recipes | cooking classes | events
This cinnamon and allspice scented rice pilaf recipe is traditionally used as a filling for stuffed grape leaves, stuffed peppers, and other “dolmas” or “stuffed things” in Turkey. Known as Iç Pilavı in Turkish, it is equally delicious eaten on its own without being used […]
This Spanish tomato sauce recipe takes me back to a trip to Spain I took in 2015. During that trip, I noticed a jar of this tomato sauce on every table, much like ketchup one might find on any dinner table here in the United […]
This marinated mushrooms recipe with garlic and herbs is ready in just 20 minutes, plus marinating time. A favorite of mine for more than 20 years, it is originally from Claudia Roden’s cookbook, A Book of Middle Eastern Food, which was first published in 1968, […]
A Good Carrot’s Guide to Selecting, Storing, and Cooking Tomatoes Looking for answers on how to store tomatoes? The dog days of summer are here, and tomato-mania is in full effect. Whether from your garden, CSA deliveries, or the farmer’s market, read on for tips […]
These 4 easy tomato recipes are what you need during the the tomato-mania months of July and August. Read on for storage and recipe ideas to preserve summer’s bounty to enjoy in the winter months. Recipe #1: Dice and Freeze Tomatoes This can hardly be […]
This tomato chutney recipe is a spicy, piquant sauce best made with freshly picked tomatoes. My local urban farmer has incredible tomatoes every summer, and I knew I would regret it if I did not put some up for when tomato season ends. The recipe […]
This Spanish tomato sauce recipe takes me back to a trip to Spain I took in 2015. During that trip, I noticed a jar of this tomato sauce on every table, much like ketchup one might find on any dinner table here in the United […]
This post contains sponsored content. All words and opinions and ideas are my own. Sponsored content helps this blog survive and thrive, thank you for your support! This Turkish-style beef köfte kebab recipe is a simple grilled dish to pull together for a hot summer […]
What is Sustainable Beef? To buy sustainable beef, understanding what you are looking for is key. “Sustainable Beef” refers to beef raised using methods taking into consideration raising beef for future generations. Currently, the amount of environmental degradation and pollution caused by Concentrated Animal Feedlot […]
This brown rice salad recipe with charred scallion vinaigrette is an easy to make main course salad. It also holds up well, and makes delicious lunches for the week. The flavors of rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, and of course, charred scallions, all […]
A Good Carrot’s Guide to Selecting, Storing, and Cooking Zucchini Looking for answers for how to store zucchini? It’s mid-July, and zucchini is everywhere. The garden, CSA deliveries, the farmer’s market, and the grocery store. Before you secretly drop off another paper bag full of […]
If there’s one vegetable recipe I had to choose to eat every day for the rest of my life, this Turkish-style braised green beans recipe would be it. It’s a perfect summertime dish, with just five seasonal ingredients coming together to create something simple and […]
Of all zucchini recipes, these Turkish zucchini fritters are one of my favorite. Lightly fried in olive oil, and chock full of fresh herbs, these delicate patties melt in your mouth. They are a great way to use up bumper crops of zucchini, and can […]
This Mexican lentil soup recipe includes tomatoes, onion, cilantro, carrot, and plantain for a delightful version of lentil soup. Traveling and Cooking I learned to make this Mexican lentil soup when I traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in June 2016. Whenever I travel, […]
This sweet potato salad with nasturtium pesto recipe is a delicious hearty salad that utilizes a common plant you may have growing in your garden. The entire nasturtium plant is edible, include the leaves, stems, flowers, and the nasturtium pods, which are leftover after the […]
This green vegetable soup recipe takes simple pantry ingredients and transforms them into a light and flavorful soup. No one flavor overpowers another here: the sweetness of the peas mingles with the broccoli, potato, leeks and onion to create a balanced dish perfect as a […]
This vegan dessert recipe is what you make when fresh summer fruit is at its peak. The crust on this Plum and Apricot Tart is crumbly and crunchy, almost like a crumble topping. And there is no need to roll any dough here, just process […]
This radish and white bean salad recipe comes together quickly and highlights the crunchiness of the radish compared to the creaminess of the beans and brightness of the sherry vinegar. Radishes, truth be told, have often stumped me. So beautiful, and so simple, yet somehow […]
I love the “root to shoot” aspect of this recipe: using every bit of the vegetable and not having to throw anything out! Radish tops can be spicy, and possibly bitter, depending on the batch you have. You can use more basil in this recipe […]
This pan-roasted zucchini and cherry tomatoes recipe includes big hunks of zucchini browned to perfection, bursts of cherry tomato, whole garlic cloves made soft, and buttery, and a sprinkling of ground coriander and coarse sea salt finish it off. A simple preparation for simple farmer’s […]
This Mexican chicken recipe, Pollo en Pipian Verde, or Chicken in Pumpkin Seed Sauce, combines tomatillos, chilies, and nuts and seeds in a delicious sauce to make a hearty meal. Traveling and Cooking The recipe is from a cooking class I took on a trip […]
