Some days it feels like the flood of information I’m absorbing about how I should eat is going to drown me. I want to do the right thing and I also want to be able to plan dinner without consulting six websites and a Ouija board. So, here is the complete list (so far) of my top 12 steps for making your kitchen and table sustainable and delicious.
Because many chocolates and wines are delicious when enjoyed together, and if ever there was a time when chocolate is on everyone’s mind, it’s February, this post looks at the synergy of flavors that can be achieved when these two “healthy” treats are served together wisely.
Cosmos remain hugely popular and pomegranate juice is just plain delicious. Here these two favorites are combined in a variation on the traditional Cosmopolitan with directions that make it simple to serve at a party. By freezing the pomegranate juice into hot-pink ice cubes, you keep this cocktail cool on the buffet without diluting its potency. The colored cubes also create a pretty “sunset” pattern as they melt.
This simple and impressive dish can be prepared up to a week in advance, frozen, and popped in the oven at party time. I serve it on a plate by itself with a garnish of fresh herbs and a drizzle of pesto, or marooned in a pool of couscous to soak up the glorious juices. You don’t really need any vegetable sides since they’re all in the “bag.” Purchased puff pastry provides the crispy, easy, buttery crust.
This is the classic vanilla cream sauce for desserts like bread pudding or poached fruit. You’ll treasure this addition to your recipe collection. This sauce makes a perfect pairing with the Apple Bread and Butter Pudding or Chocolate-Walnut Bread Pudding.
We all know it’s important to include lots of fresh vegetables in our diet, but it can be challenging to think of new ways to prepare them. High-heat roasting adds a caramelized, sweet, and nutty flavor to most vegetables. Enjoy them warm from the oven, use them to liven up a purchased pasta sauce or soup, [...]
With a little sense of adventure, pesto can become one of the most versatile sauces in your kitchen. Like everyone else, I began with the classic pesto based on fresh basil. However, since I can never leave well enough alone (in the kitchen, for sure) I began to experiment with other fresh herbs in my garden. I mean, I love basil as much as the next herbophile, but why couldn’t cilantro or arugula step into this simple garlic/cheese/oil formula? The answer is— they can!
Simple syrup is the best way to sweeten any cold beverage, from Agua Fresca to iced tea or a Mojito. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, so I make a large batch to have on hand.
In future posts, I’ll include recipes for creating simple syrup variations with fresh fruit and [...]
Once you have done some research (read How to Get the Thrill from Your Green Grill on this site) and and selected the grill you can live with, both as a conscious cook and grill-meister, these tips will help you get the most successful results every time.
