Vegetarian White Bean Chili with Mushrooms Serves 6 Note: Don’t use canned beans for this dish as the lengthy cooking time will cause the beans to lose their integrity. Additionally, if you don’t want to soak the beans overnight follow these directions for the quick-boil solution: Using a large pot, cover the beans with about[…]
Christmas Dinner Recipe Ideas
Over the years I have experimented with an inordinate number of Christmas dinner recipe ideas. Past favorites have included Turkey with all the trimmings and Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding, but the all-time winner in our house is my Herb and Honey Marinated Filet of Beef. After the economy crashed in September of ’08, which[…]
Oatmeal-Blackberry Pancakes with Orange Zest and Greek Yogurt
Anyone who assumes the role of “head chef” in their home kitchen knows how difficult it can be to please the whole table. And my table, always includes a temperamental toddler who’s prone to wild deviations in taste. One day a food is in, the next it’s out. But when all else fails and everything[…]
Red-Wine-Braised Brisket with Dried Fruit
Red-Wine-Braised Brisket with Dried Fruit Serves 10 Ingredients: 2 cups robust red wine (I use Cabernet) – stock 5-6 lb. beef brisket (aka bottom round roast or pot roast) – $40.00 Paprika, kosher salt & pepper – stock 3 large onions (about 2 cups), chopped coarsely – $1.49 2 bay leaves – stock 3 sprigs[…]
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel Makes 12 Ingredients for Muffins: 1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats – stock 1¼ cups whole wheat flour – stock ½-cup packed light brown sugar – stock 1 teaspoon baking powder – stock ¾-teaspoon baking soda – stock ¾-teaspoon ground cinnamon – stock ½-teaspoon salt – stock 2 Tablespoons[…]
Shredded Chicken & Figs with Marcona Almonds and Thyme
Shredded Braised Chicken & Figs with Marcona Almonds & Thyme Serves 6 Adapted from Food & Wine Ingredients: 2 teaspoons canola oil – stock 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (you can also use skin-on/bone-in, just discard bones & skin after cooking/before shredding) – $5.00 Salt & pepper – stock 1 large carrot, chopped –[…]
Hot Crab Dip with Old Bay Seasoning
Hot Crab Dip with Old Bay Seasoning Serves 10 Ingredients: 8 oz. whipped cream cheese, softened – $2.19 3 scallions (about ¼ cup), chopped fine – $0.99 ½ of a red bell pepper (2/3 cup) , chopped – $1.07 a heaping ½ cup grated Monterey Jack cheese – $1.09 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese –[…]
Cinnamon-&-Sugar-Dusted Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
Craving other pumpkin-spiced delights? Check out our Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes, Pumpkin Seed & Spinach Pesto, Pumpkin Risotto, Pumpkin & Ricotta Lasagna, and Curried Pumpkin Pie Soup Cinnamon-&-Sugar-Dusted Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins Makes 18 NOTE: Buttermilk Substitute (I never keep any on hand and always use this substitute): In a glass container, whisk together 1/3 cup milk[…]
Black Rice Salad with Roasted Beets, Montrachet & Pistachios
Black Rice Salad with Roasted Beets and Montrachet/Chevre Cheese Serves 4 Note: I wrote this recipe as though the reader plans to enjoy the salad over the course of several days. Obviously, if you are planning on dining with friends and family, all of the assembly is done at once, separating any leftovers as directed…if[…]
One-Pot Chili Mac & Cheese
One-Pot Chili Mac & Cheese Serves 6 Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon of olive oil – stock 1 spanish or yellow onion, chopped finely – $1.19 2 cloves of garlic, minced – stock ½-lb lean ground beef – $5.49 12-oz bottle of beer (I used a wheat beer, Blue Moon) – stock 2½ cups low-sodium chicken broth[…]
Sesame-Miso Noodles with Green Onions & Edamame