This marinated mushrooms recipe with garlic and herbs is ready in just 20 minutes, plus marinating time. A favorite of mine for more than 20 years, it is originally from Claudia Roden’s cookbook, A Book of Middle Eastern Food, which was first published in 1968, […]
Deliciously fragrant and incredibly simple, this cumin-spiced roasted carrot recipe will become your new favorite carrot dish. Whether you’ve got a bag of grocery store carrots sitting in the fridge or fragrant, fresh, and tender baby carrots just brought home from the farmer’s market, this […]
This cinnamon and allspice scented rice pilaf recipe is traditionally used as a filling for stuffed grape leaves, stuffed peppers, and other “dolmas” or “stuffed things” in Turkey. Known as Iç Pilavı in Turkish, it is equally delicious eaten on its own without being used […]
In this Improperly Cooked Pasta with Parsley-Mint Pesto recipe, the pasta is cooked in a way counter-intuitive to everything you have been taught. There’s no need to wait for a huge pot of water to boil, and no need to add a ton of salt. […]
This zucchini noodle salad recipe with chickpeas and fresh herbs is a refreshing summer salad that is an easy dish to add to your weekly repertoire. It’s loaded with fresh herbs and dressed simply with olive oil and lemon juice. Truth be told, I have […]
This easy shrimp recipe, with a 15-minute garlic and lemon zest marinade, is a delicious solution for a fast weeknight dinner. Ingredients I’m always sure to buy wild shrimp, as they are better for us, and better for the environment. This recipe is in the […]
This hard-boiled eggs recipe with garlic and parsley is delicious in its simplicity AND a terrific excuse for a weeknight tapas dinner. Plan a Meal With warmer summer weather, sometimes a few snacks at dinner time is all you need. Pick up your favorite cheese […]
Crunchy celery, creamy avocado, and sweet orange all harmonize together in this celery salad recipe with citrus and chilies from Amy Pennington’s recently released cookbook Salad Days: Boost Your Health and Happiness with 75 Simple, Satisfying Recipes for Greens, Grains, Proteins and More. It is […]
This dish, Braised Sausage with Leeks, Fennel, and Apple, has been a long time favorite of mine. The low and slow cooking method of braising yields flavors that are rich and satisfying, but won’t leave you feeling heavy. The leeks, fennel, and apple all cook […]
If you’re looking for a summer soup recipe, this light and refreshing carrot-curry-apple soup recipe is it! It can be served chilled or heated, and is made with simple ingredients. Don’t skip over the simple recipe for Baked Maple Walnuts at the bottom of this […]
This roasted beet salad recipe combines the natural sweetness of beets with a garlicky vinaigrette and a kick of jalapeno. The addition of creamy goat cheese rounds out the dish. When I owned beachgreens produce home delivery service, I discovered that many people had a […]
I love front-loading with vegetables by eating them for breakfast, and a frittata is a perfect way to use up any leftover bits of veg cluttering the fridge. The leftover cooked greens from Tuesday night’s dinner? Perfect. The half an onion leftover from another recipe? […]
A Good Carrot’s Kale Salad Recipe If you have one kale dish in your repertoire, this kale salad recipe with apple and dried sour cherries has to be it. I have converted many skeptics to actually liking kale (or at least being less skeptical), once […]
I love vegetables, but that does not mean I don’t eat meat. I feel best when I eat a vegetable forward diet with small amounts of meat included. The decision to eat meat is a very personal one, and requires contemplation, compassion, and these days, […]
This thyme tea recipe with honey makes a delicious concentrate that can be used as a base for hot or iced teas. Thyme contains Thymol, which has powerful antimicrobial properties and can be useful for alleviating coughs. In the winter, a warm tea is perfect […]
This Red Lentil Soup recipe with Curry Powder and Spinach is simple to make, tastes delicious, and I feel satisfied and nourished when I eat it. Lentils are an easily digestible form of protein for most people, chock full of vitamins and fiber. They are […]
This Broccoli and Sugar Snap Pea Salad Recipe tastes sweet and crunchy, and is perfect for ingredients found fresh at the farmer’s market. Blanching is a method of cooking vegetables briefly in boiling water, then submerging (shocking) in ice water bath or under cold running […]
This roasted sweet potato fries recipe with sweet coriander-onion dip is an easy weeknight side dish or anytime snack that anyone will love. Reworking a Family Favorite Every Thanksgiving my extended family gets together for our annual celebration, and it is basically a feeding frenzy. […]
This Turkish style braised leeks recipe, or prasa, is one of my favorite recipes of all time. It uses an unsung hero of the vegetable world, the leek. Leeks are in the same family as onions and garlic, and have a similar, but milder flavor. […]
This chard recipe with pine nuts and feta cheese is a delicious way to get your greens, and the secret ingredient will surprise you! Swiss Chard, or chard, comes in many colors, including red, white, and rainbow! It is in the same plant family as […]
This chicken and pinto bean stew recipe comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients and is a terrific option for feeding a crowd. I’m a big fan of batch cooking; whip up a pot of this on the weekend and have it to come home […]
This marinated carrot salad recipe takes shredded carrots and blends them with an array of spices to create a healthy, refreshing side salad. Picking the Right Carrots Carrots purchased from the grocery store are often bitter, old, and bland. A telltale sign of an old […]
