Kale: It’s What’s for Dinner

It is kale season in our garden. I mean big time. We often have a little stand that grows throughout the fall and might stay strong in a mild winter. But spring is when the kale takes off. Which, of course, means it’s kale season at our table. This is not a beloved season at the dinnerContinue reading “Kale: It’s What’s for Dinner”

Ginger Sesame Dressing

It’s a rare bottled salad dressing that makes it into our house. But we certainly eat our share of lettuce — and spinach and carrots and sprouts. So variety is key. This dressing has an Asian flair; I love it atop salads served alongside fish and chicken. It’s especially good with a base of greens and rawContinue reading “Ginger Sesame Dressing”

Slow Cooker Shredded Pork With Cilantro-Ginger Sauce

Most years, we buy a local half hog in the spring and another in the fall. We place the butchered, vacuum-packed cuts — thick, uncured bacon, flavorful sausage, tender pork chops — in our deep freeze and we plan our meals around this meat until it runs out. Which means we sometimes have to getContinue reading “Slow Cooker Shredded Pork With Cilantro-Ginger Sauce”

Spinach Artichoke Dip

There’s nothing like a great app — it keeps the dinner hunger at bay, it’s great for a party, heck, sometimes we even make a meal out of a couple apps and some fruit. I’ve made my fair share of artichoke dips over the years but when I started experimenting this time around, I wanted lessContinue reading “Spinach Artichoke Dip”

Go-To Lentil Soup

This recipe is easy. It’s healthful. It’s a quick dinner that can be pulled together at the last minute. It makes for great leftover lunches. It uses garlic, onions, peppers and stock that I’ve put up from my summer garden or made from my Thanksgiving turkey bones. Do my kids love it? No. But that’s whatContinue reading “Go-To Lentil Soup”

Roasted Winter Veggies

Sweet potatoes or butternut squash; parsnips or carrots; onions, peppers, even cabbage. Whatever winter veggies you have on hand, toss them into the pan with a splash of olive oil and these Latin-inspired spices. Your cold winter night just got warmer. Serves 4-6 Ingredients 1 tsp. ancho chili powder 1 1/2 tsp. fine sea salt 1 tsp. freshlyContinue reading “Roasted Winter Veggies”

Super Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Why is it that some of the seemingly simplest sauces are the hardest to make? I have been stirring up my own Alfredo sauce going on 20 years but it was very hit or miss. It all depended on the kind of cream I used or how finely grated the Parmesan was or how muchContinue reading “Super Creamy Alfredo Sauce”

Makes Everything Better Cheese Sauce

So, my kids are 14, 12 and 8. Not exactly toddlers. And, you know, they’re not super picky eaters. But they don’t love their veggies. Not like I wish they did. Not like I do. Which means I sigh a lot. And ask for “five more bites” way more than I feel should be necessary.Continue reading “Makes Everything Better Cheese Sauce”

Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup

I have several black bean soup recipes that have floated into my kitchen over the years. Some with a splash of orange juice, others with a bit of pork stirred in. I like the chunks of sweet potato in this version — and using my Homemade Taco Seasoning, which is always at the ready inContinue reading “Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup”

Carrot Ginger Soup

  This soup couldn’t be easier to make. Sauté a few veggies, then purée it all. But it’s so delicious. And who can’t use a major shot of vitamin A in January? It’s very easy to make a vegan version of this. It’s naturally gluten-free. This was the soup that my cooking class really gobbled up.Continue reading “Carrot Ginger Soup”