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Rooting for Radishes
The Farmer’s Almanac says it’s OK to start planting hardy vegetables in the garden. One of those is the Raphanus sativus – the good old radish. These little devils are ready to harvest about three to five weeks after planting.…
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Eats, Shoots, and Leaves
Better-tasting food starts with having fresh, nourishing ingredients. A Chinese proverb has the right idea: “The field nourishes the people who live in it.” In other words, they use what’s available in the local village market because it’s fresh and…
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Put a Spring {Vegetable) in Your Step
I’m ready for a menu shift. My appetite is changing. It’s the time of year when spring showers encourage the blooming daffodils and crocus. On the farm, I could smell spring coming through the thawing frosted ground. It’s the time…
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Hot Diggity Dogs
It’s baseball season, and that brings to mind the humble hot dog. Call them “red hots” (or “white hots”), “red dogs,” “Chicago dogs,” “Coneys,” “half smokes,” “Dodger dogs,” or “Puka dogs” – these meals on a bun are an acknowledged…
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The Rites of Spring, Mesopotamian Style
Spring in our part of New England is sort of springing. Two steps forward, one step back; from cool to warm and back again. Flowers are sprouting up, the promise of warmth is growing, the days are longer, and we’re…
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Bright Ideas with Citrus
When I was young, this time of year usually meant a big basket of citrus arriving from Florida, courtesy of my grandparents. For a few weeks, it was fresh orange juice in the morning and grapefruit for breakfast. No fancy…
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A Buzz with Flavor: Cooking with Bourbon
When I first moved to Boston and began cooking for others on a regular basis, one of my go-to desserts was a bourbon pie featured in the New York Times Large Type Cookbook. As I think of it, my other…
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This Spud’s For You
Spuds get no respect. I was reminded of that when, this past week, we needed a no-nonsense evening meal. A late meeting meant that we would not be dining until about 8:30, so we needed a fast repast. Thanks to…
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When Food Isn’t Your Main Event
We’re having friends over for a game night, and the evening is going to include dinner. What to eat? The meal in this case isn’t the main event; the games and the guests will be the focus, less about what…
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A Feast for the Eyes from Persia
Mediterranean cuisine is currently trendy for its healthy use of vegetables and meat. But the focus tends to be on Greece and Italy. Instead, I’ve been digging into the food of Persia – or Iran, as we know it today.…
