Last week, as I was cruising through the Courthouse farmers market, I had a mission on my mind. Family was coming to town for a weekend visit and, naturally, mom tasked me with Sunday brunch. I could go the easy route and serve your typical crowd pleasers. But my trip to the market had me feeling inspired. It was like the freshly-cut stalks of asparagus were begging, “Pick me, pick me… Take me home.” Bunches of bushy dill were practically performing bouncy cartwheels in front of me. And the leeks, well, they perched up and greeted me with their greatness as soon as I looked their way. With …
Oh spring, how I’ve missed you. It’s been way too long since we last saw each other. I’ve missed the familiar feeling of sunny weather warming my skin, the longer, brighter days and the abundance of seasonal produce lining tables at farmers markets. Every winter I dream about what delicious fruits and vegetables spring has to offer. We’ve got leeks, chives, morels, apricots, avocados, artichokes, fennel, mangoes, peas, pineapples, rhubarb, spinach and watercress. And so much more. This week I wanted to highlight my favorite spring vegetable – asparagus – in a fun and easy way. This pizza …
This warm weather has me in a mood… a mood for summer food. And for me, the single best part of a neighborhood cookout is the cool, satisfyingly sweet dessert everyone’s favorite mom proudly places on the picnic table. Whether it was Jell-O shaped into some impressive mold, boxed brownies or apple pie, I was never shy about sampling. And I’m talking start-a-new-plate, hand-in-your-face, don’t-bother-me sampling. But no matter the spread, my favorite post-meal treat has always been banana cream pie. And because it’s not quite summer yet, I decided to do a new spin on the classic dessert using…
I’m assuming most of our female readers have heard of this phenomenon -- make your boyfriend a roast chicken and he’ll propose. The myth started some 30 years ago with an editor at Glamour magazine and still lives on today. Engagement chicken is one of those dishes I think every person should know how to make, whether you’re looking for a diamond or not. To me, it’s the quintessential sign of domestic bliss and a happy kitchen. With its crisp, salty skin and moist, juicy meat, a roast chicken charms everyone from a fanatic foodie to a picky eater. And it’s easier to make than you might think…
What is it about this dinnertime classic that evokes the gastronomic senses? Is it the combination of the gravy-coated chicken paired with tender vegetables and golden flakey crust that makes you go weak in the knees? Is it the nostalgia you feel as you remember your mom pulling it out of the oven for Sunday dinner, filling the house with buttery scents? The concept is so simple – cubed chicken, some diced vegetables, a rich cream sauce, pie crust – and yet a perfect execution depends upon mastering the most basic culinary techniques. The secret is in roasting the chicken and making the pie …
Did I ever mention that I quit my day job six months ago to go to culinary school? And did I mention that I became a nanny to four kids to support myself during the process? And did I also tell you I’m responsible for feeding the family of six almost every night? And why am I telling you this? Besides the fact that you might want to know how your favorite recipe columnist supports her eating habits, I thought you might be interested in the inspiration behind this week’s post. Starting this year, Nanny Parents decided to go green -- not in the Al Gore sense, but the more traditional way. They…
Keeping it simple. It’s such an easy concept, yet most of us have a hard time at it. We’re always trying to do something bigger, better and more elaborate that we sometimes forget simpler can be just as good - if not better. When it comes to food I’m usually the No. 1 offender. I’m always pushing myself to out-do the last thing I made. So when I read about this three-ingredient marinara sauce on the blogosphere, I kind of brushed it off as “too easy, too plain.” I thought, “What about the garlic? What about the pinch of sugar? what about the red pepper flakes?!” And then I did the best thing …
Here we are: One week into 2012. Our resolutions are still fresh on our minds, and we’re making positive strides towards blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda. I haven't been to the gym. I haven't been more patient. I haven't been more organized. And I certainly haven't saved more money. I have, however, been eating healthier. And it all started with this soup. I made it for a dinner party over the holidays and have been obsessed ever since. It’s velvety, rich and indulgent and probably not what you’d think of for a resolution soup. But trust me when I say it’s good for you. There’s no cream…
I crave Christmas every year. Before the Thanksgiving leftovers are even gobbled up, I’m already dreaming about my family’s traditional Christmas spreads to come – hot breakfast casserole, butterscotch haystack cookies, mini beef Wellingtons, and a cheese platter that captures every tastebud. It’s my mom’s recipes that give me a sense of comfort, a sense of belonging, a sense of home. And this year, she reminded me even more what home tastes like – and my childhood, too. A few days ago, I came home to find my mom making classic, rolled sugar cookies – a treat she hadn’t whipped up in some …
Forget the eggnog. Forget the Martha Stewart-style wrapped gifts with fancy bows. Forget the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Forget the carolers.I’ll trade in all of those traditions for a month of holiday parties anytime. Well, that might be a stretch about the gifts and I’m sure my mom would say differently.But seriously, gatherings, festivities, celebrations, bashes, merrymaking – whatever you call them - get me in the holiday spirit more than anything else.With these parties always comes the dreaded question: What should I bring? It needs to be simple, transportable and, of course, …