Sesame-Miso Noodles with Green Onions & Edamame Serves 3 Ingredients for the Dressing: ¼ of a ripe avocado 1 Tablespoon white miso paste (I get it at Whole Foods) – $4.23 1 small garlic clove – stock 2 teaspoons lemon juice – stock ½ teaspoon sesame oil – stock ¼ kosher salt – stock 1/3[…]
Cheesy Zucchini Pie with Prosciutto and Sweet Onions ala Alyssa
Zucchini Pie ala Alyssa Serves 12 Ingredients: ½ lb. zucchini, scrubbed and chopped diced – $1.75 2 Tablespoons olive oil – stock 1 medium-large Vidalia onion, diced – $1.16 3 cloves garlic, minced – stock 3 oz. Prosciutto – $3.99 ½ cup shredded Fontina cheese – $2.99 ½ cup diced fresh mozzarella – $2.69 ½[…]
Roasted Tomato & Corn Pie with Smoked Gouda and Caramelized Onions
Roasted Tomato & Corn Pie with Smoked Gouda and Caramelized Onions Serves 4-6 Adapted from The Painted Apron Ingredients: 1 pint grape tomatoes – $2.49 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided – stock 1 small sweet onion, roughly chopped – $1.04 1 Tablespoon butter – stock 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen – $0.69 ½[…]
No-Cook Tomato & Brie Pasta Sauce with Sweet Basil
No-Cook Tomato & Brie Pasta Sauce with Sweet Basil Serves 4 Slightly adapted from a recipe published in Redbook Ingredients: 1-pound pasta (cavatelli or cavatappi works well here) – $2.39 ½-cup reserved pasta water 1-pound very roughly chopped ripe tomatoes (I use grape or cherry tomatoes b/c they’re often sweeter) – $3.99 ¼-cup extra virgin[…]
Blueberry Kale Muffins
Blueberry Kale Muffins Makes 12 Ingredients: 1½ cups whole wheat flour – stock 1 teaspoon baking soda – stock 1 teaspoon baking powder – stock ½ teaspoon salt – stock 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – stock 1⁄3 cup maple syrup – stock 1 tspn vanilla extract – stock 1 egg, lightly beaten – stock 1⁄3[…]
Orange-Juice-Glazed Acorn Squash with Cinnamon & Sea Salt
Orange-Juice Glazed Acorn Squash with Cinnamon & Sea Salt Serves 4 Ingredients: 2 acorn squash, halved and seeded – $3.87 1 cup orange juice – stock ¼-cup Demerara or Turbinado sugar (a large-crystal raw sugar, worth having a bag for dusting the top of baked goods with a crunchy caramel flavor) – $3.49 ½-teaspoon ground[…]
Culinary Blog Tour
Mariel here. We were so honored to be featured as one of Rhonda‘s Top 3 favorite food blogs in her 3-Blog Tour. Rhonda runs The Kitchen Witch, which is an incredibly beautiful, thoughtful and well-photographed food blog. One part photographer, one part “culinarian” and one part motorcycle enthusiast, Rhonda is way more badass than your[…]
Pear, Pancetta & Gorgonzola Quiche with Toasted Walnuts
Pear & Gorgonzola Quiche with Toasted Walnuts Serves 8-10 Ingredients: 4 oz. diced pancetta (or bacon) – $3.69 1 extra-large shallot, diced – $0.79 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter – stock 1 Tablespoon brown sugar – stock 2 large ripe pears; 1 pear cut into chunks, 1 sliced thinly – $1.99 4 eggs, lightly beaten –[…]
Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Turtles
Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Turtles Makes about 10-12 Turtles Ingredients: 6-oz dark chocolate chunks or morsels (semi-sweet also works): $3.19 30 mini pretzels, crumbled – $1.79 Handful of dried cherries, currants or cranberries – $3.19 Sea salt crystals – stock Grand total assuming well-stocked kitchen: $8.17 Directions: 1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper[…]
Warm Super Greens Salad with Pistachios & Sweet Peaches
Warm Super Greens Salad with Sweet Peaches Serves 6 Ingredients: 2 cups baby heirloom or grape tomatoes – $2.29 3 ripe peaches cut into 1/8ths – $1.60 18 cups of “super” greens – $5.99 6 Tablespoons of crumbled blue cheese – $3.99 (for the block) 6 Tablespoons of chopped nuts (I use pistachios) – stock[…]