easy – Page 16 – Big Sis Little Dish

Roasted Potatoes and Fennel with Za’atar

Every year around my birthday I go out for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, The Kebab Cafe, in Astoria Queens. I don’t really eat out much, because it interferes with my desires to spend all of my time cooking in my own kitchen, but eating at the Kebab cafe is deeply satisfying to…

Wilted Dandelion Salad with Cured Meats

The mother of my childhood best friend used to make salad from dandelion greens that grew in her yard. She is one of the most elegant, magical, beautiful women I have ever known. She read us all of the children’s classics in her beautiful English accent. She’s an actress and it’s probably partly her fault…

Swiss Chard Stems with Tahini

I am quite excited by this swiss chard stem dish. The recipe is from “Moro, The Cookbook” by Sam & Sam Clark. I eat a lot of swiss chard. In the winter the stems are a little bit intense so I like to cook them separately from the greens and beat them into submission with…

Wilted Amaranth Greens

This more of a public service announcement, than a recipe. If you encounter this lovely leafy green with streaks of purplish pink under its leaves, it is Amaranth. Yes, in addition to providing a healthful, gluten-free, grain-like seed which can be used to make fabulous pancakes and a super nourishing version of sushi, the Amaranth…

Tiny New Potatoes and Aromatic Greens Steamed in Butter

This dish is elegant and easy and is a particularly excellent a side dish for fish. It should really be made with smaller potatoes than the ones pictured here. It should be made with the tiniest potatoes that you can find. If you are feeling adventurous take a trip to an Indian market to get…

End of Winter Cabbage and Citrus Slaws

I usually cook on a seasonal schedule. There are certain dishes that I like to make at the same time every year based on holidays and what ingredients are good in my area seasonally. March is tricky though. March has always been a very stressful time of year for my work. Usually, I am getting…

Picadillo Omelet with a salad

I used to order this for “lunch” at a Cuban cafe near a school that I worked at. I was teaching kindergarteners, so my “lunch” break came before 11 AM. I ordered this omelet and two cafe con leche every Tuesday. It was similar to my Huevos Rancheros addiction, which I fed at a cafe…

At last- Cauliflower with Lemon, Cumin and Sumac

So, I have mentioned before that I am obsessed with the lemony fried cauliflower that I used to order at the Lebanese restaurant down the street from my old apartment in Queens, NY. I have finally succeeded in making something that satisfies my craving for that lost dish. The secret is sumac which is an…

Pea Shoot, Sunflower Sprout and Roasted Squash Salad

I have been missing tender and flavourful little salad greens. I eat pre-washed baby spinach and arugula, which can be acquired year round. I find pre-washed baby greens so damn convenient that I cannot resist using them, but the truth is that they don’t have as much flavour as nice local salad greens that were…