I grew up in 1980s Poland, where my mother and father took an old-school approach to parenting — meaning tough love and a lot of faith in our abilities. This […]
Recipe Box
ONE BITE AT A TIME
Deliver a Little Joy With Chawanmushi
A soup-adjacent steamed egg dish to give you shelter from the storm
We find ourselves here, in the coldest, quietest, (arguably) bleakest season in our little village, with time to spare. It’s my favorite time of year for a few reasons: I […]
FROM THE LARDER
Transported by Tagine
Putting memories of Morocco’s warmth to simmer on the stove
It’s so cold that Eartha Kitt has stopped going outside entirely. She’s our cat, and she’s going soft in her old age. She stands and peers out the sidelight, but […]
PRE-POP-UP
When the Canoodle Caucus Came to Dinner
Buttery onions and homemade pasta make for a luxurious lasagna
Back when political conspiracy theories seemed so absolutely bonkers (birtherism, for example) that they made us laugh out loud, a few of us decided to get into the zeitgeist and […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
Color Me Kitchari
The bright and flavorful secrets of a favorite feel-good one-pot meal
I have very strong opinions about food colors. My friends have already heard me out on this: I will not touch anything that has Red No. 3, Yellow No. 40, […]
THE ESSENTIALS
A New Year’s Tradition Based on an Old-World Confection
This fragrant orange-almond cake rises gently to the occasion
As traditions often do, this one developed at our house out of necessity. It’s a celebratory cake made with oranges and almonds but without wheat flour, milk, butter, or leavening […]
THE FEAST
Dreaming Up a Feast of the Seven Fishes
Seared scallops and buttery noodles are Christmas Eve comfort and joy
Everyone has something they do up for the holidays. Maybe you decorate your tree to a heavy rotation of Mariah Carey lined up on your playlist or dole out priceless […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
For a Winter Boost, Spice to Taste
Seasonings that save those too-familiar favorites when they start to seem ho-hum
I promise this story leads to three recipes for tasty spice blends to add to your cooking repertoire. But before we go down that path, I need to tell you […]
COOKIE SWAP
In Praise of the Joe Frogger
The cookie for a town’s sailors and those who didn’t fit the Puritan ideal
The Joe Frogger deserves wider recognition, full stop. It’s a historical American cookie made with pantry staples and features a molasses base spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. It’s firm […]
FAMILY RECIPES
Abuela’s Arroz con Dulce
A Puerto Rican dessert is well loved by (almost) everybody
First a little history. When the Moors invaded Spain in the Eighth Century, they introduced rice and saffron into the Spanish culinary oeuvre. Delicious, savory paella and sweet arroz con […]
THE DAY AFTER
Leftovers Fit for a Diva
With ties to an opera legend, Turkey Tetrazzini is more than a mid-century memory
We ate a lot of convenience foods when I was a kid growing up in the 1970s. There were dinners of Hamburger Helper and Chun King chop suey, but the […]
THE BASICS
Liquid Gold
Cooked on Thanksgiving Day or made ahead, homemade gravy is like money in the bank
When it comes to the Thanksgiving meal, there is no such thing as too much gravy. It’s a saving grace for any bird that gets too dry, an indulgent complement […]
THE BASICS
Liquid Gold
Cooked on Thanksgiving Day or made ahead, homemade gravy is like money in the bank
When it comes to the Thanksgiving meal, there is no such thing as too much gravy. It’s a saving grace for any bird that gets too dry, an indulgent complement […]
HOLIDAY SIDES
A Dressing From Down South
In this herb-heavy cornbread version, stuffing the bird isn’t required — just add gravy
People tend to be extremely biased about their Thanksgiving stuffings. They may try an unusual side vegetable or add a new pie recipe beyond the usual pumpkin and pecan (for […]
THE WHOLE TABLE
A Cake to Please Every Type of Eater
Sometimes being good to your body means baking a (healthier) cake
A few years back, I figured out that I had a slew of dietary sensitivities. But since I really do love food, I have been on a quest to discover […]