Your turkey was stuffed. Your belly was stuffed. And now your fridge is stuffed with Thanksgiving leftovers. Every year we all struggle with what to do with it all. You can only eat so many cranberry and turkey sandwiches before you feel like you might start gobbling yourself. So why not try something different this year and transform your Thanksgiving leftovers into the star ingredient for new dishes? Your palate won’t be bored and you can keep the holiday spirit alive. This week I’m sharing with you these little spicy and sweet poppers using leftover sweet potato casserole and cranberry …
I’m going to go out on a limb and say lunchtime is the best part of the day. Just hear me out. My obsession with lunch began early. I can remember ripping open my paper brown bag lunch -- Hey, it was the '90s; eco wasn’t in then -- with such excitement to see what my mom had packed. What is chips, cookies or some sort of homemade treat? It was usually all of the above with a peanut butter sandwich on incredibly soft white bread and a box of apple juice to wash it all down. Some things never change. I still anticipate the lunch hour wondering what I’m going to have. These days I’ve swapped …
The arrival of Halloween brings mixed emotions. Whether you’re a lover or hater of the candy-filled, kid-centric holiday, I think we can all agree on one thing – Halloween means pumpkin overload. Pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin lattes and so much more. You can put pumpkin in just about anything and people will eat it. This week I put pumpkin in oatmeal with a layer of caramelized bananas at the bottom and it was devoured by all. The recipe calls for both steel-cut and old-fashioned oats. Steel-cut oats take a little longer to …
A couple weeks ago I got an email from my editor, Jason, asking for a favor. His fiancée is vegan and he considers himself the traditional meat-and-potatoes type of guy. Sharing meals is a bit tricky for them as they haven’t been able to find any recipes that can appeal to both sides of the spectrum. Besides my philosophy on “when your boss tells you to do something, you do it”, I was genuinely up for this challenge. I had no idea exactly what a vegan was but I knew I was the gal to pull this couple out of their foodie slump. After a little online research, I found out vegans are simply …
Last weekend I was in New Jersey with my extended family celebrating nothing in particular. It was just one of those good old fashioned family gatherings where you spend your time sitting around the kitchen table laughing and eating too much cheese off the antipasto platter. In the midst of my gluttony, my cousin and I decided to throw an impromptu dinner party for our grandma. We called it “A Dinner for Grandma.” I know what you’re thinking. Yes, we’re a creative brunch. Cooking for an 85-year-old has its limitations. The food needed to be soft for her teeth, couldn’t be spicy, and had to …
Even self-proclaimed foodies like myself have off nights -- nights where it feels like it would take the same amount of energy to pick up the smart National Zoo elephant (did you hear about that?!) as it would to cook a meal. But a gal has to eat and it can’t be fast food in the traditional sense. Greek gyros with tzatziki are my go-to meal for times like this. With a small ingredient list and quick assembly time, the convenience factor on this dinner is way up there. And it doesn’t hurt that they taste pretty darn delicious. Ingredients: 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt1/4 cup crumbled feta …
It’s official: Summer has come to an end. Kids are going back to school, traffic on I-66 is worse than a Target parking lot on Christmas Eve, and the foodie blogosphere is already buzzing about fall produce. I’m not willing to give in just yet, though. Ginger spiced lattés and apple pies can always wait. This summer has been a whirlwind of exiting events and I’m not ready for it to end. And more importantly, I’m not ready to give up one of the best summer treats – fresh sweet corn. As one final ode to this sunshine season, I whipped up fresh corn chowder with barbecue shrimp. It’s a great …
You’ve had breakfast. You’ve had lunch. And now it’s 5 o’clock somewhere with the dinner hunger pains in full swing. If you’re keeping track, we’re on the third and last installment of my “Eating on the Go” series. I’ve been teaching busy worker bees how to prepare healthy and delicious meals that can be eaten anywhere, anytime and don’t include a drive-through. When I’m eating dinner out I want it to be something that’s good for me but also feels substantial - none of this sissy salad stuff. That’s where my roasted vegetable and lemon quinoa comes in. (Huh? What is quinoa? You can read about…
Welcome back, hungry eaters on the go. This is part two of my “eating on the go” series. Last week I showed you how to make a healthy breakfast for those busy mornings. This week I’ll be covering my favorite meal of the day, lunch. Lunch is synonymous with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a side of potato chips. (And maybe a Little Debbie’s snack? I miss being 10.) While this combo may be nostalgic, it isn’t the healthiest option or the even most creative. Planning a nutritious lunch can be hard. Your options are limited without an ice pack or access to a refrigerator during the day. …
Starbucks begins your morning (grande latte, please). A squished peanut butter sandwich found at the bottom of your purse rounds out the afternoon. And some cold leftover takeout food eaten over the sink while you sort through the day’s mail completes your night. Oh, and a few of those dark chocolate m&ms you have hidden in your freezer. Sound familiar? Too busy to sit down to enjoy an actual meal? Find yourself veering towards the drive-through searching for a quick bite? I get it. We all get busy. And when we get busy one of the first things to go is eating nutritiously. Put down the …
