Sweet Potato Tempura Onigirazu

Sweet Potato Tempura Onigirazu
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I, like most of the world, have a nearly insatiable taste for sushi. I didn’t have my first piece of maki until I 16 but I have more than made up for lost time in the 16 years since. As with most of my favorite foods, I have tried my hand at sushi in the past. My attempts have been serviceable but nowhere near restaurant quality. It’s the rice, I can’t get it right. And, of course, my lack of dexterity holds me back as well. My maki rolls lack structural integrity, so much so that I often find myself eating the evidence of a poorly executed roll, leaving me prematurely full and my serving platter woefully empty. This is why I love these Sweet Potato Tempura Onigirazu. They don’t require a deft hand or perfectly seasoned sushi rice and they crush my sushi cravings, without destroying my confidence.

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Braised Red Cabbage with Kielbasa & Forbidden Rice

Braised Red Cabbage with Kielbasa and Forbidden Rice
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Okay, this is admittedly an intensely moody dish for the first weekend of spring. I know everyone is busting out the verdant greens and sunny yellows. And here I am with a bruise of a bowl. But I can’t help it. Even in the dead of summer my favorite colors will always be purple, black, and pink. Black is always central to my aesthetic because it accentuates color so well. But in spite of my lack of enthusiasm, as we move towards sunnier palettes, I am happy to see the return of spring. Today’s Braised Red Cabbage with Kielbasa & Forbidden Rice may not reflect that, but please know I feel it in my heart.

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Poppyseed Pretzel Knots with Beer Braised Onion Queso

Poppyseed Pretzel Knots with Beer Braised Onion Queso
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If you told me a year ago that I would miss a visit to my local pub the most, I wouldn’t have believed you. At the beginning of lockdown, I was too busy lamenting canceled vacations to give my favorite bar much thought. But, just a little over a year into this pandemic, here I am missing fish and chips and a cold pint more than my own mother…not really, but it is close. It really is the everyday indulgences I miss. Dawdling through the grocery store, meeting up with friends for a cocktail, or popping out for a meal on a whim. But we’re still in this mess, so the best I can do is turn my living room into a watering hole and serve the best pub grub I can muster, like these Poppyseed Pretzel Knots with Beer Braised Onion Queso.

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Turkey Katsu Club Sandwich with Red Cabbage

Turkey Katsu Club Sandwich
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I don’t generally go for mile-high sandwiches. They scratch up the roof of my mouth and make me feel like a social pariah while eating them. There is something about attempting to unhinge your jaw that makes you a less than ideal dinner guest. But every now and then I encounter a sandwich of ponderous bulk that is completely worth the risk of injury to both my mouth and my pride. At the age of five, it was the Big Mac, which I swear were a lot less squished in the 90s than they seem to be today. Then I graduated to the Club Sandwich. And now, finally, my giant sandwich of choice is yet a larger club – this Turkey Katsu Club Sandwich.

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