Kidney Comfort: Hearty Rajma for a Cold Wet Winter
We're still grateful that Rajma, that rich kidney bean curry that hails from the Punjab, came up on our food radar some years ago. Rajma is rarely on menus at Indian restaurants here in the States which is a shame, because it’s super delicious. Loaded with warming and healing spices, it’s comfort food particularly suited to winter, especially the cold, wet ones. We stumbled upon it because we were after something beyond kidney beans in hearty Southwestern bean chilis and ...
Peach Upside-Down Cake for an Upturned World
You don't need to read a food blog to know things are more than a little out of kilter these days. Pandemic, societal upheaval, economic devastation, politics, hurricanes, blazing fires, intense heat and more can make us forget about crises of years past (like environmental collapse and the largest refugee crises humanity has known).Face it, we need cake!We agree, peaches are delicious eaten fresh, juicy and sweet all on their own. We've been downing them daily this way for weeks. Plus ...
Old Country Herb Braised Green Beans
When I was a girl, there was such a thing as the Old Country – the place where the world still operated with magic and must. Small old men with thick accents knew languages that had intensity, a depth of experience that ordinary talking could never meet. The ancient women’s eyes smiled with secret ways. Communities felt close and happy even without modern luxuries.While the world has shrunk, these are Old Country beans. Cooked slowly over the lowest flame (ok, it’s a ...
Creamy Rutabaga Pie with Cauliflower, Peas and Tempeh Bacon – Vegan, Gluten-Free and Even Keto
Stuck at home, we received a box of vegetables from a friend and it included 5 rutabagas. Now this vegetable isn't high on people's list and frankly, all we could think of was roasted rutabaga. Sure it's tasty but how many times can we eat the same thing? Even though rutabagas are a great storage veggie, there's a boredom limit and it was reached. Then I recalled seeing rutabaga being used for veggie noodles, sliced thin with a vegetable peeler or mandoline, and boiled for three ...
Crusty Artisan Bread -Tweaking Jim Lahey’s Method
Artisan bread in minutes was a thing years ago, creating a sensation and bringing fresh-baked bread to ordinary home cooks who didn't have all day. Then, Jim Lahey, the owner of NYC Sullivan Street Bakery, made things even easier, with the technique of using a covered dutch oven to create a crispy crust in an ordinary home oven. This version tweaks his basic recipe a bit. I add a little rye (or whole wheat) flour so the flavor isn't so white and omit several steps (like the ...
Savory Red Lentil and Garbanzo Cakes
In the mood for something tasty yet unusual? Staring at those pantry items and stumped about what to make? Somewhat like a falafel (but not fried), these delicious patties are inexpensive to prepare and form the basis for a quick lunch or an elegant dinner. We love the fact that they use two core food storage ingredients -- garbanzos and lentils -- too.Try the cakes served over a light and spicy tomato chutney or with some cilantro, lemon and sesame almond pesto. Once ...
Colorful Health Salad (Before the Spring Veggies Really Return)
Spring always make us wish for fresh garden edibles, with the all the blooming and growing and sprouting around us. Yet, even as the cold of winter eases, early Spring isn't the season for an abundance of fresh vegetables yet, especially in Northern regions. This salad combines seasonal ingredients, root crops and fresh sprouted peas for a delicious, colorful and healthy serving of veggies. You can also substitute red cabbage for watermelon radish - less exotic but ...
