Category: Blog

Sour Cream Smashed Potatoes and a Potato Blog Hop

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Sour Cream and Scallion Mashed Potatoes
Sour Cream and Scallion Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes have always been my favorite. So much so that in fourth grade when we had to write a song or poem about our favorite food, while everyone else penned odes to bacon and chocolate cake, I gushed about the humble spud. To the tune of “My Guy” by Mary Wells. (You may recall that Sister Act was popular at the time, in which they also made their own version of the song.) Not a naturally gifted singer, I belted something out about “my potato,” and how much I loved it baked, roasted, mashed, and fried. Twenty years later, I can tell you not much has changed. Although I’ve discovered and eaten more types of food than I ever dreamed of as a child, potatoes still remain my ultimate comfort food in all forms. And mashed is a whole other level of comfort. Continue reading “Sour Cream Smashed Potatoes and a Potato Blog Hop” →

Ranch Steak with Onions and Mushrooms

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I’m not sure how it came up, but the other day my husband mentioned steak. We rarely eat red meat in Israel, not so much out of health concerns but because it’s pricier than poultry and tofu, and because even when we go out it’s hard to find a decent burger. I also haven’t taken the time to familiarize myself with the cuts of beef readily available here. I rarely grow tired of all the amazing things that can be done with chicken, turkey, tofu, and vegetables but suddenly a thick, juicy steak was on my mind. So I went to the grocery store and picked out the biggest, nicest looking steaks I could. When I came home I was able to do a little reverse research and learned (with the help of Google Translate) that I had bought a boneless chuck shoulder center cut steak, more glamorously known as Ranch Steak. Continue reading “Ranch Steak with Onions and Mushrooms” →

Secret Recipe Club: Butternut Squash and Chestnut Soup

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It’s the first Monday of the month, and you know what that means: Secret Recipe Club! You know the drill. Each month member’s are assigned another member’s blog and get to pick any recipe they’d like to make. Sound like fun? Head to the SRC website for details on how to join! This month I was lucky enough to have Katrina’s wonderful blog, Baking and Boys. As you may have guessed from the title, Katrina lives with her husband and three sons and loves to bake. I have so many of her recipes bookmarked I don’t even know where to begin: Cinnamon Sugar Donut Mini Muffins?! Pumpkin Cake with Browned Butter and Walnut Streusel?! Quintuple Chocolate Brownies?! Sour Cream Pumpkin Pie?! It just goes on and on. If you need baking inspiration, head straight to Baking and Boys. Continue reading “Secret Recipe Club: Butternut Squash and Chestnut Soup” →

Chicken and Corn Chowder and a Soup Blog Hop

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Here in the Northern Hemisphere it’s getting cold (in some places it’s been cold for some time) and that means one thing: soup and lots of it. I’ve been craving corn chowder for a while and Nami’s recent post on Chicken and Corn Chowder with Roasted Potatoes over at Just One Cookbook pushed that craving right over the edge. Corn chowder has always presented a bit of a dilemma for me because really it should be made in the summer with sweet, fresh corn that’s perfectly in season. But something about the scorching heat just doesn’t put me in the mood for a steaming hot bowl of anything. When I really want it is Fall and Winter, when something so creamy and comforting is welcome. So, in a decidedly non-seasonal attempt to assuage my cool-weather desire for chowder I turned to frozen kernels. Canned is another good option. Sometimes you just want a bowl of chowder. Continue reading “Chicken and Corn Chowder and a Soup Blog Hop” →

Guest Post: Bacon, Vegetable, and Ricotta Quiche

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When Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic asked me to do a guest post on her lovely blog, there was only one answer: Of course! I’ve admired Kim’s blog for some time. It’s written in a funny, candid voice and is full of inspiring recipes. Having recently become blogging buddies, I can also tell you that Kim is a thoughtful, supportive individual, the kind that you’re lucky to have in your corner. We spent some time considering what recipe to include and settled on one that Kim herself would never post: quiche. Kim hates eggs and is lactose intolerant so this egg-based quiche with ricotta is definitely a recipe her readers wouldn’t otherwise get from her! It’s just too bad she can’t try it (head to her blog for the recipe). Continue reading “Guest Post: Bacon, Vegetable, and Ricotta Quiche” →

