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
Sep 01, 2009 -
Selecting a menu for a large dinner party is tricky. You don't want to choose dishes that require last-minute preparation, and you need to pick recipes that will feed a crowd (or can easily be doubled to do so) and consider the dietary needs of your guests. Luckily, the majority of my friends are adventurous eaters and while two girls don't eat meat, they do eat fish and cheese.
- 2 Comments
Aug 31, 2009 -
It's my favorite time of year in San Francisco: blackberry picking season. I discovered an especially fruitful patch on a frequent exercise route, and being an overly ambitious multitasker, I take a berry-picking break during my runs, and then jog home with my daily stash.
There are so many things I love about foraging for my own berries: being zero degrees removed from the local-food movement and knowing precisely what it is that I'm putting into my mouth; the gritty juiciness of the berries; the fact that they cost zero dollars.
- 1 Comment
Aug 18, 2009 -
Who says chicken salad has to involve globs of mayonnaise and chopped celery? This recipe gives the classic salad a Southwestern-style twist.
Cooked shredded chicken is tossed with rice, black beans, tomatoes, jalapeños, and green onions.
- 2 Comments