Light and Lively Grilled Oysters

Once you get them shucked, this is as simple as it gets, and memorable for any gathering! May is the month of my mother’s birth, her death, Mother’s Day, and, of course, here we are in the middle of Memorial Day Weekend, my thoughts turning to all of those who are no longer here: my…

Feast of Seven Fishes – Stew!

You can honor the idea of the Feast of Seven Fishes in a one-dish meal that takes a fraction of the time, but delights with great flavor! Time is short, and I’m sending you a rerun of a previous post. Happiest of Holidays to you all! Dorothy I prepared the full Feast of the Seven…

New England Steamer Clam Chowder with Fennel

We call it chowdah, a regional staple with the flavor of the sea.  A friend of mine asked me for a clam chowder recipe recently, and I told her to check my blog. However, there wasn’t one there! I checked my family cookbook, and I didn’t include one there either, lots of other chowdahs, but…

A Yankee’s Shrimp and Grits with Asparagus

It may not be a traditional Southern Shrimp and Grits, but this dish is packed with flavor and freshness! Grits were not a part of my childhood cuisine. In fact, I never tasted them until I was an adult and actually lived in the South. I must confess, my first encounter with them was as…

Potato Crusted Sesame Tuna with Spicy Lime Dressing

Lightly seared tuna is a once in a while indulgence, and sesame is always a great partner. My mother-in-law Pat was an accomplished chef and she taught me quite a few little tricks of the trade. One of her favorite ingredients to sneak into a high-end meal was potato flakes! This humble ingredient makes pretty…

Peekytoe Crab Stuffed Sole

New England seafood favorites, sole and a sweet Maine crab. We finally got out of town! A few days at the sea shore, and we are refreshed and ready for spring. It felt like winter when we left, a driving icy rain that turned to sleet now and then, lots of fog, and winter shoes….

Cajun Seafood Pot Pie

Time to celebrate Spring, Mardi Gras, and perhaps a Birthday! I celebrate the seasons along with the meteorologists. Spring begins on March 1 in my book, and no one usually argues the point. Of course, in Vermont, March, and even April for that matter, often looks more like winter than spring, but some years we…

Potato and Carrot Soup garnished with a few memories

It’s still cold and icy, so it’s time for comfort soup. In this house, that probably means potatoes and usually soup. There’s both a shrimp and a vegan version! It’s been cold and icy, and February arrived this week reminding us that even though the sunlight is slowing returning, we are still sitting firmly in…

Omelet with Nantucket Bay Scallops and Peas

When they are in season, Nantucket Bay Scallops are a treasure from our New England waters. If you are lucky enough to travel to Nantucket Island, Mass., from November to March, plan to dine at one of the fabulous seafood restaurants and look for their bay scallop dishes. You won’t be disappointed. The best in…

Aunt Mary’s Salt Cod Cakes

The fish that fed the world, traveled from my Aunt’s kitchen to mine, with a few changes along the way. My Aunt Mary made cod cakes frequently, with a flavor that still tickles the memory after all these years. An old New England standby, these were extremely economical, although usually a bit on the bland…

Polenta with Shrimp and Cherry Tomatoes

Yes, the cherry tomatoes are still coming strong, and this dish is a perfect accompaniment to shrimp atop a lovey batch of polenta, otherwise known almost affectionately as cornmeal mush in New England! First, the cornmeal The cornmeal is definitely half the main act here. Creamy and full of corn flavor, polenta makes a wonderful…

Cod (or tofu) Baked with Fresh Tomatoes, Swiss Chard, and Summer Herbs

This is a quick summer supper with little hands-on time. There are lots of tomatoes about in New England (and everywhere else) right now. A perfect time to sample beautiful heirloom tomato varieties when they are at their peak of freshness, flavor, and a good price as well.             Cod is a favorite in this region,…

Cod with Roasted Vegetables, Olives, and Marinara Sauce

This is a quick and simple recipe that is weeknight easy or Sunday dinner delicious, in fact, we had it this weekend! Everyone in the family loves this. When you start with potatoes and onions, add some zucchini, some lovely herbs, then offer up the marinara and fresh cod, how could you not have a…

Shrimp and Arugula over Jasmine Rice

A spicy scampi-type dish that you can also make vegetarian. The base of this dish is a flavorful rice, topped with either shrimp or tofu which have marinated in a lemony, garlic, and paprika bath. It has a lot of the flavor of shrimp scampi, with the rice holding its own here. It is easiest…

Haddock Quenelles in Saffron Fish Broth

Light, fluffy dumplings swimming in a flavorful pool of delight, inspired by a character from the past. Dec. 31, 1985, was memorable on several counts. First of all, I made a lavish New Year’s Eve feast inspired by the vintage cookbook “Francatelli’s Modern Cook” 1887, a revision of earlier editions. I had picked this up for…

Baked Nantucket Bay Scallops

A quick and easy recipe that lets the flavor of these beautiful scallops shine through. I have been scallop greedy this winter. Some years, New England bay scallops, especially Nantuckets, are hard to find or really expensive because they truly are rigidly protected and the absolute best in the world. They were still expensive this…

Seared Sesame Tuna and Swiss Chard

A warm salad, starter, or light lunch, this dish is filled with flavor and texture. This dish is really simple and quick, taking just a few minutes in the kitchen from start to finish. It is delicious warm or at room temperature. The dressing makes the dish, and you can use it on any fish…

Almost Mom’s Salmon Loaf

A twist from 100 years ago, and my Mom’s salmon loaf was transformed! When I was growing up, included in our family’s weeknight supper rotation was the humble salmon loaf, often served on Friday fish nights. A simple recipe that used bread crumbs to stretch an inexpensive can of salmon to make eight servings. I…

Salmon with Three Tomatoes

In the time it will take a pot of rice to cook, this dish is done and waiting. Although quick, it is so delicious and beautiful, it will be welcome on any table for company.