One summer many years ago, my father had some work around New Orleans and not much money, so he brought my mother and me along and turned it into a holiday. We stayed in what must have been the French Quarter, in a smallish room with wood-slatted shuttered windows opening out onto a narrow balcony….
Big Mountain Foods Plantbased Paprikash
Sultry in the mouth but simple to make, this rich, Romanian paprikash gets a double dose of goodness with fresh mushrooms and Big Mountain Foods Cauli Crumble Veggie Grounds. Make it with the crumble of your choice — Lion’s Mane Crumble or Cauli Crumble Veggie Grounds. Or do what I did — try it both…
Down and Dirty Rice
New Orleans has its own cuisine shaped by what grows there, but also by the people who live there. Dirty rice is as old as the city itself and was a dish invented in the kitchens of resourceful cooks to avoid waste and turn less desirable ingredients into something amazing. It’s a dish that satisfies…
My Favorite People, My Favorite Recipes — Rice Pudding and Other Surprises
If you are craving comfort foods, this creamy and velvety rice pudding may be just what you need. I don’t need to tell you the coronavirus has upended everything — everything, I hope, except your health and spirits. But it’s affecting everyone, including the fabulous person slated to be featured in today’s My Favorite People,…
Red Beans and Rice – Leftovers Versus Lagniappe
Happy Presidents Day, and a little something for nothing — Red Beans and Rice Happy Presidents Day. For federal workers and many others, Presidents Day means an extra day off. An extra day off is such a luxury, a delight, a bonus. So why doesn’t an extra meal give us the same thrill? I’ve never…
From Politics to Pulaw – A Seat at the Table Pilaf
In his Martin Luther King Day blogpost, Ozy‘s Carlos Watson calls on us all to find ways forward, to #ResetAmerica. My thoughts — plus a pilaf recipe — are here. I’d love to hear yours. New year! New president! Same old worries from 2020, though. I’m worried about our democracy, our future, and the fact that…
M’jeddrah for the Win
Lentils and brown rice (a whole grain) combine to make M’jeddrah, a classic earthy Egyptian pilaf that’s greater than the sum of its parts. Cheap and satisfying, crazy with protein, fiber and other nourishing things, it’s comfort in a bowl. Serve with your favorite salad or roasted vegetables. November 4, the day after the election,…
Wild Rice Agrodolce
Agrodolce is a sweet and sour condiment sauce that is popular in Italian cooking. Wild Rice Agrodolce borrows some elements of that sweet and sour sauce. It has a touch of heat thanks to garlic and red pepper flakes, a touch of sweetness from currants, and brightness added by fresh herbs. The recipe comes from…
Sherried Mushroom Pilaf
Comfort food can offer comfort even in the cruelest of times. This Sherried Mushroom Pilaf is loaded with nutty grains, greens and delicious mushrooms for creamy comfort in a bowl. April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. ~T S Eliot,…
Rice in the Sahara
Inviting Everyone to the Table Originally posted for Huffington Post on 2/25/2013 My chef friend Amber Antonelli is blonde, beautiful, Californian and professional. She got her start working in the kitchen of one my favorite chefs and inspirations, John Ash. I am short, dark and nervous. I’ve worked with some amazing chefs, but I’m not a pro. I do my best work in…
