WE MADE A LOT OF SCONES LAST WEEKEND. Like many scone recipes, the ones here at Blue Kitchen make eight scones. But honestly, when we make them that size, we often eat part of one, then come back later to finish it. So lately, we’ve been downsizing our scones, getting a dozen from the same batch of dough. The smaller scones are perfect for a breakfast treat, dessert or afternoon snack. Continue reading “Don’t call them bite-sized: down-sized scones are a perfectly sized treat”
The Gin Sonic adds club soda to traditional tonic water for a lighter taste that highlights the gin’s flavor. Recipe below.
GIN & TONIC HAS LONG BEEN MY GO-TO SUMMER COCKTAIL. Then our friend Kevin told us about Spain’s take on this most British of cocktails, and I was newly smitten. So imagine my delight to discover Japan’s own lighter version, the Gin Sonic. Continue reading “Japan’s lighter take on the classic Gin & Tonic: Gin Sonic”
Basil, Parmesan, garlic, pecans and olive oil create a fresh, lively summer meal without heating up the kitchen.
SUMMER HEAT HAS US ALL COOKING LESS. Or at least trying to not heat up the kitchen. Pesto in its various forms is an ideal compromise. It’s essentially a salsa cruda—a raw, uncooked sauce. And besides quickly pan roasting the pecans, the only thing you cook is the pasta. Continue reading “For an almost no-cook dinner, just boil water: Pasta with Pecan Pesto”
Clafoutis is a traditional French dessert, basically baked custard with fresh fruit. This version features summery nectarines. Recipe below.
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”
WE BOUGHT CUCUMBERS RECENTLY FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE and that had me thinking about this exquisite chilled bisque. It is cool and fresh and surprisingly luxurious—for that, credit goes to cream, egg yolks and lots of butter. The soup was created at a storied St. Louis restaurant, Balaban. You’ll find the recipe for this wonderful summer-perfect soup—and the delicious, improbable back story for the restaurant—right here. And you’ll find me at the grocery store. I’ve gone to get cucumbers.
Raspberries, orange juice and lime juice bring the fruit, mezcal, the smoke and jalapeño, the heat to this summer cocktail. Recipe below.
ANYONE WHO’S BEEN FOLLOWING US A WHILE KNOWS WE LOVE MEZCAL. We love the smoke, we love the variations—every mezcal is essentially an artisanal product, so every label is its own adventure. We love just sipping it slowly on its own, but that is more of a winter thing. Continue reading “Summery, spicy and fruit forward: Smoky Raspberry Margarita”
Classic Austrian schnitzel gets a crispy, juicy, chickeny makeover.
WHEN YOU’VE BEEN SHARING RECIPES FOR 16+ YEARS, you can be forgiven for forgetting some of them. Not just ingredients and measurements and processes, but the actual dish. When we were shopping recently and came across thinly sliced chicken breast cutlets, though, a couple of synapses fired. Suddenly, we sort of remembered doing something with this cut that maybe involved panko and was definitely delicious. Continue reading “Happily rediscovering Chicken Schnitzel”
Roasted eggplant, fresh dill and Greek yogurt make a delicious summery dish that can be served warm or chilled. Recipe below.
THE SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF MASSIVE RAINS turned around the scary drought we’d been experiencing here in Illinois, and it had a more intimate effect: our Japanese eggplant, which had been struggling and miserable, suddenly and eagerly began producing. Continue reading “A simple, seasonal, sensational side: Eggplant with Dill and Yogurt”
JARRED PASTA SAUCES ARE HAVING A MOMENT. Once something that many home cooks publicly looked down on (and maybe secretly used), they’re increasingly being seen as smart time savers for, well, all of us. Continue reading “Making jarred pasta sauce deliciously your own”
Rosemary, lemon and garlic get dialed up with bacon and red crushed pepper in this Italian-inspired chicken dish. Recipe below.
OUR ROSEMARY PLANT IS CONVENIENTLY THRIVING ON THE BACK PORCH. This after surprising us by successfully wintering over on a windowsill inside. The other day, trying to figure out something to do with some chicken thighs, I stood looking out the back door. And there was the rosemary. Continue reading “A classic ingredient mix with delicious results: Lemon Rosemary Chicken with Bacon”