The word “casserole” conjures up images of canned cream of-fill-in-the-blank soup from my childhood. I grew up in the Midwest, in a household that watched the price of milk and bought in bulk when it went on sale, which meant that we were no stranger to casseroles of the tuna variety and others. While my [...]
This recipe came to me as one of those happy accidents. During the middle of a catering job for 50 people, I popped what was meant to be a lightly cooked cabbage and squash slaw with flecks of both strewn throughout, into the oven. A few guests arriving, a few mini-catering emergencies later and this [...]
This steaming, hearty soup-for-dinner recipe is easy and fairly quick. Just add salad and crusty bread and you’ve got a great dinner. While soups are all very simple to make, what makes any soup flavorful is the time that you take at the beginning to develop the flavor. I mention this often, taking time in [...]
Poaching is a technique used to gently cook what is usually already a tender ingredient. Chicken and fish are commonly poached in a flavorful broth called court bouillon, which is made by simmering aromatic vegetables and herbs in water. When used to cook fruit, it’s common to simmer in red wine, another sort of alcohol [...]
Delicata squash is a smaller squash that has a shorter shelf life than most. It is oblong in shape, with a butter-colored skin, striped with dark green. When I first tested this recipe I tried it with some of the usual squash accompaniments – maple syrup, nutmeg and butter. It was good. Then I tried [...]
Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potato 3 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 large sweet potatoes or three small, cut into a total of 6 pieces 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Preheat oven to 375°. Melt the butter and the cinnamon. Place the potatoes in a baking pan and toss with the melted butter and [...]
Don’t get me wrong, I really like to entertain and have folks laughing and eating at my table. But, the day after, when there are leftovers, is perhaps the warmest and coziest part of Thanksgiving, when you can enjoy the good food without all of the buzz of entertaining. My favorite way to use Thanksgiving [...]
Brussels spouts have gotten a bad rap. Mostly due to the fact that perhaps the only way we’ve eaten them is when they’ve been cooked to a mushy, gray pulp. I grew them for the first time this year in my garden and am still harvesting the generous offering the four plants have given all fall [...]
Creamy Butternut Squash and Pear Soup 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup onions, diced 1/4 cup celery, diced 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash (or 1/2 butternut squash), cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 pear, peeled, cored and minced 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 cup sherry 4 cups chicken stock 1 cup heavy [...]
Roasted Pine Nut and Eggplant Sauce 1 large eggplant, peeled and diced 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 cups diced tomatoes, peeled and seeded (or 2 14-ounce cans diced tomatoes) 3/4 cup red wine 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil 1/2 [...]
