Stir Fry Meal Idea: Thank Goodness for the Pantry Uh oh. Last week my fridge was barren and I couldn’t get to the store for a couple days. Fortunately I had a couple peppers left in the refrigerator–and a good pantry! So I had the makings for a quick stir-fry: Fresh Ingredients: ** Red and … Read more
What do good cooks do that struggling cooks don’t? Ever wonder why some people are able to make healthy and tasty meals no sweat? Here’s one reason: They use the same recipes over and over! Does that sound crazy? Terribly boring? It’s actually not crazy or boring at all, because good cooks don’t use the … Read more
Even though spring days are longer, the weather can be just as raw and cold as winter–which is why the bright flavor of fresh dill is so perfect for this time of year. A couple weeks ago, I made a soup recipe my daughter gave me. It was basically a chicken soup with spinach and … Read more
The blustery, chilly days of March have me thinking about hearty potato dishes, especially this “fusion style” potato soup. I was skeptical of it at first, since it included Indian spices (coriander and turmeric) along with western herbs (rosemary and thyme,) and then Asian-y coconut milk. Could that much fusion really work? It did for … Read more
I got some panicked responses after a newsletter that included crackers on the list of processed foods that aren’t such good friends on the health journey. As one reader emailed: “Crackers are bad? Say it ain’t so Mary! I’m such a cracker scooper!” Indeed, what could be wrong with crackers? They’re not filled with sugar … Read more
Ever wind up with random bits of leftovers in the fridge? They can be a headache because you don’t want them to go to waste, but they can also be a source of unexpected inspiration. This happened last week with some leftover canned tomatoes. I was making plain roasted cauliflower, which I can happily eat … Read more
I get a farm share that always features a lot of beets. They are delicious of course, but I’ve been scratching my head for some new uses. My latest idea: a twist on tuna salad. Amounts are approximate; adjust for your tastes. Serves 1 1/2 cup roasted beet matchsticks 3/4 cup sliced celery 1/2 cup … Read more
A couple weeks ago I opened the fridge to find some lovely fresh herbs that were in danger of rotting. Being too lazy to make a pesto, I turned instead to its simpler—and easier—cousin, pistou. Traditionally, pistou is made with just basil, olive oil and garlic. In my case, I didn’t even want to peel … Read more
I think it’s fair to say that I have A LOT of garlic! It all came courtesy of my farm share, but I don’t mind a bit. Garlic is a great addition to almost any dish and can be expensive at the grocery store. The variety in my garlic stash is called hardneck because of … Read more
In addition to being new in the kitchen and thinking, Meal Making Transformation is about being new in our cooking, which means getting comfortable with simple basic techniques, like vegetable roasting. Do you harbor bad feelings about Brussels sprouts? If so, there’s a good chance your Brussels trauma got embedded at a young age, at … Read more