Many inspirations, one delicious bowl—Asian Fish Soup

A mix of Asian cuisines and ingredients creates a flavorful, spicy, satisfying soup. Recipe below.

Asian Fish Soup

OUR RECENT WISCONSIN ROAD TRIP ended with a quick swing through Madison, where Laurel and Raffy took us to the amazing, delightful Ahan for lunch. Our takeaway? WOW! Continue reading “Many inspirations, one delicious bowl—Asian Fish Soup”

Quick, flavorful stir fry: Thai Basil Shrimp with Rice Noodles

Thai basil adds a savory, anise-like, slightly spicy note to this flavorful shrimp stir-fry. Recipe below.

Thai Basil Shrimp with Rice Noodles

THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE’VE PLANTED THAI BASIL IN THE GARDEN and it is not disappointing. Our Italian basil is still in the ehhhh, whatever mom sullen teenage phase, but the Thai basil is doing just great, thanks—growing taller and branching and just generally being cheerfully, eagerly productive. It wants to flower, so every few days I hack off the buds, to keep the leaves nice and tender. And every few days, we are rewarded with enough basil, plucked from our one plant, to make a vibrant, tasty dish. Continue reading “Quick, flavorful stir fry: Thai Basil Shrimp with Rice Noodles”

Extra lemony Lemon Thyme Bundt Cake

Lemon juice, zest and extract brighten this light, fragrant, summery cake. Recipe below.

Lemon Thyme Bundt Cake

INSPIRATION FOR OUR RECIPES COMES FROM MANY PLACES. THIS ONE STARTED IN OUR GARDEN. The thyme in our garden, which for years has been a charming, compact clump, has all at once gone crazy. It’s surging onto the walk; it’s galumphing up to its neighbors (aster and coneflowers) in an entirely too pushy way; it’s become completely overconfident and obnoxious. Continue reading “Extra lemony Lemon Thyme Bundt Cake”

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”