One year at Thanksgiving, I suddenly had the urge to serve some kind of raw green salad. I can’t imagine why – there was more than enough food to serve everyone three times, with leftovers. But it just got lodged in my mind, so I bought some brussels sprouts, because I have some sprout lovers in my family, with no real plan. I googled and thought and kept coming back to a hot … [Read more...] about Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprout Salad
Soup and Salads
Orzo Caprese Pasta Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Summer’s high heat days are the time for cold salads that are filling and satisfying, but easy to prepare and to eat. I haven’t reinvented any wheels with this recipe, just taken the classic combination of tomatoes, basil and mozzarella to create a refreshing, simple summer meal. Because when the ingredients are at the peak of freshness, simple is best. I return to this flavor … [Read more...] about Orzo Caprese Pasta Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Fennel Vichyssoise
Throughout these strange months of limited activity, I, like many people, have turned to the kitchen for comfort and distraction. I haven’t been cooking quite as much as I thought I would, and its been a bit of a rollercoaster of success and failure. For myself, I’ve made hamburgers, hot dogs and rich pastas, I’ve been known to have chips and dip for dinner, I’ve made … [Read more...] about Fennel Vichyssoise
Lemon, Dill and White Bean Chicken Soup
I always think of January as soup month. Apparently, it is actual National Soup Month. Soup is so warm and comforting, and it is really simple to whip up a delicious pot of flavor. Sometimes I go for a hearty, thick and creamy soup, but a lighter version always fits in with those forts of the year pledges to get healthy. This soup is a nice bright bowl of sunshine in the dreary … [Read more...] about Lemon, Dill and White Bean Chicken Soup
Roasted Fennel Soup with Fennel Parmesan Toast
I love the magic of soup. With such a few ingredients you can create richly flavored and complex bowls of delight. And those bowls can be elegant and sophisticated or hearty and homey. I make this soup while I’m doing other things in the kitchen – cut the vegetables and roast them while putting the dishes away, simmer them in the broth while making a grocery list, blitz it all … [Read more...] about Roasted Fennel Soup with Fennel Parmesan Toast