Seasonal Tastes: July – Corn on the Cob with Basil Butter

Cooking with seasonal ingredients takes advantage of when produce is at its best. There’s usually more flavor, it can be more cost efficient, and it just feels more genuine. Each month I’ll cook a dish showcases and in-season ingredient. Corn on the cob is a fun thing to eat in the summer but something I…

Read More

Spaghetti Pie

How excited was I to receive a cast iron skillet for my birthday?  So so so so so so so sooooooo excited.  I’ve spent the last month and a half finding recipes to cook in my new toy, and once I used it for the first time it was like my birthday all over again.…

Read More

Parmesan Ranch Slaw

Trader Joe’s has a parmesan ranch dressing that they claim is low fat.  It doesn’t taste low fat, which is why I had no problem drenching my slaw with it.  Just toss some broccoli slaw with diced bell peppers and that dressing and you have a great picnic side.  Halved cherry ‘maters would work well,…

Read More

Crab and Snap Pea Pappardelle

Typically, when pasta is the main meal, it’s a Wintertime thing.  You don’t mind eating hearty bolognese or dense alfredo when you’re in an oversized sweater by the fireplace.  But it is totally possible to create a pasta entree that won’t make you afraid to put on a bikini afterwards.  The key is to use…

Read More

Sweet Chick

Yesterday was drizzly and blah so Albert and I decided to go on a Sunday adventure, which really just means trying a new restaurant in a different neighborhood instead of going to an old standby.  We wound up  at Sweet Chick because I suddenly remembered they were famous for chicken and waffles and I could think…

Read More

Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread

Since I was hosting book club, I wanted to take advantage of the fact that I could use my oven – I didn’t have to focus on easy-to-transport recipes.  However, I still wasn’t going to have much time to prepare anything after work so I chose something easy and shareable: cheesy pull-apart bread.  This is next…

Read More

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Last night’s dinner was a total throwback.  Tuna noodle casserole is not sexy.  Not at all.  But ever since Kathleen told me her Mom whipped her up a batch, I’ve been craving it.  I’m sure I’ll one day post a grown up version of this dish, but for now, I’m just sticking with the basics.…

Read More

Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken with Pesto

I found a jar of pesto with quinoa at Trader Joe’s and have been keeping it in the pantry until just the right moment when I needed to quickly pull together a meal on a weeknight.  I had to spend the evening cleaning my apartment (boringggg but enough procrastinating, already!) so I wanted a meal…

Read More

Gemma

Gemma is one of those restaurants everyone suggests for dinner when friends are in town.  They have great pizzas and pastas for sharing so it’s good for groups.  The atmosphere, like the Bowery Hotel it’s attached to, is old-world beautiful and [as my brother put it] feels like you’re in a Wes Anderson movie.  Despite its…

Read More

Arroz con Pollo Sausage

I have no idea what’s actually in arroz con pollo, the traditional Spanish/Puerto Rican dish.  I know there’s arroz (aka: rice) and pollo (chicken for us English speakers).  Beyond that, it’s pretty much a guessing game, which is why I have zero idea whether or not my version of this meal is authentic.  I’m guessing…

Read More