It’s Labor Day, so take it easy with maque choux. Easy yet elemental, maque choux features the Creole holy trinity of onion, pepper and celery, and three summer besties — tomato, basil and corn. It honors the big-hearted spirit of Louisiana, offers the pleasure and bright flavors of summer, nourishment when we need it, and…
Calabacitas | Cinco de Mayo During Coronavirus
Calabacitas–roughly translated as “zucchini” is a hearty, vegetarian Mexican dish that is intensely satisfying. Serve it alone as a side or add rice and tortillas to make it a meal. We see — or want to see — glimmerings of hope, of life after Covid-19, of a return to normal life. But honey, I think…
Curried Pumpkin Soup
Originally posted on 09/29/2014 for Huffington Post. Meatless Monday: The Seed of Something Great — Seed Food and Wine Festival Getting your Halloween game on? Pumpkins aren’t just for carving, they’re for eating, too. Here’s a curried pumpkin soup recipe from Mark Reinfeld (www.veganfusion.com). October kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month and the celebration’s happening in…
Down and Dirty Rice
It’s been ten years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The city’s coming back in a beautiful way. Here’s a Meatless Monday honoring the spirit of New Orleans. Originally posted on 04/17/2010 for Huffington Post Meatless Monday: Phat Tuesday They’re cooking up vats of gumbo right now in New Orleans, they’ve sold countless King Cakes…
Asian Rice Noodles With Chili, Mint and Lime
Posted originally on 09/03/2009 for Huffington Post Meatless Monday: Mint Condition Two weeks back, a friend and I were discussing fresh mint with the passion of true believers. This was made trickier by the fact we do not share a common language. But we bond over many things including an abiding appreciation of mint’s underrated…
Iftar Quinoa With Olives, Dates and Dukkah
Posted originally on 08/01/2011 for Huffington Post Ramadan And Compassion — We Are Like Family Ramadan began last night at sundown, so I wished my next door neighbors a heartfelt, but no doubt, badly pronounced Ramadan Mubarak — blessed Ramadan. They are Muslim, from, well, it doesn’t matter what country they’re from. Muslims make up…
Nourishing Noodles — Japchae
I am just back from Austin, where I attended my first-ever IACP conference. This is not, as a friend thought, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, but the International Association of Culinary Professionals. I am a card-carrying member. I am a professional. But I also know I could be doing more to forward my…
