Thai Curry Noodles

Here’s another framework recipe, where you can add and subtract as it suits you. For me, the basics are coconut milk, curry paste and noodles. Everything else is inspired by what’s growing in the backyard or what I am finding at the farmers market or grocery store. Top those noodles with chicken, tofu, mounds ofContinue reading “Thai Curry Noodles”

Pantry Carbonara

Carbonara can seem fancy because there is a technique to getting those eggs to form a perfect sauce rather than become a scrambled mess atop your noodles. But my husband — with his Italian roots — reminds me that it’s really a simple supper, meant to be an easy weeknight meal using what every householdContinue reading “Pantry Carbonara”

Savory Spring Dutch Baby

I was reminded recently of a certain airy, eggy deliciousness called a Dutch baby or German pancake. When I realized it could be the start of a dinner that featured eggs and leafy greens, I knew this was the meal for this height-of-spring moment. I’ve made it several times lately — with arugula, kale, spinachContinue reading “Savory Spring Dutch Baby”

Linguine with Garden Herbs and Clams

We are seafood fans in our house, but we are also well-aware of how fragile the edible ocean is these days. For more than a decade, I’ve been referring to my Monterrey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide to help me find environmentally friendly seafood. In the past several years, as eating local has become my guiding principal,Continue reading “Linguine with Garden Herbs and Clams”

Spinach Swiss Souffle

We’ve grown a lot of spinach this Spring — which makes me really happy because I adore this veggie’s thick leaves and big crunch. I love how well it pairs with cheese and eggs and cream — and nutmeg. It’s wonderful in salads and sautés and smoothies. I honestly can’t imagine ever feeling tired of spinach.Continue reading “Spinach Swiss Souffle”

Banana Chip Muffins

Pretty much any time I set foot inside a grocery store, I add a couple half-gallons of milk and a bunch of bananas to my cart. Doesn’t matter the season, doesn’t matter if I went in for a few ingredients or my weekly stock-up shop, milk and bananas are must-haves at our house and weContinue reading “Banana Chip Muffins”

Scratch-Made Sloppy Joes

If you’re a parent of certain aged kids, you know the drill: From school to swim practice for one kid, a swing by the ballet studio for another and a stop at the track to fetch a third. All this in the crucial 5 to 6 o’clock hour when it would be helpful to actuallyContinue reading “Scratch-Made Sloppy Joes”

Potato Pancakes

When I say, “potato pancakes,” you likely head right to, “Hanukkah.” But I think March is the ideal month for frying up a batch. They bridge winter and spring, a hearty comfort food that pairs perfectly with an early season salad — a few spinach leaves, some lettuce from our cold frame, sprouts we’re growing on ourContinue reading “Potato Pancakes”

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”

Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes

I roast and purée and then freeze a handful of farmers market pumpkins every year. I love having the big, beautiful white and golden and green squash around to decorate with in the fall and then, once we’ve moved on to evergreens and holly, it’s time to really enjoy these gifts from the ground. TheyContinue reading “Perfect Pumpkin Pancakes”