Update Your Sloppy Joe

Tempted by Tempeh You likely have a memory of eating Sloppy Joes from your childhood. It might even be a fave comfort food. Like it or not, the dish has survived for decades – versions of Sloppy Joe “loose meat sandwiches” have been around since at least the 1930s. This recipe updates the Sloppy Joe […]

Plant-Based in 2024

“Faux” Gras Plan to put more plants on your plate in 2024? It’s a thing. More and more people are catching on to the nutritional benefits and gastronomic diversity of veggies, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Esteemed New York Times food writer Melissa Clark writes that she “wants to become as fluent in tofu as she […]

It’s Granola Season

Super Seedy Nutty Granola As hard as it is to say goodbye to summer, cool fall weather green lights turning on the oven. A box of oats and a selection of nuts and seeds in my freezer was a strong suggestion to make granola. I’d forgotten just how addictive the crunchy, toasty mix can be. […]

The Summer Beet

Chioggia Beet Salad & Red Beet Pesto There’s a good argument to be made that summer cooking is more about not cooking or cooking as little as possible. Why heat up the kitchen, or work up a sweat? Chioggia beets fit right in with the no-heat approach to summer eating. Sometimes called candy cane or […]

A Celebration of Corn

Esquites-Style Shrimp with White Beans Esquites-Style Shrimp with White Beans has been on repeat in my kitchen for months. It’s perfect party fare yet substantial enough for a meal. Don’t worry about leftovers – there won’t be any.    Corn (maize, or maíz in Spanish), the star of Esquites, is being honored in a month-long […]

Herbs Make Everything Taste Better

Carrot Top Pesto with Basil & Marcona Almonds Herbs popping up in the garden are a welcome sign of spring. In my northwest home there’s parsley, thyme, oregano, chives, and mint. Just in time! In winter, I lean heavily on a frozen stash of herb-based pestos and sauces, and the supply is dwindling. My first […]

Mussels in Smoky Tomato Broth

A Saucy Valentine’s Day Dinner There’s nothing like an overflowing bowl of steamy, saucy mussels to anchor a Valentine’s Day – or any dinner. Add a hunk of crusty bread to mop up the juices, and a big salad. The nickname “poor man’s oyster” doesn’t apply to mussel’s today, although they remain an excellent value […]

Veganuary? Make Meatless Marvelous

Loaded Hummus with Smoky Mushrooms and Blistered Chickpeas January is a big month for food-and drink-related resolutions (1). Participation in Veganuary, a 31-day challenge of going vegan for the month of January, has grown, with a record-breaking global sign-up rate of over 600,000 people for 2023 (2). Will a month of eating a completely free […]

A Sweet Start to the New Year

Sweet Potato Pecan Sticky Buns Traditions are hard to shake. For years my family skied at Big White in Canada for the Christmas holiday, and I’d make sticky buns for a late-morning Christmas brunch, served after a couple of hours on the slopes when we were all ravenous. When I didn’t make them this year, […]

Is Turkey to Blame for the “I Need a Nap” Feeling After a Thanksgiving Feast?

Marinated Fig Relish with Olives and Peppers Thanksgiving plans and prep are underway. My inbox is flooded with messages such as “time to order your turkey,” “plan the best friendsgiving ever,” and links to recipes for pies, sides and more.  My family isn’t the only one who celebrates with a table overflowing with “must-have” dishes, […]