Often, I launch this column by telling you a story that ties into whatever the week’s recipe is going to be. This week, however, I wanted to talk ingredients, because if you’re like me, this recipe is going to be a bit of a scavenger hunt through your local grocery store. My sister-in-law makes amazing …
Continue reading “Yummy Puerto Rican food will help you have a ‘rice’ day”
One of the spots Joey and I chose to visit for our honeymoon over a decade ago was Philadelphia, Pa. As one must when visiting Philadelphia, we tried Philly cheesesteaks at several restaurants around the city. True die-hards will be sad to know that I was not brave enough to try any of my sandwiches …
Continue reading “Cheesy pasta is just the thing to ‘Philly’ you up”
If you’re bored and want to blow your mind sometime, I highly recommend doing a quick web search for how cashews grow. I have assumed for a long time that cashews, just grow inside a normal shell and look pretty much like a walnut or a peanut. But they don’t. At all. Instead, the nut, …
Continue reading “Don’t let me ‘cashew’ skipping this recipe”
Despite some of the balmier days lately, I’m certain autumn is upon us after seeing multiple “It’s fall, ya’ll” signs around town. Fall is always my favorite time of year, mostly because I’m excited to have slightly cooler temperatures that let me pull out my favorite sweatshirts, and I can start cooking up soup as …
Continue reading “Make a great week even ‘Moroccan’ with veggie stew”
Throughout the summer, we discovered that, for some reason, pork butts were on fantastic sales. Because Joey loves to fire up his smoker in the backyard, we bought quite a few of them and have lots of delicious, smoked pork in our freezer. We mostly use it to make tacos, combining the pork in a …
Continue reading “Mexican recipe makes plenty to eat today and ‘tamale’”
We have been cautiously returning to eating in restaurants over the past couple of weeks. We’ve specifically been targeting local places who are clearly working keep their staff and customers safe and healthy. It was during one of those meals that Joey said to me, “I think we could make this.” “Oh, pastrami?” I replied, …
Continue reading “Making pastrami can turn you into a real ‘brisket’ case”
The debate about “authentic” food always fascinates me. I recently listened to an episode of NPR’s “The Splendid Table,” where the host and guest were discussing the different ways people make sauce in Italy, and some of the recipes sounded very different than what I’d always thought was uniquely Italian. The same debate seems to …
Continue reading “I’ll take all the Tex-Mex you can ‘chimi’”
Is it just me, or has it been particularly difficult to decide what to make for dinner lately? OK, so I know it’s definitely not just me—it’s Joey, too. If you’re not having this same “let’s stare at each other until one of us breaks and makes a decision” moment every evening, I envy you. …
Continue reading “‘Ciao’ down on Tuscan sausage pasta”
Until I began this column, I had no idea how many variations of pasta there are. I used to think I was pretty knowledgeable until I continued to discover new types that often were tough to find in small-town Kansas grocery stores. My recipe this week called for ziti, a tube-shaped pasta I’m definitely familiar …
Continue reading “Let’s embrace the ‘pasta’bilities this week”
I have a ton of amazing memories about my paternal grandma, who passed away in 2012. She was such an awesome person and a crazy good cook. Near the end of her life, she invited me over to her small apartment for dinner—just the two of us. She made a chicken and biscuits meal with …
Continue reading “You’ll have ‘fillings’ for this pot pie casserole”