of Ireland. The original is a simple dish of mashed potatoes, mixed with very buttery sautéed cabbage or kale, served with a big puddle of butter on top. The mythic Irish farmstead was built on potatoes and butter, or at least that’s how we see it, through the haze of nostalgia and imagination. In the Irish farm of my personal imagination, butter is too dear, and a creative cook summons maximum flavor from humble plants she’s got in the root cellar.
Valentine’s Day Chocolate Cakes with Avocado Mousse!
The sexy, stimulating chemistry of chocolate is all well and good, but the truth is, we loooove the taste of chocolate. Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a luscious treat that delivers the cacao. These pretty little cakes are chocolate-y enough to thrill, but light enough to keep you from passing out on the couch.
Ditch the Chips, Dip Roasted Potato Spears in Chimichurri
Do you love chips and dips? Perhaps in the covid days, you’ve found solace in mindlessly crushing a bag of potato chips and some onion dip, or chips and salsa? Well, I’m here to offer you a much better option. These Roasted Potato Spears with Chimichurri Dip are just as comforting, and waaaay better than those packaged chips and dips. They even give you an opportunity for mindfulness.
Ooey Gooey Monkey Biscuits for Brunch
Do you crave some comfort? We are all feeling it. I’m forging ahead with all the healthful piles of plants that I usually serve, and feeling good about it. But a balanced life also affords us a little treat. Like these caramel-drenched, walnut-studded Monkey Biscuits.
Winter Salad with Oranges and Cava, Holiday Fare!
Citrus Season is Here, Perfect for Winter Salads When I was a girl, my Grandmother would send us oranges at Christmas. Dorothy was big on fruit. Then she'd tell us of the days when oranges were rare treat in the Northern states, and how excited all the children would...
Squash and Wild Rice Make Comforting Muffins
Winter Squash and Wild Rice for the Season Everybody needs a little comfort right now. It's cold out, and these are challenging times. What better way to warm up than to turn on the oven and bake some tender, fluffy muffins? These are perfect for cozy breakfasts at...
Blue Roasted Garlic Mash with Miso Gravy, Side Dishes For Comfort in 2020
2020 has been a year to remember, hasn’t it? With everything that is going on, we are all seeking comfort where we can find it. That’s why I wanted to share a snazzy holiday side dish that you can eat all winter long, when that craving for something creamy and comforting comes along.
Fool-Proof Apple Pie to Die For
Fool-Proof Apple Pie Make a Fool-Proof Apple Pie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qypj3ReRDPM Yes, That's My Cat Pumpkin Behind Me! We've all heard the expression, "As easy as pie." I have made many, many pies, and I have come to the conclusion that the expression is...
Make Your Own Chocolates? Yes, You Can
Certain kitchen adventures are shared by pretty much everyone. Even if you don’t cook much, you have made a batch of cookies, or cooked some mac and cheese. But when it comes to the world of candy, most of us leave it to the pros. Packaged candy is all around us, and it’s so easy to buy that the thought of making it is on a level with sewing your own pants, or building your own chairs.
Celebrate with Tajin-Bashed Potatoes, Go Plant Based for Veganuary?
Happy New Year! Wave goodbye to 2019, and start fresh in 2020, woo hoo! It's been a rocky year for me, I lost my Mother to cancer, and there have been a few other hard knocks, just show me my own strength. On the other hand, some great things have come my way,...
Get Crabby with Jackfruit-An Appealing Appetizer
Plant-Based Meats are Hot! We've been watching the world of non-meat "meats" expand and evolve over the last few years, with great anticipation. Whether you are excited about the possibility of stunningly realistic fakes, or could care less if they seem just like the...
Wow Your Guests with Purple Sweet Potato Pie
Still looking for a fun dessert for the holidays? Now that you've got Thanksgiving under your belt, so to speak, it's time to plan the coming feasts, parties and get-togethers. Why not shake it up with a technicolor purple pie? Yes, this Purple Sweet Potato Pie is...
Poached Pears Make an Elegant Dessert, For a Break from Pumpkin!
I know we are in pumpkin pie season, but really, how many pies can you eat? Dare we break away for a moment to celebrate the beauty of the pear? I've been playing around with desserts that don't have any added sugar lately, and this recipe for Poached Pears in Cherry...
Roast a Whole Stalk of Brussels Sprouts for a Showpiece Dish
We've all been there. As the family sits around a table, a roasted turkey or ham is carved into slices. It's a primal scene. It's part of some hunter-gatherer genetic memory, one that's baked into our brains. Well, I think I've found a vegetable dish that has the...
