There are times when you simply need a light and healthy timeout. When the weather is hot and cooking is out of the question, or if you’ve been overindulging in meaty protein since the onset of grilli... more
Tabbouleh is a bulgur salad; in fact, it’s also a very green salad. It consists of an abundance of fresh garden herbs, jumbled together with bulgur, citrus and olive oil, which paint this salad an unm... more
Hasselback potatoes never fail to get a "wow" at the dinner table. These accordion-shaped potatoes are lovely to look at, and a basting method while roasting ensures that flavor permeates the potato a... more
For many, the artichoke is confounding. While considered a delicacy in Mediterranean and Californian cuisine, for the uninitiated, figuring out how to unearth its prized heart can be a mystery.... more
In the contrarian spirit of fixing something when it is not broken, this recipe gives the ever-popular hummus a makeover. Hummus is a creamy Levantine dip consisting of pureed chickpeas, tahini, olive... more
If you like Thai and Vietnamese spring rolls -- the fresh ones that are wrapped in rice paper, bursting with vegetables and shrimp -- you will like this salad. Call it a lazy spring roll salad, if you... more
It’s time for a little comfort, and here is a sweet fix. Pound cakes are the pleasing plain-Janes of desserts: figurative no-nonsense confections that provide a welcome pick-me-up without wandering in... more
Pasta puttanesca is a southern Italian dish that hails from Naples in the Campania region. Puttanesca refers to the potent tomato sauce that brims with black olives, red chiles, capers and anchovies. ... more
Morels, asparagus and peas team up in this quintessential springtime pasta dish. Earthy mushrooms marry well with early asparagus and sweet peas. Famously delicious in sauces, risottos and pasta, thes... more
If you seek a wallop of flavor and a jolt of heat to propel you over winter’s finish line, make a steaming pot of umami-rich soup. This fragrant and nourishing bowl provides a welcome pick-me-up durin... more
During the winter season, I make a meaty stew at least once a month. Stews are rich and comforting. They are meant to be slow-cooked to tenderize tough cuts of meat and to infuse the stew with the ess... more
In my eternal search for the perfect fish cake, I find the best way to get the results I crave is to create my own recipe that has all the right elements (in my opinion). My ideal cake is packed with ... more
Sometimes we just need a salad, even when it’s the middle of winter. Salads can be satisfying and restorative in the cold weather, especially when layered with protein and sturdy vegetables. For an en... more
If food is a metaphor for a blanket, then cover up with this. Melty, cheesy stuffed pasta shells, smothered in a bright tomato sauce -- and, of course, more cheese -- are exactly what we need right no... more
It’s never a bad idea to spice things up on Valentine’s Day. After all, in many successful relationships, a little intrigue and an element of surprise keep things exciting. Now, before you jump to any... more
Beets: People either love them or hate them, and this can create a divide at the dinner table. Now, I can’t promise that any of your beet-averse family members or friends will do a complete 180-degree... more
As noted, I view January as bowl-food month. Therefore, I shall close out the month with an ambitious stew. I won’t lie -- it’s a bit of a project. But hey, since many of us are homebound and hunkerin... more
It’s wanderlust time, and this year it’s a doozy. Thanks to the seasonal convergence of cabin fever, post-holiday decompression and (elephant in the room) pent-up travel cravings, the urge to flee to ... more
It’s citrus season, and there’s no better way to embrace it than with blood oranges. Despite their graphic name, blood oranges are sweet, delectable and unique. They are smaller than standard oranges,... more
I’ve written about the satisfaction of bowl food at this time of year, but there’s another style of food that’s equally comforting in the winter: meatballs. After all, who doesn’t like a good meatball... more