Chickpea Salad—a fresh (and healthier) take on a summer favorite

Fiber-rich chickpeas stand in for potatoes in this crunchy, healthy, summery salad. Recipe below.

Chickpea Salad

THIS VERY SIMPLE DISH IS A RIFF on a recent New York Times recipe, that in turn, is a riff on a summer classic, potato salad. It is ridiculously easy to assemble—a few minutes of measuring, chopping and a bit of stirring. You never even need to turn on the stove. Continue reading “Chickpea Salad—a fresh (and healthier) take on a summer favorite”

Quick Two-ingredient Dinner Rolls, for when you really, really want a little fresh, warm bread

These simple two-ingredient rolls are ready to eat, warm from the oven, in about 30 minutes. Recipe below.

Two-ingredient Dinner Rolls

SOMETIMES YOU JUST REALLY, REALLY WANT a little fresh, warm bread. This is a recipe for exactly that. It is the most low-commitment bread recipe I know. Continue reading “Quick Two-ingredient Dinner Rolls, for when you really, really want a little fresh, warm bread”

Where’s the Beef? Mushroom Chicken Stroganoff

Mushroom Chicken Stroganoff is wonderfully complex, layered and lighter take on the beef classic. Recipe below.

Mushroom Chicken Stroganoff

STROGANOFF WITHOUT BEEF? We recently came across a recipe that had us asking just that. We’re happy to report that umami-rich mushrooms and leftover chicken offer a quick, simple—and richly flavored—take on this old school comfort food dish. Continue reading “Where’s the Beef? Mushroom Chicken Stroganoff”

Chocolate is the star in Very Chocolatey Banana Bread

Cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate chips take the lead in this luscious double chocolate banana bread. Recipe below.

Very Chocolatey Banana Bread

WHEN YOU HEAR CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD, what do you see? It could be a standard issue golden brown bread with molten chocolate chips flecking it throughout. Some home bakers create a marbled bread with veins of chocolate swirling around. Still other breads, like this one, go all in on the chocolate—both in appearance and in flavor. Continue reading “Chocolate is the star in Very Chocolatey Banana Bread”

The yes-you-can-bake Apple Galette

This impressive, rustic, delicious galette is foolproof, even for reluctant bakers. Recipe below.

Apple Galette

OUR DECEMBER KEPT LURCHING INTO UNCERTAINTY—due to various dramas, we were never sure how things would play out, who would be visiting, even whether we would get a last-minute unavoidable summons for a road trip, surprise! Continue reading “The yes-you-can-bake Apple Galette”

Easygoing Apple & Pear Bundt Cake is just nice to have around the house

Not too sweet and loaded with fresh fruit, Easygoing Apple & Pear Bundt Cake is a nice, simple treat to have around the house. Recipe below.

Easygoing Apple & Pear Bundt Cake

THE HOLIDAYS ARE ABOUT THE BIG, FABULOUS, FAMILIAR THINGS, in vast quantities, and that is just as true for food. Entire birds! Gravy by the vat! Carb-forward sides—five different ones! Pie! More pie! And there’s so much of all of it, and it is just so heavy, and it just keeps coming. Continue reading “Easygoing Apple & Pear Bundt Cake is just nice to have around the house”

Your delicious little secret: Weeknight Pasta with Cottage Cheese and Chives

This simple vegetarian pasta dish is creamy and flavorful, really good for you and—bonus—quick and easy to make. Recipe below.

Weeknight Pasta with Cottage Cheese and Chives

TO BE HONEST, THIS RECIPE IS SOMETHING I INVENTED A LONG TIME AGO, I don’t even remember how or why, and I always kind of kept it secret. To be completely honest, for a very long time it was kind of my weeknight-easy secret shame. I mean, pasta with cottage cheese. Continue reading “Your delicious little secret: Weeknight Pasta with Cottage Cheese and Chives”

Enjoying a fall harvest find: Olive Oil Ricotta Cake with Italian Plums

Available briefly in the fall, Italian plums are the star of this simple, sweet cake. Recipe below.

Olive Oil Ricotta Cake with Italian Plums

I LOVE FALL. I love breaking out the turtlenecks and the sweaters, and watching the leaves turn, and even the bittersweet moment when I put away my beloved sandals and shift to my beloved boots. I love how the cat’s fur gets thicker, and the rosebushes in the garden surprise us with a few last, gorgeous, huge flowers, and Terry gleans what remains of the basil for a couple last batches of pesto. It is all so melodic. And part of the melody of this time of year for me is that brief moment when we can get Italian plums. Continue reading “Enjoying a fall harvest find: Olive Oil Ricotta Cake with Italian Plums”

Summer fruit meets a classic French dessert: Nectarine Clafoutis

Clafoutis is a traditional French dessert, basically baked custard with fresh fruit. This version features summery nectarines. Recipe below.

Nectarine Clafoutis

IL éTAIT UNE FOIS, I would make clafoutis for dessert all the time. It was my effortless fallback, quick, simple, fresh and, of course, delicious. Continue reading “Summer fruit meets a classic French dessert: Nectarine Clafoutis”