The National Pecan Shellers Association has a wealth of knowledge about pecans on its website. One of the items that interested me the most is that the pecan tree is the only major nut tree native to North America. I thought that was strange, because I know quite a few nuts who were born here, …
Continue reading “Raise the bar with a dangerously easy pecan dessert”
A few months ago, my niece and I were talking about wish lists. At 8, her most recent birthday and Christmas desires have featured Barbies and their myriad accessories, and she’s also an accomplished artist, loving anything and everything craft-related. “You know what your mom asked our grandma to get her for her birthday one …
Continue reading “Relish the thought of a dill-laden dip this week”
While watching random cooking shows over the years, I picked up the advice from several chefs that if you’re cooking with wine, you should choose a bottle you would actually want to drink, or it isn’t worth using in your recipe. I have never heard the same advice for beer. I have used some of …
Continue reading “Everyone will polish off their plates with this sheet pan meal”
One of the best parts of hosting events in our office is that I can make food I know Joey will hate and share it with everyone who comes. Last week, when we hosted a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the newly finished windows on our Newton building, I pulled out one such recipe, which featured green …
Continue reading “‘Olive’ making snacks for a crowd of readers”
I recently watched a video that explained why there are so many different shapes of pasta out there. I always assumed it probably had a practical purpose and it wasn’t just because of ancient pasta makers’ boredom and creativity. And it does. If you’re wondering, it all comes down to the sauce. Have a thinner …
Continue reading “Cajun pasta shapes up to be an excellent, quick dinner”
As we head into the home stretch of 2024, we’re officially entering snacking season. It’s that time of year when we all concede to our stretchy pants, eat with friends and family, and hope that our New Year’s resolutions will save us from having to size up when shorts season comes around again. That being …
Continue reading “With the holidays in view, it’s time to dip into the season”
Throughout our marriage, one of my side projects with Joey has been figuring out how to make foods he didn’t think he liked into something he likes. This has been really easy for tons of vegetables and mushrooms, but I recently decided to tackle one that I thought might be impossible: raspberries. I knew it …
Continue reading “Beautiful pastries are just within your ‘rasp’”
An article by UCLA Health explains that mushrooms are considered a healthy addition to one’s diet. In addition to being lower in fat and calories, there are studies that have linked them to decreased cancer risk, better brain health and even healthier immune systems, among other benefits. That’s pretty neat for a fungus that many …
Continue reading “Cap off your snack table with simple, air-fried mushrooms”
On most days, Joey and I work in the same newspaper office or together from home. Every once in awhile, though, we go our separate ways. Recently, when we had such a day, Joey shot me a text, “Hey, it’s been a really long day. Do you mind figuring out dinner for tonight?” Challenge accepted. …
Continue reading “Cheese, spinach are the stuff dinner dreams are made of”
“We’re in! What can I bring?” I texted my mom about Easter lunch. “A dessert of some kind,” she wrote back. “Make something easy!!!!” “Since when do I make complicated desserts?” I responded, punctuating it with a laughing emoji. So, in other words, here’s a slightly complicated (but amazingly decadent) dessert I made for Easter …
Continue reading “Creating a decadent cheesecake isn’t ‘cherry’ difficult”
