Slow Cooker Carrot Soup with Warm Spices and Blood Orange

Written on Jan 27, 2010 by Cheryl Sternman Rule
Slow Cooker Carrot Soup with Warm Spices and Blood Orange

In wintertime especially, there’s nothing more comforting than coming home to a pot of simmering soup. This carrot version has a secret ingredient–a cup of diced, kabocha squash–which plays beautifully with the spices and citrus drizzle.

Continue reading » »

Braised Chicken and Chickpeas with Smoked Paprika

Written on Jan 18, 2010 by Lia Huber
Braised Chicken and Chickpeas with Smoked Paprika

This recipe works wonders with the Valu-pak of frozen chicken thighs you bought last month at Costco (or was that me?). If you don’t have smoked paprika on hand, just use a twist of freshly ground black pepper. Or experiment with other combinations of spices in your pantry.

Continue reading » »

Roasted Winter Veggies

Written on Jan 15, 2010 by Lia Huber
Roasted Winter Veggies

This basic recipe is one we turn to again and again with different mixtures depending on what’s at the market. I love how, after about 15 minutes, the kitchen is perfumed with a deep, sweet scent that lingers well past dinner. They’re super versatile too. Serve them with anything–or on their own–or fold them into pasta or a frittata. And it’s a perfect recipe to practice your knife skills.

Continue reading » »

White Bean and Kale Ragout with Turnips and Sausage

Written on Jan 12, 2010 by Lia Huber
White Bean and Kale Ragout with Turnips and Sausage

This ragout is meant to be a throw-together-fast-on-a-weeknight kind of meal. If you have sweet potatoes instead of turnips, use them. If you have Swiss chard in the fridge but no kale, sub it instead. You may be surprised by how much flavor you can coax, with the help of a well-stocked pantry, out of the ingredients you have on hand.

Continue reading » »

Revelationary Duck Confit

Written on Dec 14, 2009 by Lia Huber
Revelationary Duck Confit

This recipe, originally inspired by the Revisionist Confit of Duck Leg in Sarah Schneider’s A New Way to Cook, is one that has been repeated over and over again in our house. I normally kick off winter by cooking up a dozen and freezing them. Whole, they’re delicious crisped up in a frying pan or the oven. Or shred their meat into salads, soups, pasta–even dumplings or tacos.

Continue reading » »

Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad with Pecan-Coated Goat Cheese

Written on Dec 9, 2009 by Lia Huber
Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad with Pecan-Coated Goat Cheese

If you have a wee one, put them to work seeding the pomegranate. Fill a deep bowl with water, cut the pomegranate in half, and show them how to keep their hands below water while they work. The seeds will drop to the bottom and the peel will float to the top, and you’ll have a neat and happy helper come mealtime.

Continue reading » »

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal with Toasted Pecans

Written on Nov 30, 2009 by Lia Huber
Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal with Toasted Pecans

This breakfast is downright decadent; like a pumpkin pie in a bowl. Don’t let its sumptuousness rob you of pleasure though, this dish is super-healthy too. It’s loaded with fiber from the pumpkin and whole grain goodness from the oats.

Continue reading » »

Sweet Potato-Kale Bread Pudding

Written on Nov 25, 2009 by Alison Ashton
Sweet Potato-Kale Bread Pudding

You can bake these little bread pudding muffins a few days ahead; cool and refrigerate. Reheat them in a low oven while the turkey rests. You also can cook this in a 2-quart baking dish instead of a muffin pan, if you prefer.

Continue reading » »

Lentil Soup with Roasted Pumpkin

Written on Nov 19, 2009 by Cheryl Sternman Rule
Lentil Soup with Roasted Pumpkin

Lentils are a staple food in Eritrea, and every time I prepare them I recall my years there. Adding cubed roasted pumpkin lends this soup vibrant color and transforms it into an ideal Thanksgiving starter.

Continue reading » »

Braised Kale Trio

Written on Nov 13, 2009 by Lia Huber
Braised Kale Trio

Use a mixture of different kales, if you can get your hands on them. A local farmer, Bibianna Love, opened my eyes to the incredible variety of flavors and textures between them.

Continue reading » »