Nov 24, 2009 -
With so much energy going toward Thanksgiving, it's easy to overlook the meals leading up to the big day.
Tonight fix up a simple and delicious dinner that's a cinch to put together. Canned white beans simmered with onions and red peppers serves as a bed for succulent and juicy bone-in pork chops.
- 1 Comment
Nov 15, 2009 -
Pork chops may be filling and healthful, but because they're a leaner cut, they aren't always full of flavor.
To keep your taste buds dancing, incorporate the other white meat into a classic Southern staple that's got major sass: the Hoppin' John.
A medley of black-eyed peas, brown rice, kale, and pork come together with the help of tomato, broth, vinegar, and paprika.
- 1 Comment
Nov 08, 2009 -
Ever since I made pasta with lamb and tomato ragu, I haven't been able to stop singing the praises of ground lamb. If you love ordering lamb at restaurants but have never made it at home, ground lamb is the perfect starting point, since it requires no special handling.
Prepare the quick, from-scratch recipe for wheat pitas below or, in a pinch, use store bought pitas or tortillas.
- 2 Comments
Nov 02, 2009 -
Last night I made an Eastern European-inspired ground sirloin stew with egg noodles, and tonight I'm going to use the leftover beef to make something on the opposite end of the spectrum! I'm craving takeout, but — inspired by my recent successes — I'm going to continue my pattern of preparing Asian foods at home.
Spice up the sirloin with the help of minced garlic, lime, and Asian fish sauce, and wake up your senses with freshly-torn basil and julienned chiles.
- 3 Comments
Oct 12, 2009 -
After tossing back a few of PartySugar's Candy Corn Cordials last weekend, I was ready to get into the spirit of the holiday with a chilling concoction of my own. A slime rickey isn't just a wordy play on the classic lime rickey of gin, lime juice, and club soda — it's also softened with the sweetness of simple syrup and eerily bobbing frozen grapes. The beverage is so easy to drink that the pitcher I made was gone in under an hour!
- 4 Comments
Oct 08, 2009 -
When I saw this recipe on the last page of October's Everyday Food magazine, I knew, instantly, that I had to make it. Reese's Pieces are my favorite Halloween candy and the thought of their crunchy shell and peanut butter filling in combination with brown-sugar blondies was too good to be true.
Unfortunately, the day I planned on making them, I couldn't find Reese's Pieces anywhere and didn't have time to run to another grocery store.
- 33 Comments
Sep 20, 2009 -
In an attempt to reduce my carbon footprint, I've decided to prepare a grilled meal sans meat for my friends this weekend.
At the farmers market, I couldn't resist picking up abundant corn and yellow squash; the two will star in a monterey jack quesadilla that'll brown beautifully over the flame. But unlike any vegetable-filled tortilla I've had in the past, I'm going to keep the vegetables fresh by leaving them uncooked — a time-saver that'll also lend the meal a satisfying crunch.
- 2 Comments
Sep 14, 2009 -
I haven't had Chinese for a while, and lately I've been craving the spicy-sweet flavor profile of that good old standby, General Tso's chicken.
Normally I order takeout at least once a week, but this month I'm on a tighter budget, so I'll take a different route and try to make a home-cooked rendition of this choice restaurant dish.
Not only am I saving money by using up the rest of yesterday's chicken, but I'm also going to lighten it up by eliminating the need for a deep-fryer — and I'll have dinner on the table in well under an hour.
- 6 Comments
Sep 09, 2009 -
Say good-bye to boring chicken with this creative and healthy recipe. It's a balanced meal complete with a refreshing cucumber and parsley salad and garbanzo bean couscous.
The chicken is seasoned with ground ginger and coriander, and thanks to quick-cooking boneless skinless tenders, it's ready in just five short minutes.
- 2 Comments
Sep 02, 2009 -
I'm pretty traditional when it comes to birthdays and I can't remember celebrating one without a special cake. It may come as a shock, but every year, I make my own birthday cake. Researching cake recipes and going through the process of baking one has become a ritual that I look forward to and enjoy — as much as the senselessly extravagant birthday party.
- 8 Comments