Rhubarb and Cod

Sweet Potato Harissa Orzo with Black Olives

February 1, 2023 2 Comments

We’re in the middle of a cold snap right now and I’m not taking it well. It’s unattractive. I’m very whiney. And I really shouldn’t be because this winter has been very kind to us so far. We’ve had almost no snow and this is the first spell of truly cold weather we’ve had. But still, I hate the winter so much that I can’t see it from a rational adult perspective. From where I’m sitting there is little to love about winter aside from temporarily escaping it. And that’s what I’m presenting you with today, a cozy, carb-tastic escape. This Sweet Potato Harissa Orzo tastes better with rosy cheeks and a renewed appreciation for heavy socks and the wonders of indoor heating. In other words, it’s the perfect dish for times like these. So let’s make it!

Curries

Green Curry Braised Eggplant with Crispy Shallots

January 29, 2023 No Comments

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Eggplant and I have an uneasy relationship. When I was a kid, I hated the vegetable with a fiery passion. And that opinion stayed with me into my teen years. But my mind started to change when I was served an order of Thai green curry with eggplant. I began to see eggplant for what it truly is. A flavor sponge that when cooked to perfection takes on a silky almost buttery consistency. And so my mind started to change. True, I still can’t say I’m in complete and total love with the vegetable, but I’m well beyond tolerance. I actually kind of like it now. And if I can say that, there is hope for eggplant haters everywhere. I’m sure it’s fairly obvious, but today’s Green Curry Braised Eggplant is a homage to that gateway bowl of green curry that started my journey toward eggplant acceptance.

Soups & Stews, Vegetarian

Smoked Tofu Chili with Crushed Corn Chips

January 25, 2023 No Comments

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There’s been a lot of talk about belt-tightening lately. And it’s not hard to see why. I paid $8 for a pound of butter the other day. And I have very fond memories of paying $6 for the same amount not that long ago. Consequently, I have been more financially conservative at the grocery store. A necessity I hate and resent. And all of these limitations have me reminiscing about my university days, particularly the struggle meals that sustained me. Today’s Smoked Tofu Chili is a descendant of one such meal. I guarantee whatever concoction I was eating ten years ago was not as good as this. But the bones were there and the comfort it gives me is the same, so let’s make it.

Brunch, Eggs, Salads, Vegetarian

Spicy Muhammara Breakfast Plate

January 19, 2023 1 Comment

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During the winter months when my energy is low, lunch can be a struggle. So can breakfast, dinner, and well, you get the point. I find I am more prone to order takeout in the dead of January than I am at any other time of the year. And I can’t be alone in this. I’m sure it’s even more difficult when you don’t work with food for a living and don’t have copious amounts of leftovers to fall back on. But that’s why I love this Spicy Muhammara Breakfast Plate. You make all the components for the meal on a lazy Sunday and eat it throughout the week when hunger hits and forgets to bring motivation and energy with it.