Dinner Winner 2: Marinated Chicken, Avocado and Spinach Salad

Several years ago – when I was living in NYC, and eating out for most of my meals – Kathrin invited me to her apartment for dinner. The idea of a casual dinner being prepared midweek, at home, by someone with a demanding job on Wall Street was foreign to me. I’d spent my time on weekend dinner parties, but who had time to make a quick healthy meal after work? Was I wrong! The “Dinner Winner” dish Kathrin served – a vegetable salad, warmed and brought together by marinated and sautéed pieces of meat – was simple and delicious. It is that meal that marked the moment I began my adventure of cooking at home. I’d like to share it with you today in hopes that it will inspire you too. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Dinner Winner 2: Marinated Chicken, Avocado and Spinach Salad”

This just in From Mark Bittman

We could not have said it any better.

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?
By Published: September 24, 2011

THE “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli …” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.” Continue reading “This just in From Mark Bittman”

Dinner Winner 1: Poached Chicken

Whenever we ask the kitchen dwellers reading this blog what gets in the way of preparing a daily cooked meal, the answer is nearly always time. Whether rushing home from work, shuttling the kids between activities, or trying to fit a mountain of errands into one day, time is of the essence.  Therefore, tempting our audience with quick and easy meal ideas is one of the best ways to inspire our readers to get back into the kitchen.  Once a week for the next few weeks we are going to feature our “Dinner Winners”, easy to prepare, (mostly) one-pot meals that don’t require much thought (or action) from you.  Dinner Winners can be made in minutes and last for one meal, or might take a little longer to prepare and can be used in many different preparations over the course of a week; either way, they are there to simplify your life.  Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Dinner Winner 1: Poached Chicken”

The Joy of the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

There might be better ways than hiking to celebrate a major milestone birthday (I’m not telling which one), but this year my friend Helen and I decided that attempting to climb Mt. Whitney would be the right way to celebrate this event (with our devoted husbands cheering us on, and climbing as well). So, last Sunday night, in freezing weather, thunderstorms and snow, we set out to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain of the contiguous United States.  We didn’t make it to the top (the weather was NOT permitting), but we had a great time anyway. Breathtaking views, raging snow-storms, and a nice bottle of French red wine to celebrate all helped to make this a birthday to remember, but what capped the experience was finding the perfect grilled cheese sandwich waiting for us in Lone Pine.  That sandwich, and everything it represents, helped us feel welcomed by civilization again. In honor of my wonderful birthday hiking meal, this week’s post is dedicated to the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Continue reading “The Joy of the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich”

Back to School Night

Welcome back!  It’s been a summer to remember with earthquakes, hurricanes, heat waves, and, here on the West Coast, unseasonably cool temperatures.  Weather notwithstanding, in the “warm” months we tend to break rules more easily and that’s okay because if not in summer, then when?  Kathrin and I have had our share of treats this year (we’ve favored ice cream, wine, and burritos on the go); nevertheless, the ritual of Labor Day puts a fine point on the end of summer and is a great time to regroup on how to eat for the rest of year. This Labor Day Kathrin and I made a pact to commit to one change for the better in our approach to eating. We invite you to join us. Continue reading “Back to School Night”