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Modernizing Classic 1950s Farm Recipes
On a rainy spring day, I’m musing about some of the recipes that I miss from my wastrel youth, and I’m thinking that some of those out-of-favor dishes deserve a second, modern look. I’m not talking about tuna noodle casserole,…
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In Spring, the Asparagus Is Always Greener
Thank heavens for the lowly shoot of the lily family plant known by the Persian word for sprout, “asparag.” The British, for a brief period in the 18th century, called it sparrow grass. Too many of us today think of…
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Party Time! It’s Asian New Year
For our Asian friends, this is the season to celebrate the new year, the most important and festive annual holiday, with big feasts, family gatherings, and fun traditions. Many traditions are based on an ancient myth of a monster named…
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Eating Spring Greens from the Woods
It’s not just crocus and daffodils poking through the ground. Early spring vegetables are soon to be here. Already at some of the local farm stands, you’ll see early greens: lettuces, kale, and spinach, but also broccolini, asparagus, and spring…
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Please Pass the Cullen Skink
In Scotland, Edinburgh’s skyline is dominated by the iconic medieval castle, built atop an ancient volcano. Its courtyard opens onto the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare that runs past St. Giles Cathedral and ends at Holyrood House, the traditional home…
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Cooking in a Small City Kitchen
Some things we take for granted. I’m lucky to have a decent kitchen setup with enough space for storage and food preparation, close to the sink and the stove. Plus, we have an assortment of great appliances and tools including…
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Make Mine Meatballs (or, Fun with My New Meat Grinder)
I’ve discovered a new kitchen device after taking my own advice. In February while writing about sausage-making, I noted that KitchenAid was offering a sale on things like meat-grinder attachments for a standing mixer. I went for it, and it’s…
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Recapture the Flavor of Your Favorite Destination
In the waning winter of our discontent, we’re still limited in our options for something new and different to eat, to visit, to experience. So how about revisiting some of your favorite places via food, photos, travel journals, and memories?…
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A Paean to Pie
Growing up in the Midwest farmland of the 1950s meant that I was living in the pie capital of the world. In most homes, it was the dessert of choice. In my grandmother’s time, pie suppers, where the local bakers’…
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Warm Up the Kitchen with a Vegetable Roast
Looking for a healthful meal that’s simple, relatively fast, and doesn’t require a lot of clean-up? How about trying roasted vegetables? With a little creativity, you can put together your own family recipes that are easy to repeat. And perhaps…
