Posts tagged as nut-free
So Long Montana, Hello Puppy Louis
Good-bye summer! It was a chilly 45 degrees at 3 o’clock this morning, autumn is definitely in the air. If you’re wondering why I know the temp at 3 a.m., it’s not because I was out partying. It’s because we got…a new puppy! Puppy Louis, a mini goldendoodle (will be 45 lbs. full grown), and…
Garlicky Cherry Tomato and Bread Gratin
Warm bread and ripe tomatoes, what a pairing. I could stop there – with a shake or two of salt and pepper – and be very happy. But add garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, a little cheese, fresh herbs, and a blast of heat and you have garlicky cherry tomato and bread gratin –…
Vegetables with Pasta
So, as I mentioned yesterday, I had a cooler full of fresh, delicious CSA veggies to work with for dinner tonight. I opted for pasta, tangled with ribbons of collards, fennel, and spring onions, as well as bites of zucchini (the zucchini was not from my veggie share – it was just chilling in the…
Back to Reality…
It’s been quite a run of parties, entertaining, and dining out lately, whew. Loads of fun, no doubt, but I’m itching to get back to my “normal” routine of eating lighter, simpler foods. Especially after last night’s hurrah of a dinner/feast, sending off my brother David, whose 4th of July visit has officially come to…
Sizzling!
Hooey it’s sizzling hot out there, we’ve got a real summer now. Makes me hungry for gazpacho, even though it’s hardly tomato season in Minnesota, at least not yet. But never mind that, since in a pinch, canned tomatoes beautifully anchor a tasty version. So if a cold-salty-crunchy-tangy gazpacho is your perfect antidote to a…
Cured Pork
I don’t each much pork, or meat for that matter, but I have to admit that there is nothing – nothing! – like the power of a bit of cured pork to completely transform a dish. This is not a culinary secret, of course, but perhaps these days it isn’t said often enough. And it…
Sunday Sandwich
Actually, I can’t believe I haven’t posted this before, one of my very favorite sandwiches. There’s nothing to it, that’s probably why, and probably because you make some form of this for yourself anyhow. But in case not, and in case you love Greek/Middle Eastern flavors, here’s a quick, filling, bursting-with-flavor, open-faced sandwich, somewhere between…
Tosca, Miso, Thursday, Friday
John and I snuck out for dinner last night at Turtle Bread’s long-awaited venture, Trattoria Tosca. I didn’t have false hopes – I knew that this wasn’t going to hit the ground running as a (Restaurant) Levain experience – but based on a quick read through Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl’s blog post (she hasn’t done a…
Marinades
Remember when everyone thought marinades tenderized meat? Ah well, they don’t (just like browning meat doesn’t “seal in the juices” – but I digress…). Marinades do however add tons of flavor – to meat and vegetables – and are therefore my current…
Happy, Healthy Mother’s Day Brunch
Happy Mother’s Day! It’s been a terrific one for me. My mom and sister Stacey stopped by for a light, simple brunch and some good chat over coffee. I tried a new crustless quiche recipe that completely rocked – only 150 calories/slice but you’d never know it. Loaded with the flavor of Canadian bacon, onions,…