Make Valentine’s Brownie Hearts to Win Your Sweetie’s
Valentine's Day Brownie Hearts As Valentine's Day approaches, it's all about finding a chocolate treat that will woo your sweet heart. Sure, you can buy a box of chocolates, or take that special friend out to eat. But nothing says I love you like a home baked...
Celebrate Valentine’s With Brilliant Beet Handrolls
Valentine's Day Sushi! Valentine's Day always calls out for a splash of red on the plate. Crimson hearts and ruby red beets just go together. So, for a heart-healthy flash of red, try my Pickled Beet Handrolls. There is pink pickled ginger, pink tofu, and curly...
Hasselback Purple Sweet Potatoes with Sage, for a Colorful Side Dish
Hasselback is the Way to Go A plain, baked sweet potato is a pretty great thing on its own. Just sliced or mashed, adorned with a little salt or maple syrup. But when it's time to entertain, you want something with curb appeal. For a dramatic presentation, go for...
Rich, Luscious Truffles, Easy, Fast (and Vegan)
The holiday season is in full swing, and you really should have some treats planned by now. No? Well I'm here with a simple little treat that everybody will think was hard to make. I'm talking about Vegan Truffles. No Special Skills Are Needed to Make Vegan Truffles I...
Bake Some Kabocha Cornbread to Share
Looking for an easy, fast bread that goes with every meal? This tender Kabocha Cornbread is ready in minutes, and can be a breakfast, lunch, or dinner bread. You can even use the leftovers for the best stuffing EVER. I've been so busy getting ready for the holiday,...
Make Pumpkin Swirl Brownies with Ganache, for a Halloween Treat
Halloween is a candy and costume holiday. I know, I know, there is a history going back to the old country, when they carved turnips into Jack-o-lanterns to scare away the spirits. In my lifetime, it was all about being a kids, putting on a costume, and collecting as...
Autumn Vegetable Gratin Is the Peasant Food You Need Now
Autumn Vegetable Gratin, with Roots It's Autumn. The leaves are afire with brilliant colors, the mornings are briskly frosty, and the harvest has been brought in from the fields. Now is a perfect time to crank the oven and make an Autumn Vegetable Gratin. Root...
Roast Rainbow Carrots to Pour Over Wild Rice for a Colorful Meal
I've spent many hours of my life contemplating the phenomenal success of certain foods, and the seeming failure of others to break through. You might think, " well, oh, of course the winner is the most delicious, right?"It may in fact be a delicious food. But I fear...
Buy Local Strawberries and Make a Fresh Strawberry Tart, Feed Your Soul
Strawberries are the perfect metaphor for the sweet things in life. Pay attention, don't take the berries for granted, because they will pass. Change is constant, and the seasons come and go, despite our efforts to cling to what pleases us. Don't let the beautiful...
Make Blue Potato Salad with Chive Blossoms for a Quick and Colorful Meal
Does it seem that I'm obsessed with blue food? Purple sweet potatoes, purple corn and purple barley have made frequent cameos here on the blog, in all their chromatic glory. Blue Potato Salad is just the latest. I suppose my eye is drawn to the exotic, as I traipse...
Celebrate St Pat’s with Rosemary Garlic Hasselback Potatoes with Greens
As St Pat's rolls around, are you a traditionalist, who craves the same Irish-inspired dishes year after year? Or are you just in it for the green beer? I'm more interested in tweaking the usual fare, to avoid boredom. That's why I made Rosemary-Garlic Hasselback...
Can a Valentine’s Dessert Be Decadent AND Light? Crispy Pastry Nests with Aquafaba Mousse and Berries are!
Have you planned your Valentine's Day yet? Forget about going out, it's much snugglier to stay in and have your own private menu. The most important part of the meal is, of course, the Valentine's Dessert. It must be sensuous, it must be chocolate, and if you can make...
Make Mini Holiday Tarts in Six Flavors for a Delicious Dilemma
Do you wrestle with the decision of which pies to make at the holidays? Pumpkin, pear, apple, or even pecan sound so good, but do you really need four whole pies? This time, I'm making six different holiday tarts, each one designed to generously serve one person. This...
Roasted Veggies Get Sexy with Pomegranate Glaze and Pistachios
Pomegranate Makes It Beautiful! Are you planning a big holiday meal? Looking through pinterest for recipes, or digging out your folder of Grandma's hand-written favorites?Can I put in a plug for good old fashioned cookbooks, too? And of course, pomegranate. This month...
Bake Some Cranberry Sweet Potato Scones for Wintry Breakfasts
Not Just For Holidays Anymore Did you know that Wisconsin is the biggest producer of cranberries? Take that California, with your sunny, temperate weather. The snowy Midwest is the source of 60% of the bright red berries that we eat by the bushel at the holidays. As...