My husband is the bread baker in our home. On a good week, he makes two to three loaves (we do feed a teenage boy, after all) that become breakfast toast, lunch sandwiches, afternoon snacks, dinner sides, and even, on occasion, dessert. (As in, “I’m still hungry. Is there anything else to eat?” “Oh yes,Continue reading “Whole Wheat Oatmeal Honey Bread”
Author Archives: christinanifong
Basic Bone Broth
Bone broth became a health craze several years ago. But it’s one of those foods that has been around for eons. It was once simply the way soups and sauces were begun — with a nutrient-dense liquid made at home from what was left of another meal. Now it’s touted as a cure-all to beContinue reading “Basic Bone Broth”
How to Find Local Food
Buying local can connect you with healthier food that is good for the environment and your community. It takes a bit of retraining — like forming any good habit. But the rewards are delicious fruits, vegetables and proteins at the peak of their flavor. Below, find a few resources to get you started. Once youContinue reading “How to Find Local Food”
Balancing Act
I remember hearing about “the golden mean” as a child. It must have been explained to me then that this philosophy of Socrates and Plato, of Aristotle and Confucius and Aquinas, was a basic truth I should strive to follow. It basically says that the path to perfection is carved between two extremes. The MiddleContinue reading “Balancing Act”
Free Floating
I am standing in a warm, salt-smelling room. It’s dark; what little light there is casts a surreal rosy glow. In front of me sits a giant plastic pod, the shape of an avocado. Its mouth is open. Its tongue is 12 inches of tepid water. That’s where I’m planning to spend the next ninetyContinue reading “Free Floating”
Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas
In the summer, we grow tomatillos in our garden. In the winter, we have to get the bright, citrus-y flavor of salsa verde from a jar — either that we canned or someone else canned for us. In any event, this tray of tomatillos, chicken, tortillas, and cheese has become a go-to in our house,Continue reading “Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas”
Shepherd’s Pie
Here’s a recipe inspired by my husband’s side of the family. I don’t know if I have his Irish heritage to thank or if his mother made it because it was a quick, one-dish meal that would inspire everyone to pull closer to the table. My husband’s version featured a pie plate layered with groundContinue reading “Shepherd’s Pie”
Every Year, It Changes
Every year, there are many holiday traditions at my house. We take a long, cold hike on December 23rd. On Christmas Eve, we cook and open one gift and crowd into overfilled church pews. Christmas Day, we wake early and gobble steamy cinnamon rolls and welcome a visit from my Dad and his wife. OnContinue reading “Every Year, It Changes”
Skillet Chicken Dinner
When it’s busy, there’s nothing better than a one-pan meal that can be whipped up in less than a half-hour. If you dry Roma or cherry or grape tomatoes from your garden, this is a great way to use them. Plant parsley in a pot and move it inside in the winter to have freshContinue reading “Skillet Chicken Dinner”
Easier Than Pie Apple Cake
This recipe first crossed my counter as I was staring down a bushel of quickly softening apples and not enough fridge space to store them. It has returned again and again as an easy favorite that’s just as good for breakfast as it is for dessert. Whip up a batch for visiting guests or toContinue reading “Easier Than Pie Apple Cake”