A simple bowl of sesame noodles will hit the carb appeal spot most of the time, but with just a few extras, you have a meal that is as inviting as it is tasty. One of my all-time favorite comfort foods is a simple bowl of sesame noodles. They have flavor and carb appeal, a…
Category: Sauces
Roasted Asparagus and Potatoes with Maple Dijon Sauce
Although we were teased with daffodil sprouts earlier this week and the calendar said it was the first day of Spring, this is what we woke up to. No, it didn’t last long, but that is hardly the point. What I needed was asparagus I decided I needed asparagus. I knew I had two bags…
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Baked Falafels with Lemon Tahini Sauce
You don’t need a deep fryer to make these crispy little balls of chickpeas and spices. They can be prepared in the oven and still have that traditional flavor and texture. I’ll never forget the first time I had falafel, decades ago. My girlfriend and I went to Boston to attend a writers conference, a…
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Sweet and Sour Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
A versatile recipe that is not overly sweet or sour, just right in the middle of delicious. I love stuffing vegetables –– peppers, tomatoes, onions, zucchini. But my favorite is portabella mushrooms. They just ask to be stuffed with something. Whenever I use them in a recipe where they are sliced up I think it…
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Green Curry with Scallops and Peas
A flavorful curry will always wake up dinner. This one is almost as quick as opening a can of curry paste, and much fresher in taste! Swap in tempeh, and you have a delicious vegan version. One of the downfalls of living in Vermont in the winter is that we don’t always have every ingredient…
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Cranberry Orange Relish with Horseradish and Sage
Thanksgiving update. While we had both this relish and beautifully prepared from scratch cranberry sauce, neither made it to the table! Just as we were clearing the dishes, someone remarked, “Where’s the cranberry sauce!” Just five ingredients, buzzed in a food processor, and you have a tangy relish for your holiday table. And no cooking!…
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Sour Cream Blueberry Pancakes
Shh, don’t tell the kids they are good for them… Of all the dishes I served up at the inn for 18 years, the most frequently requested meal from repeat guests was blueberry pancakes. People remember them, think about them, desire them, and will eat them with gusto when served. Not only a favorite of…
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My Sunday Pasta Sauce
My house all-purpose pasta sauce that’s great on everything from spaghetti to after-school English muffin pizzas. And nothing is wasted in this slow-simmered sauce. Mom would approve! It’s Sunday. We have plenty of time to cook and we want to make the home smell wonderful. We also want to have plenty of leftovers for other…
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Spiced Currants
Slightly tart, slightly sweet, this vintage recipe needed little to enhance its flavor. My luck was with me when I found some beautiful currants at the farmers market this week. In our area, they arrive with the blueberries and are gone in a blink, a favorite of the birds as well as the humans, so…
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What in the world is aRumtum Diddy?
It’s a funny name, but this inexpensive Depression-era dish will feed a family quickly and deliciously. While researching Depression-era recipes for a different project, I came across several versions of an old New England supper staple during these hard times –– “Rinktum Diddy” or Rum Tum Diddy or Rum Tim Ditty. No one seemed to…
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Chicken Thighs with Chive Pesto
The freshness of spring and the beauty of flowers combine to make this topping memorable I planted a small clump of chives in my garden many years ago. I now have four large clumps, and have given away many more starts to friends and relatives. They are hardy in a New England garden, and they…
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Slow Roasted Duck with Cherry & Fennel Sauce
Roast it slow, and the oven does all the work! Serve with either a long-summered or quick sauce. We don’t cook duck very often. We think of it as a holiday or special occasion dish. But we keep one or two in the freezer that we buy from a local farmer, and once in a…
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Crunchy Oven-Baked Haddock with Herbs
From April to November, New England Haddock is at its most plentiful. Of all the Atlantic whitefish, haddock’s flavor profile is unique and sought after. I know it is a favorite of my family. My mother cooked haddock, cod, and other whitefish simply. On a Friday night when she had more time, she cut up haddock…
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Loaded Macaroni & Cheese
Kid approved: A little healthier, and loaded with both vegetables and flavor! Every kid in my life has loved macaroni and cheese. Really, any combination of carb and cheese and they are happy, be it grilled cheese or cheese pizza! In our Vermont home that means macaroni and cheese from scratch using extra-sharp cheddar and…
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Party Wings and Other Things
Use this Maple, Ginger, and Garlic Marinade on wings, or cauliflower florets, and everyone is pleased! Most of my family loves wings, some love them spicy, some love them mild, and some don’t eat meat at all but love the spicy flavors! Since everyone does not eat meat, there is not a one-shop…
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Potato Crusted Dijon Chicken
A quick and flavorful weeknight meal that uses only three ingredients, plus the sauce, which uses only three more! Although this budget-friendly dish is extremely quick to make and uses few ingredients, it can stand up to the scrutiny of company as well. I cook mine in a cast iron frying pan, my trusty kitchen…
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New Year’s Shrimp Egg Rolls with Homemade Duck Sauce
A family tradition that is fun for all ages. The kids and I make Homemade Egg Rolls, Fried Rice, and Crab Rangoons every New Years. It is a change from other foods we’ve been feasting on the last couple of weeks, and it is always a lot of fun. It takes only moments for the…
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Seafood Crêpes with Sherry Mushroom Sauce
While the humble crêpe has fallen in and out of fashion, what I have observed is that eyes light up whenever they are served. Be it a simple supper, or elaborate dessert, there is always room for crêpes. When the kids…
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Apple Cake with Whiskey Custard (or Whiskey Cream)
An Upside-Down Cake with Autumn Personality I used to make this in our cabin in the woods when I cooked a meal on the wood stove. Once the main dish was about to be served, I’d have this ready and would stick in the oven to bake with the left-over heat…
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Roasted Tomato Sauce & Quick Roasted Pasta Sauce
When you roast vegetables, the flavor is always enhanced. This tomato sauce has an intensity that is hard to achieve if you cook your tomatoes in a pot. It also needs less babysitting. If you have a lot of tomatoes to process, this is the quickest and easiest way. Look for bargains at the farm…
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Poached Pears with Homemade Crème Fraîche
A special dessert to enjoy when the pears are as beautiful as they are right now! What a good year for pears! Our Vermont pears have been sweet and juicy, with tons of flavor, and I’ve had plenty straight up with no adornment whatsoever. Most mornings, they appear in my breakfast fruit salad, and I…
