Weeknight quickish, vegetarian Mushroom Spinach Quiche

Mushrooms add “meatiness” to this quiche, creating a satisfying vegetarian meal. Recipe below.

Mushroom Spinach Quiche

YEARS AGO, CARLY SIMON’S SONG “ANTICIPATION” was brilliantly coopted for a Heinz Ketchup commercial, turning the frustration of their famously slow-flowing condiment into a delightful moment. For us, that anticipation could also be applied to quiche. One of the pleasures of making quiche is seeing leftover quiche in the fridge, wrapped in plastic and awaiting reheating. Yes, we made quiche again. And yes, seeing it in the fridge is making us quite happy. Continue reading “Weeknight quickish, vegetarian Mushroom Spinach Quiche”

Quick, border-crossing comfort: Instant Pot Lamb and White Bean Soup

Variations of flavorful, comforting Lamb and White Bean Soup appear across much of western Europe. This Instant Pot version is weeknight quick. Recipe below.

Instant Pot Lamb and White Bean Soup
Instant Pot Lamb and White Bean Soup

CALL IT A SOUP, CALL IT A STEW, some combination of white beans, lamb, herbs and aromatics shows up in Italy, in France, in the UK… And for good reason. It is hearty and delicious. So when we had lots of leftover leg of lamb recently, our own combination of the above ingredients showed up in our Instant Pot. Continue reading “Quick, border-crossing comfort: Instant Pot Lamb and White Bean Soup”

Named for delivery people, this dish truly delivers: Pasta alla Carreterria

There are countless regional variations on Pasta alla Carreterria; this is how it’s done in Rome. Recipe below.

Pasta alla Carreterria
Pasta alla Carreterria

WHEN IT COMES TO COOKBOOKS, I AM LOOKING FOR TWO THINGS: an interesting read, and one good, enduring recipe. I don’t expect a cookbook to be jam-packed with dozens of recipes I will be able to use forever and ever. If I can get one useful dish from a cookbook, that makes it worthwhile, and if it is also fun to read, then it’s totally paid for itself. Continue reading “Named for delivery people, this dish truly delivers: Pasta alla Carreterria”

A promising hint of spring: Broccoli Rabe and Chicken Quiche

Broccoli rabe (rapini or spring broccoli) and lemon juice add a subtle spring brightness to this quiche. Recipe below.

Broccoli Rabe and Chicken Quiche
Broccoli Rabe and Chicken Quiche

ONE NIGHT IN LYON, MARION AND HER SISTER HAD DINNER in a little neighborhood restaurant. When they were seated, the waiter asked them one question: “Rouge ou blanc?” Red or white, meaning the wine. Once they chose their wine, there were no more choices—the meal they were served was all determined by the wine. I sometimes think Blue Kitchen is like that. Continue reading “A promising hint of spring: Broccoli Rabe and Chicken Quiche”

Artichoke Heart and Spinach Quiche? Yes, please

Marinated artichoke hearts and spinach create a subtle, flavorful base for this vegetarian quiche. Recipe below.

Artichoke and Spinach Quiche
Artichoke and Spinach Quiche

I AM ALWAYS READY FOR QUICHE. If we’re out somewhere and see it on the menu, that’s what I’m ordering. I’m also a big fan of artichoke hearts. So recently, when Kalyn Denny shared her recipe for Artichoke, Kale and Ricotta Pie, my first thought was “that looks delicious”—closely followed by my second thought: “artichoke hearts would make a great quiche.” Continue reading “Artichoke Heart and Spinach Quiche? Yes, please”

Leave it to the French to dial up a favorite side dish: Boursin Mashed Potatoes

Boursin, a garlicky, herby French soft cheese, livens up the flavor of mashed potatoes. Recipe below.

Boursin Mashed Potatoes
Boursin Mashed Potatoes

WE LOVE MASHED POTATOES. Our weeknight go-to batch is garlicky mashed potatoes made with peeled yellow potatoes, butter, buttermilk and plenty of garlic. When we came across a recipe for Boursin mashed potatoes, we thought it might dial our favorite side dish up a notch or two. It did exactly that, making them still garlicky, but adding a rich, creamy, cheesy, herby flavor along with the nice texture of bits of red potato skins. Continue reading “Leave it to the French to dial up a favorite side dish: Boursin Mashed Potatoes”

Fun to make, delicious to eat: Pork and Cabbage Potstickers

These classic Chinese dumplings are an impressive “yeah-I-made-these” appetizer. Recipe below.

Pork and Cabbage Potstickers
Pork & Cabbage Potstickers

MY POTSTICKERS ARE LIKE SNOWFLAKES. NO TWO LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE. In celebration of Lunar New Year, the fun committee of the ad agency where I work hosted a virtual potsticker-making class. Having made our fillings beforehand from shared recipes, there we were in our Google Meet grid, trialing and erroring our way through filling, folding and pleating our dumplings. Continue reading “Fun to make, delicious to eat: Pork and Cabbage Potstickers”

Weeknight quick comfort food: Instant Pot Korean Beef

Gochujang, a Korean fermented pepper paste, and a host of pan-Asian ingredients create a comforting beefy antidote for winter dinner blahs. Recipe below.

Instant Pot Korean Beef
Instant Pot Korean Beef

WE SOMETIMES REFER TO OUR APPROACH IN THE KITCHEN as cooking with a magpie eye. Like those inquisitive, acquisitive birds, we’re always looking for shiny new objects. For us, that can mean new-to-us ingredients, techniques, ideas. So when we recently came across recipes for Korean beef, we already had most of the ingredients on hand—and some sense of what they could do together. Continue reading “Weeknight quick comfort food: Instant Pot Korean Beef”

Bò Kho (Vietnamese beef stew) gets an Instant Pot makeover

Flavors from all over Asia (ginger, lemongrass, five-spice powder, garam masala, fish sauce…) spice up this delicious, aromatic, meaty stew. The Instant Pot speeds it up. Recipe below.

Bò Kho: Vietnamese Beef Stew
Bò Kho: Vietnamese Beef Stew

OUR FAMILY LOVES THIS DISH. Hearty, complex, aromatic, it’s a popular favorite over here. Now that we are not eating all that much red meat, this has become even more of a special occasion meal. When one of our daughters found herself able to visit us over the holidays, this was the dish she requested. This time, we made it in the Instant Pot to see how it would work out. Continue reading “Bò Kho (Vietnamese beef stew) gets an Instant Pot makeover”

Now Instant Pot-ready: Layered Pot Roast with Anchovies, Capers and Garlic

This hearty pot roast made with capers, onions, garlic and anchovies, Grillades à L’Arlésienne, comes from the South of France. Here, it gets an Instant Pot makeover. Recipe below.

Layered Pot Roast with Anchovies, Capers and Garlic
Layered Pot Roast with Anchovies, Capers and Garlic

OUR HANKERINGS FOR THIS DELICIOUS ROAST always come at the most inopportune times. As in when we don’t have two and a half hours for it to roast after we’ve done the simple prep work. So it was time for an Instant Pot makeover. Continue reading “Now Instant Pot-ready: Layered Pot Roast with Anchovies, Capers and Garlic”