Braised Red Cabbage with Fruit and Fennel Seed

Last summer a dear friend of my parent’s let me go through his recipe note-book.  I have written about this family friend before because he has been a food hero of mine since my childhood.   For a story about the time that Keith served me quiche on his boat when I was little click…

Creamed Parsnip and Apple Soup with Mushroom Dill Garnish

I am a lover of parsnips.  They are sweet and have a lovely smooth texture when cooked.   I just learned that they have similar nutritional value to potatoes but do not require very good soil.  They are a humble, overlooked, industrious vegetable. This soothing, fortifying soup is simple to make and really captures the…

Bittersweet Side Dish- Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Yams

I have been a little distracted by the storms hitting New York City lately.  However I wrote this post a while back and never got a round to publishing it.  Enjoy! I crave bittersweetness…..dark chocolate, chinotto soda, Seville Orange Marmalade, Italian aperitif, very strong black tea with milk and sugar.      It may all…

Gluten-Free Dark Sour Bread (Inspired by Estonian Leib)

 My sister and I went to Estonia to last June to learn about the country where our grandparents grew up.   Estonia has very delicious dark sourdough rye bread called Leib.  Our grandmother used to make it, and although I have had other dark sourdough breads (Russian mostly) none of them ever tasted quite as…

Sourdough Buttermilk Gingerbread Pancakes (Gluten-Free)

Now that I have a gluten-fee sourdough starter I have to use it!  These pancakes are easy and delicious.  I don’t always make them gingerbread flavoured.  If you leave out all the spices, dried fruit and all but 2 Tablespoons of the sugar you will have delicious plain sourdough buttermilk pancakes.  I like to eat…

Tuna-Dill Tomato Sauce

I’m really happy with this sauce. I have consumed immense quantities of tomato sauce in my life but it’s not something that I’ve ever gotten into making. That just means I have opinions about the subject and know what the good stuff looks like when I see it. Cockiness aside, this is a really flexible…

Cheap Eats! Vegetable Jambalaya

This is the lean time for me.  I am a freelancer and, in my field, there is not much work in August or September.  Don’t cry too many tears for me.  I could buckle down and live within my means for my two months of underemployment, but I usually travel and have fun cooking food…

Chocolate Pudding with Smoked Salt and Burnt Almonds

My sister is a gourmet chocolatier.  She makes chocolate for a small exquisite chocolate producer in Vancouver, Canada called Cocoa Nymph.   I especially recommend the Sea Nymph bar (it has sea salt and english toffee).  I also really like the Sesame Bianco, which involves sesame and sea salt, but they don’t seem to sell…

Lamb, Fig and Eggplant Moussaka (Gluten-free or not)

I have had the pleasure of eating a lot of fresh figs as of late.  I hope that you have too.  If not, consider making this moussaka.  My mum’s friend Keith grows figs and he told me recently that figs were good in moussaka.  I tend to trust Keith since he was the first person…