Have a happy, lucky new year: Black-eyed Pea Soup with Thyme

Black-eyed Pea Soup with Thyme

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]I[/su_dropcap] only realized well into Christmas day that I hadn’t done a post for last week. Christmas day is when it would have posted. New Year’s Eve, I found myself practically in the same boat. But then I remembered a dish that could bring you luck in the new year, Black-eyed Pea Soup with Thyme. Black-eyed peas are apparently chock full of luck if you eat them on New Year’s Day. And while fresh ones are delicious, you can also use canned. Whether you manage to eat some black-eyed peas or not (in this recipe or another), have a wonderful, luck-filled new year.

Simple holiday treats for the win: Hazelnut Rosemary Jam Cookies

The humble, traditional thumbprint cookie gets a mysterious upgrade with fresh rosemary. Recipe below.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US. And that means having something to take to a holiday party. Something to serve at your holiday party. Or something to bring out when unexpected guests turn up. These Hazelnut Rosemary Jam Cookies do that in spades, with nice subtle flavors that will have people asking for the recipe. You’ll find it right here.

Cook, enjoy, repeat: Braised Chicken with Artichokes and Olives

Chicken drumsticks and thighs turn into an easy-to-cook, big-flavored braise with bacon, marinated artichoke hearts, olives, garlic and lemon juice and zest.

Braised Chicken with Artichokes and Olives

WE’RE NOW ENTERING OUR FOURTEENTH YEAR OF DOING BLUE KITCHEN. That’s, give or take, with a new recipe almost every week, a lot of recipes. Some new recipes immediately get added to our go-to list and show up on our table again and again. Others, no matter how delicious, get unfairly forgotten. Like this one. Continue reading “Cook, enjoy, repeat: Braised Chicken with Artichokes and Olives” →

Eating, drinking, walking and museuming our way through Mexico City

Ciudad de Mexico

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]e were in Mexico City recently. Ciudad de México, CDMX. On our return, a colleague asked me what we’d done. I said, “We drank mezcal and ate bugs.” Totally true. We also did other things. Continue reading “Eating, drinking, walking and museuming our way through Mexico City” →

Three get-dinner-done-now helpers we love

Trader Joe’s Mahi Mahi Burgers

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]W[/su_dropcap]e’re here because we like to cook. So are you. But sometimes cooking is less about fun recipes or new techniques, and more about getting a healthyish dinner on the table quickly and with minimal effort. Here are three store-bought foods that help us do just that. Continue reading “Three get-dinner-done-now helpers we love” →

Dessert? Dinner? Five recipes show how dried tart cherries do both

Ricotta Chevre Cake

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]L[/su_dropcap]ast week’s scone recipe left us with a surplus of dried tart cherries—and a reminder of how deliciously versatile they are. Here are five ways you can use dried cherries, some sweet, some savory. Continue reading “Dessert? Dinner? Five recipes show how dried tart cherries do both” →

Autumnal, rustic and offhandedly impressive: Walnut and Boozy Cherry Scones

Dried tart cherries are plumped in bourbon, then baked into easy-to-make, not-too-sweet scones. Recipe below.

Dried Cherry Walnut Scones

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]S[/su_dropcap]cones are the perfect baked dessert for someone who doesn’t bake much and prefers baked goods that aren’t too overly sweet. In other words, me. Continue reading “Autumnal, rustic and offhandedly impressive: Walnut and Boozy Cherry Scones” →

Not French, but sort of French: Braised Duck Legs with Sauerkraut and Apple

Duck legs are braised in a mix of sauerkraut, apples and shallots for a rustic, satisfying, cold weather meal. Recipe below.

THE FRANCOPHILE IS AT IT AGAIN. This recipe is not authentically French or even French-inspired, but built from French longing. It started when my colleague Brian brought some chocolate confections back from Paris. Continue reading “Not French, but sort of French: Braised Duck Legs with Sauerkraut and Apple” →

Big on comfort, easy on the heat: Tomatillo Chicken/Turkey Chili

The traditional bowl of red turns green and lightens up, as tomatillos replace tomatoes and chicken and turkey stand in for beef. Recipe below.

TOmatillo Chicken Turkey Chili

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]C[/su_dropcap]hili. For many, it’s over-the-top flavor pyrotechnics. Or “I dare you” fiery hot. To us, chili is comfort food. Like a good stew or soup. Subtle complexity rather than giant flavors, heartily satisfying. You know, comforting. This tomatillo-based turkey/chicken chili checks all those boxes and then some. Continue reading “Big on comfort, easy on the heat: Tomatillo Chicken/Turkey Chili” →

Reducing plastic usage in the kitchen with fabric beeswax food wraps

Two woman-owned companies are making reusable, compostable beeswax-infused fabric food wraps to replace plastic wrap.

Bee's Wrap

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]L[/su_dropcap]ike many people, we’re trying to reduce our use of single-use plastics. We’re shopping with reusable bags, carrying refillable water bottles and avoiding straws when possible, for instance. So when we heard (belatedly, perhaps) about beeswax fabric food wraps, we were excited. Continue reading “Reducing plastic usage in the kitchen with fabric beeswax food wraps” →