Letting Go of Control

I’ve struggled with the concepts of change and control for as long as memory serves.

An Eggplant Kind of Summer

Around the fifth time we dropped a few pounds of eggplant into our red market basket, we paused and took a closer look at our selection.

Adventures in Canning: Tayberry Jam

In the summer, the words “Oregon” and “berry” are practically synonymous.

An “Original” Recipe

Justin and I have a running joke in our kitchen.

Adventures in Canning: Cherry Rhubarb Jam

When I hustle down the basement stairs to grab another jar of jam, what stops me from reaching for the cherry?

Squirreling Away Flavors

Bon Appetit recently published an entire spread on Sqirl, a restaurant in LA that writer Matt Duckor calls “the future of restaurant food”.

Adventures in Canning: Revisiting Tomato Jam

Two summers ago, this tomato jam recipe transformed me from a canning dabbler into a canning convert.

Flavors Without Page Numbers

This summer, I’ve noticed a distinct – and seemingly permanent – change in how I approach cooking.

A Morphable Crostata

If you look closely, you’ll notice slight differences among several of the photos.

Endless Variations: Now, With Quinoa!

There are hundreds of varieties of panzanella, the classic Italian tomato and bread salad.

Adventures in Canning: Apricot Jam

There were a few food trade-offs I was prepared to make when I moved to Portland.

Flexibly Italian

Copious amounts of summer fruit have invaded my house.

Immediate Inspiration

Sometimes it takes me 45 minutes before I’m intriguted enough by a recipe to feel ready to head to the farmers’ market.

Cooking it Fresh: Romano Beans

I have to be honest: I prepared and ate this romano bean salad three weeks ago.

A Morning "Pudding"

"Pudding" is a common item on any British menu.

Zucchini Glut

Lately, I’ve been feeling apathetic about zucchini.

Adventures in Canning: "Grown Up" Red Cherry Jam

Cherry season was finicky in New York.

Finally: Fluffy, Restaurant-Quality Rice

I don't have a great track record with cooking rice.

Berry Gazpacho

After yesterday's Fourth of July festivities, Thanksgiving's standing as my favorite holiday is in danger.

Memories of Summer: Ginger Peach Muffins

Smelling a ripe peach immediately brings to mind several food memories: summers on my parents' deck, eating the fruit as quickly as I could as it leaked all over my arm.

Adventures in Canning: Tomatoes

Canning and preserving tomatoes felt unsettlingly like participating in a high school biology class experiment.

Sweet Corn Polenta, Take 2

We made sweet corn polenta last Thursday and it was heartbreakingly good.

Weekday Lunch: Tomatoes

You say tomato, I say tomahto.

Tomato Glut Sauce

Earlier this year I read Joan Gussow’s memoir, This Organic Life.

Cooking it Fresh: Apricots

I brought a bagful of Red Jacket Orchards’ apricots home with me on Thursday.

Inspiration from North Carolina

This weekend, we turned these plump sap green okra into a delicately fried appetizer, topped with homemade tomato jam.

Adventures in Canning: Ginger Peach Jam

I’m so hot right now that I’m tempted to write:  yum peaches.

Cooking it Fresh: Zucchini

We've now made this galette two times in the last three days.

Evoking Maine

For me, blueberry pie evokes images of Maine, sunflowers, and sitting by the ocean.

Peaches, Berries, & Cream

I wanted to prepare a low impact dessert, one that wouldn't heat up the kitchen to an insufferable temperature.

Seasonal Pancakes: Blueberry

Happy 4th!

I made these portable pies yesterday and we've been munching on them all weekend.

Cooking it Fresh: Fava Beans

I'm going to keep this short and sweet because it's a holiday weekend.

Adventures in Canning: Rhubarb Jam

I fear I may be too late on this post...but I'll share this recipe anyways, in case you spot some rhubarb at the market this weekend.

Cherry Clafoutis

On Monday, we picked up our first pint of cherries of the season!

Seasonal Pancakes: Strawberry

I've posted about Justin's chocolate chip pancakes before.

Adventures in Canning: Strawberry Jam

Several Saturdays ago, we brought a cardboard box up the farmers market.

The Best Blueberry Muffins?

I have a recipe binder that I'm slowly filling with interesting recipes I've clipped from magazines and newspapers.

End of Summer Reflections

It's time to say goodbye to a busy, memorable, and extremely hot summer.

Uncomplicated

Yesterday demanded an easy meal.

Ratatouille!

Thanks to Pixar, the first image to pop into your head when you hear the word ‘ratatouille’ might in fact be a rat!

Summer Fruit Affair

I've been having a love affair with cherries this summer.

Frankies Eggplant Marinara

In full disclosure, I've yet to go to Frankies Spuntino or Prime Meats, though I have been to Café Pedlar numerous times (which should count for something by association!).

The Foot Long Zucchini

Frankly, the size of this zucchini is intimidating.

Fiery Tomato Sauce

I view a homemade tomato sauce as a blank slate.

All Day Eating

We viewed the 4th of July as the official kick-off of our summer in Brooklyn.

A Summer Feast

When we returned from our honeymoon, we faced the end of vacation woes:  an empty fridge, piles of laundry, and exhaustion.