From Scratch

Like many, I try to cook with what’s in season. That’s especially true in summer, when almost everyone has access to fresh, local produce. This is the second summer for this blog and some of my favorite high-summer recipes are here, so it’s time for a recipe round-up. There might be new ideas for those who […]

It wouldn’t be summer without at least one blueberry pie. This reliable old recipe is from my aunt who had the “white thumb” and it’s far quicker and simpler than the pastry school pie I make. More important, for those of us who like blueberry pie that’s neither runny nor solid, this is not runny, merely juicy, and […]

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of biting into fuzzy, fragrant peaches so ripe the juice dribbled down my chin and made my face sticky. Today, searching for peaches like that in New England is almost futile. For two or three weeks every summer, we have reliably great peaches from New Jersey but otherwise, they’re […]

When I miss Maryland, as I have been lately, the only thing short of going there that satisfies my longing is Old Bay. The seasoning mix is the integral ingredient in steamed crabs and enhances many other dishes. As Chesapeake Bay blue crab is not a staple in New England stores, I usually make this […]

This is certainly the time for fruit salad, although it means different things to different people. Some use a simple syrup of sugar and water, others use ginger, lime juice, sour cream, gelatin and even — ugh — that chemical cocktail called non-dairy whipped topping.
To me, fruit salad means lots of fresh […]

Most people enjoy barbecued ribs but there are potential deterrents: not everyone can cook outdoors and ribs can become a project, what with starting them indoors in the oven or a pressure cooker and moving them outdoors to the grill. Marinate them before cooking and we’re looking at a meal that makes us wait most […]

Humor me here, or trust me. This is a great way to serve grapes. Just as roasting intensifies the flavors of vegetables, it brings out the sweetness of grapes. So does the touch of salt, which always makes sweet things sweeter. Roasted red grapes taste much like grape juice, but without added sugar. With a dip […]

By suburban standards, Manhattan supermarkets are tiny so I always assumed if they sold something, larger stores everywhere did. Not so. Even though many recipes call for it, crème fraîche is not a staple in every dairy aisle is America, as I learned when I moved to New England. Of five markets I use, only […]

For some reason, we Americans tend to think of scrambled eggs as a breakfast or brunch dish, not a main course for lunch or a light dinner. Many people in other countries have them for any meal of the day and they can be a perfect choice.
Since I’ve been trying to follow the Big Breakfast […]

We usually think of this type of dish as French bistro fare and it is, but this one’s Italian, from Lombardy — its proper name is pollo all’ aceto — so the often-used shallots and thyme are not present. It’s every bit as delicious as its French counterpart and just as simple, now that I’ve streamlined […]

The first time I saw a smoothie maker for sale I had an “only in America” moment. It looked just like a blender with a different name. To this day I don’t know the difference between the two. I also don’t know any people who have a blender and a smoothie maker, but I’m willing […]

This easy, one-layer cake defies the usual techniques and I wouldn’t have noticed the recipe if I hadn’t spotted a pet peeve: expresso for espresso. That the word appeared on a box of Domino powdered (icing) sugar only increased my irritation. Domino is our top sugar producer and they should know better. Of course, they […]

This spice rub is the companion recipe to Pineapple Salsa and can be used when grilling chicken, turkey or pork indoors or out. It’s a keeper for me, for a couple reasons.
Sure, we can buy spice rubs but like taco seasoning mixes, they tend to have more sodium than anyone needs when eating sensibily. Like all […]

This is a perfect, refreshing accompaniment to grilled poultry or pork. Its tropical flavors are welcome in hot weather and complement chicken, turkey or pork that’s been prepared with its companion recipe, a Caribbean spice rub. Both recipes are fine on their own but together, they are more.
I found this at Fine Cooking, in one of the […]

Think of this as a cousin to Spanish rice but with a kick, a high kick the Rockettes might envy. I love rice, I love hot stuff. Put ‘em together and I’m in heaven.
You can tone it down, of course. Most of the heat is from Tabasco sauce, not the jalapenos, which are mild. I […]