Chocolate Mousse Stress and eating often go hand-in-hand – and there are a lot of both during in the holiday season. What do people eat when stressed? Chocolate tops the list for many people. It’s a popular celebration food, too, starring in cookies, desserts and gifts. There’s science behind the soothing effects. Cocoa contains dopamine, […]
Break Bread this Thanksgiving with Rustic Grain, Fig and Walnut Rolls
November 24, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The classic must-have Thanksgiving dishes of today vaguely resemble what historians say was served at the “First Thanksgiving,” shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people at Plymouth Colony in 1621, according to an article “What Was on The Menu at the First Thanksgiving” (Reference 1). Wild turkeys were available but they were more likely […]
A Golden Twist on Hummus for Fall
October 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Pumpkin Hummus with Fig Olive Gremolata Hummus is hot. Sales reached 695.5 million in 2014, a number that has doubled since 2009 (Reference 1,2). It’s become a staple in many homes, including mine. Not only is hummus scooped onto pita bread and chips, it is replacing butter and mayonnaise in wraps, sandwiches and more. Arabic for “chickpeas” […]
October is National Pizza Month
October 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Caramelized Onion and Fennel Pizza with Sausage I love pizza and I’m not alone – 94% of Americans eat pizza on a regular basis according to pizza.com (Reference 1) which also posts: •The average American eats 46 slices per year •Kids between the ages of 3 and 11 prefer pizza over all other foods for […]
Pounds and Pounds of Produce – A Visit to Kruger Pepper Farm
September 10, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Sicilian Caponata This year, instead of being jealous of the people who rave about their extraordinary harvest of tomatoes, peppers and the like, I made a 2 1/2 hour road trip to the Kruger Pepper Farm in Wapato, Washington, a candy store for cooks who are not serious gardeners. Thanks to my husband’s Italian heritage […]
Noodling in the Kitchen
August 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Zucchini Noodles with Picholine Olives, Lime and Onion I recently purchased a new kitchen toy, and as I “spiralized” zucchini and yellow summer squash into noodles, I thought about the importance of engaging children in food preparation and having fun in the kitchen. If a novel cutting tool can bring a little excitement to […]
Salmon’s Second Act
August 5, 2015 by 1 Comment
The Salmon Burger What’s for dinner? When the thermometer soars there’s nothing easier than tossing a whole wild sockeye or a large fillet of king salmon on the grill. But until my recent visit to the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery in Juneau, Alaska, I didn’t think much about what goes into making sure that salmon is […]
A New Vegetable?
March 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Try a Broccoli Leaf Pizza A label in the produce aisle caught my eye, “Brocco’Leaf ™- Amazing Superfood.” I grabbed a bunch. Was this a great marketing pitch or a new vegetable? A little research revealed that what resembled collard greens were mature leaves of the broccoli plant. The Nunes Company trademarked the name Brocco’Leaf […]
Earth and Ocean
January 26, 2015 by 1 Comment
Sea Scallops with Herbed Lentils, Champagne-Butter Sauce and Roasted Walnuts Many dishes are enhanced with contrast – elements of hot and cold, sweet and sour or bitter. A well-known example pairs foods from the land and sea- surf and turf, lobster and steak. My expression of a the land and sea idea came about when […]
Fill Your Plate with Red and Green
December 18, 2014 by 1 Comment
Double Pomegranate Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Walnuts Look around – December colors are red and green. We decorate our houses, inside and out with shades of these colors, and they dominate party attire at holiday gatherings. With this salad you can take red and green to your holiday table. Salad is essential to […]
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