On My Shelf: Eat Where You Live

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For this month’s Kitchen Reader book club (get more info here if you’d like to join!) we had a choice of two books: either Eat Where You Live: How to Find and Enjoy Fantastic Local and Sustainable Food No Matter Where You Live by Lou Bendrick or Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly by James E McWilliams (chosen by Julie of Savvy Eats). Although I was leaning at first towards Just Food, after reading the reviews on Amazon it seemed like this book might frustrate more than enlighten me so I opted for the much shorter, lighter read, Eat Where You Live. If you are brand new to the concept of eating local and interested but intimidated by the concept, then this is a good primer. But it’s just that: a very basic primer. Continue reading “On My Shelf: Eat Where You Live” →

Individual Pavlovas with Strawberry Compote and Mango Coulis

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I love the story behind the eponymous Pavlova. The marshmallowy meringue-style dessert originated in the 1920s or 30s in honor of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. There’s something particularly romantic about a delicate, cloud-like confection named for a graceful dancer. It’s one of those dishes whose history – beyond the fact that it was named for Anna Pavlova – is murky and contested. Was it created in 1926 in Wellington, New Zealand or 1935 in Perth, Australia, by a hotel chef or a cookbook author? It’s been the cause of some debate between the two countries, both of whom proudly claim it as their own. If you live in the Middle East then you are fully aware of the hummus wars. Well, New Zealand and Australia have their own Pavlova wars, with New Zealand holding claim to the world’s largest. Continue reading “Individual Pavlovas with Strawberry Compote and Mango Coulis” →

Butternut Squash Gratin and Friday Blog Hop

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Have you recovered from your food coma yet? Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and/or family? Pull up a chair and tell me how you spent your holiday (yes, I know I am being very America-centric here, and I do apologize to my dear international readers who have had to suffer months of food media turkey talk for a meal you don’t eat.) We had a lovely, lovely meal in Tel Aviv with fellow expats, hosted by our friend’s kind and generous parents who fed a bunch of homesick twenty-somethings. There was even cranberry sauce. Continue reading “Butternut Squash Gratin and Friday Blog Hop” →

Pumpkin-Ginger Bread

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Tis the season for all things pumpkin! If you are looking for a quick Thanksgiving breakfast, snack, or dessert, this pumpkin quick bread is perfect. After making pumpkin granola I had exactly the right amount of pumpkin puree leftover for this recipe, which is Fall in a loaf pan. I adapted the recipe from an awesome blog that I’ve only recently discovered called Skinny Taste, and she asserts that this is low fat – I’ll take her word for it! The recipe calls for just egg whites, which gives the already moist bread a light and airy quality that is just lovely. The main change I made was adding my own spices rather than pumpkin pie spice, and it resulted in a lovely, super gingery flavor. The pepitas on top lightly toast when baked and add a nice textural element. Chocolate chips would also be killer in this. Continue reading “Pumpkin-Ginger Bread” →

Saffron and Butternut Squash Risotto

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I know I’ve already shared a Risotto Milanese recipe with you, and in many ways this Saffron and Butternut Squash Risotto is similar. But there are a number of key changes that set it apart, make it worth its own post. The obvious change, the addition of butternut squash, makes this dish even heartier, and even more appropriate for Fall. I also added some leftover shredded chicken to make it even more of a meal in one, but without it the risotto is a great vegetarian main or side. The other big change I made here is to use a mix of the usual arborio rice and barley. The barley adds a chewy texture, while the arborio rice becomes creamy with constant stirring. Continue reading “Saffron and Butternut Squash Risotto” →