This past Saturday night I was at a loss for what to cook. We’d been out to dinner a few times so eating out really wasn’t an option, and I was hungry, so a simple salad dinner just wasn’t going to cut it. I was tired from a busy week, and not very motivated to cook creatively, if at all. If it was going to happen, it needed to be quick and easy. Continue reading “Meatball Mania”
Leftovers, no more!
Nobody really likes to eat leftovers, but if you are in a bind (or your refrigerator is full of the last few days’ meal remains) they can be a great foundation to a quick meal. What’s more, when you are committed to cooking daily, the effort can sometimes present a challenge to your creativity and your patience. So, why not grant yourself a break and use those leftovers if and when you have them? Continue reading “Leftovers, no more!”
Garbanzo, Garbanzo, Garbanzo
Chickpeas were not a staple in Northern Italy, where beans and legumes tended to be of the white variety. New traditions are made with every generation, however, and when I now think of chickpeas, I think of my son who had his first chickpeas when he was two. Great Jones, the New York City burger joint around the corner from where we lived, happened to serve the best green salads with chickpeas. Finn gobbled up this salad, loving every bite, and while he liked the flavor and consistency of the beans, I suspect his particular childhood memory was cemented when he proudly added a funny new word to his vocabulary: garbanzo, garbanzo, garbanzo… Continue reading “Garbanzo, Garbanzo, Garbanzo”
To Market, to Market to Buy a Fresh Pig… Don’t Let Shopping Make Cooking Too Big! (Part II of II)
Last week we provided you with a list of what to buy and how to buy it. This week we will tell you how to approach your shopping so you can more easily integrate cooking into your daily life. If you are going to spend the time preparing meals for yourself and your family, it ought to be easy and fun. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “To Market, to Market to Buy a Fresh Pig… Don’t Let Shopping Make Cooking Too Big! (Part II of II)”
To Market, to Market to Buy a Fresh Pig… Don’t Let Shopping Make Cooking Too Big! (Part I of II)
My friend Holly – an inspired home cook – makes simple, good food with lots of variety. What sets her apart, however, is her commitment to cooking for her family, which she does 95% of the time. This is particularly impressive as her job takes her on the road a lot. But, the one thing she is still trying to perfect is a technique for planning and shopping in advance. So, on her request, Kathrin and I wrote out our ground rules for shopping, beginning with this: start every day with a plan for what you’ll serve for dinner that night. Without one, chances are high the meal will be takeout! We hope these simple rules help get you out of the store and into the kitchen, quickly, so you can go outside and enjoy the day. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “To Market, to Market to Buy a Fresh Pig… Don’t Let Shopping Make Cooking Too Big! (Part I of II)”
Come and Cook with Us 