The Sun Is Your Garden’s Best Friend…Or Foe – Greens with Blue Cheese, Pear, and Spiced Candied Pecans

The Sun Is Your Garden’s Best Friend…Or Foe – Greens with Blue Cheese, Pear, and Spiced Candied Pecans

Plants cannot live without sunlight. Photosynthesis converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy of glucose, the food that all plants need to survive. But too much sun might be a death sentence, depending on the plants one desires in their garden. As we 

My Obsession With Dim Sum – Shumai

My Obsession With Dim Sum – Shumai

I was a messy eater as a little kid. In practically every photo of me as a child, my face is dirty, often covered with food. I have no idea why my parents didn’t believe in napkins. The long-term fallout has proven minor, but I 

Weekend Fancy in a Weeknight Meal – Shrimp Saganaki

Weekend Fancy in a Weeknight Meal – Shrimp Saganaki

A weeknight dinner might need to be quick, but that does not mean it needs to be unhealthy, tasteless, or inelegant. This Greek dish, shrimp in a simple, slightly spicy tomato sauce topped with salty feta cheese perfectly fits the bill. As it makes use 

Happy New Year – The Best Appetizers of 2022

Happy New Year – The Best Appetizers of 2022

Whether you are at a big fancy party or home having a quiet evening ignoring all of the hoopla, appetizers are a great way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Here is a list of some of my favorite new appetizers I made in 2022. See 

Summer Refreshment – Watermelon with Feta

Summer Refreshment – Watermelon with Feta

I don’t need to tell anyone that the heat and humidity of July and August in New York is unbearable, and getting worse in a climate changing world. The air is as hot and thick as split pea soup, hearty and warming in winter, but 

My Early Spring Garden – Arugula, Fig Jam, and Burrata on Grilled Garlic Toasts

My Early Spring Garden – Arugula, Fig Jam, and Burrata on Grilled Garlic Toasts

I can only imagine what it would have been like for my ancestors – both the caveman types thousands of years ago, wherever they were, and those just over a century or so before, in little villages somewhere in what is now Ukraine. After a 

A Blank Slate – Marinated Bocconcini

A Blank Slate – Marinated Bocconcini

Some foods are a blank slate; they are a vehicle for other flavors. Take escargot, for example. They’re probably not too exciting on their own, but as a way to get your fix of garlic butter, they can’t be beat. Boneless, skinless chicken breast and 

Rookie Moves – Mushroom, Goat Cheese, and Fontina Pizza

Rookie Moves – Mushroom, Goat Cheese, and Fontina Pizza

We all make mistakes in the kitchen. Sometimes they are rookie moves, like the first time I roasted a turkey leaving the neck and bag of giblets inside. These novice errors can usually be chalked up to ignorance. How was I supposed to know they 

A Break From the Cold – Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

A Break From the Cold – Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Think about winter food; root vegetables, hearty soups and stews, braised meats. All delicious, they warm the body as we face the chill of the season. They are heavy and satisfying, getting us through the darkest, coldest months of the year.     But sometimes 

Appetizers of the Year – Ground, Spiced Lamb in Phyllo

Appetizers of the Year – Ground, Spiced Lamb in Phyllo

As Covid continues to surge for the second winter, we unfortunately don’t expect to see many friends this holiday season, at least not up close and personal. That means any big New Year’s Eve plans may have to be put on hold yet again. And