Monthly Archives: March 2010

Get Ready for Easter

Posted on 31 March 2010 by

Easter is not a big cooking holiday for me. I usually go somewhere else for dinner and don’t get to contribute. (Although I will take any excuse to make or eat deviled eggs.) But now that I have a toddler, … Continue reading →

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Quick Tip: Chicken Roasted with Salsa

Posted on 31 March 2010 by

If you have some leftover salsa, here’s an idea for what to do with it. Pour it over a couple of boneless chicken breasts and roast at about 400 degrees until done. For a richer sauce, combine the salsa with … Continue reading →

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What’s in Season? A Handy Chart for North Carolina

Posted on 30 March 2010 by

What is the most you would pay for an ingredient? Not one you planned to use for a special-occasion meal, but just for your everyday cooking. For me, the ceiling seems to be about $5 (except for meat, of course). … Continue reading →

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The Challenge: Avoiding Processed (or Packaged) Foods

Posted on 29 March 2010 by

It seems that all the healthy eating guidelines, whether from Michael Pollan or Mark Bittman or my doctor, include the admonition to “avoid processed foods.” I started thinking about this recently. What would it entail to avoid processed foods? What … Continue reading →

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No-knead Bread and Tortilla Soup

Posted on 29 March 2010 by

Yesterday I made chicken tortilla soup in the slow cooker. For a change of pace, I threw in some of the collards and kale I had on hand, even though it wasn’t called for in the recipe. I find that … Continue reading →

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How to Make a Gratin

Posted on 28 March 2010 by

For dinner last night, to accompany a simple poached salmon, I made a classic potato gratin. This one turned out a lot better than the gratin I attempted at Thanksgiving, and it didn’t take nearly as long to cook. Here’s … Continue reading →

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Calabacitas and The Feast of Santa Fe

Posted on 27 March 2010 by

Last night, I made calabacitas, which is a cheesy, creamy concoction of zucchini, chiles, scallions and corn. I also added some potatoes and used it to fill vegetarian soft tacos. It was delicious. The recipe came from the cookbook, The … Continue reading →

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Las Vegas Restaurant Report: Bouchon, Okada and Nobhill

Posted on 26 March 2010 by

We were in Las Vegas for 4 nights and we had 3 great dinners, all of them memorable, all of them unique. (The fourth night we saw Mystère, a Cirque du Soleil show that was also pretty memorable, and only … Continue reading →

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Vegetarian Carbonara

Posted on 25 March 2010 by

Well, I am back from Las Vegas, feeling a few pounds heavier. Happily for me, my wallet is also slightly heavier as well. I’ll post a full report on the great restaurants we dined at when I have a bit … Continue reading →

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Eating Seasonally: Two Simple Tips

Posted on 18 March 2010 by

Lately, it seems a lot of people have been writing books and articles and blog posts giving us advice on how to eat more healthfully, including two of my favorite food writers, Mark Bittman and Michael Pollan. Once you boil … Continue reading →

Posted in Cooking, Food, Health, Ingredients | Tagged , , | 3 Comments