I just just made a new food friend, the Mortgage Lifter Bean, which I picked up on a trip through New Mexico. The Mortgage Lifter’s charms go beyond its quirky name. Cultivated by native Americans in the Southwest (1,2), one story says it was named the Mortgage Lifter Bean by a farmer who, just as […]
Update Your Sloppy Joe
March 18, 2024 by 1 Comment
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 […]
A Celebration of Corn
May 22, 2023 by Leave a Comment
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 […]
Mussels in Smoky Tomato Broth
February 10, 2023 by 1 Comment
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
January 20, 2023 by Leave a Comment
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 […]
How Covid-19 has Changed Our Foodways
September 29, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Mediterranean Roasted Fish with Artichokes, Snap Peas, Tomatoes & Baby Potatoes It’s not news that Covid-19 has changed how we shop, cook, and eat (1), but it is interesting that some of these changes may be beneficial. A Food Marketing Institute survey indicates the increase in home-cooking enabled consumers to acquire new culinary tools […]
Enjoy the Last of Summer’s Bounty
September 21, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Rosemary Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Peach Mustard & Grilled Peaches Tomorrow, September 22, 2020 is the fall equinox. While I hate to see summer go, I’ve been pleasantly distracted with late-summer produce- enjoying the best of the season’s bounty and preserving some for eating later in the year. My husband lets nothing get in the […]
It’s Time to Grill Garlic Scapes
June 21, 2019 by 1 Comment
Ricotta Gnocchi with Garlic Scapes, Mushrooms and Fennel In season now, fresh garlic scapes caught my eye at Metropolitan Market and I grabbed a bunch. I followed the cooking tip posted in-store, brushed them with olive oil and tossed them on the grill to accompany chicken kebabs. Easy and quick – scapes brighten, soften and […]
What is Healthy?
April 9, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Thai-Inspired Turkey in Lettuce Cups (Larb or Laab) I get lots of questions about foods and diets- many about what is “good” or ‘bad.” Are potatoes bad? Is a low-carb diet good? Is whole milk healthy? Can I drink diet soda? Most of the time my answer turns into a series of questions. What foods […]
Eat Like You’re On A Tropical Vacation
February 28, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Nappa Spoons with Lentil-Rice Caviar, Mango, Avocado, Almonds and Mango-Chia Sauce You may not be basking in sunshine on a beach today, but it doesn’t mean you can’t give yourself a taste of an exotic vacation. With mango prices as low as a dollar each,I took a culinary adventure with this tropical fruit in […]
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