Category: main courses
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Garlicky Green Tart with Sunflower Crust & Being Straightforward
4-yr-old: Do you have any gum? Me: No. Ask Daddy. [4-yo goes upstairs, comes back down]: Daddy’s in the shower. he says i can have gum when he gets out. Me: Okay. [4-yr-old considers something]: Can I sleep with gum? Me: that wouldn’t be a good idea. It could get stuck in your hair or… Read more
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Sunflower-Arugula Pesto & Bite Me, American Doll
Oh, the glorious days of spring! They are few in New England but the ones we have are perfect for sitting together as a family, each with our own bowl of fresh pasta brightened by arugula pesto. Spring nights are for slow dinners, grass-stained knees, muddy dogs, and relief. They are not meant to be… Read more
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Black Bean Soup with Piloncillo and Mexican Peppers
I love to travel. My somewhat nomadic childhood might be to blame, but there’s nothing quite like the thrill of planning a trip, discovering a new place, and, of course, eating the local food. My friend from high school, Cristina, is from Central Mexico. After college (we also overlapped there), she moved home. I had… Read more
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Vegetable Lo Mein with Apricot-Sesame Glaze
When my grandmother turned 95 a couple of years ago I asked her if she felt her age. She paused and said, “No, more like 93.” This winter I felt as though I had crawled into an ancient body, an old mind, and a withered spirit. I don’t mean ancient as in wise, I mean… Read more
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Morocco – Part 1
I know blog posts are meant to be short and easily digested. However, along with the now-defunct idea of curling up with the Sunday paper, I propose a larger meal…in light of the violence in North Africa this week, here is a happier tale. I adore Morocco – the food, the people, the history. Did… Read more
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In Which the Mother Drinks Beer
Confession #1: I am a lightweight. This means that a beer or a glass of wine is about all I can tolerate (see: horribly embarrassing episode only older brother knows about – thanks for both providing the alcohol AND cleaning up!). I do, however, like a glass now and then, particularly if it’s good Pinot… Read more
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Royal Wedding Dinner…Beer-battered fish, Coleslaw, greens
Oh, Darlings, it’s just so sad not to be in the UK for their 4-day weekend in celebration of the THE wedding. Some former Brit friends have invited me over for a morning party. We’ll be coming from various drop-offs and meetings, so I’m thinking we’ll wear lycra AND hats. Perfect. Tonight I rang up… Read more
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Good Haircut, Bad Year, Good Food
You know you’re at the market too much when the cashier comments on your new haircut. This morning when I ran in for a few sweet potatoes and cheese, Bernadette (yes, I know all their names) complimented me. My hair is now up to my chin. It was semi-impulse, though you might say I’ve been… Read more
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Corn, Feta, and Black Bean Salad
I could eat this all day…my daughter scoops it up by the spoonful. My husband, a newly converted bean-eater, delights in the sweet corn, the feta’s tang. My youngest avoids the feta, my preteen eats as much as he can get his too-big-for-his-body hands on. My 9-year-old becomes Woody Allen. 1st response: This is so… Read more
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Garlic Salmon Hash with Peppers, Potatoes, and Arugula
I am a big believer in breakfast for dinner. A few weeks ago I made a whole week of breakfast-dinners to delight the kids (and go easy on my time and money). Last night, to wind down the vacation week, I took out my trusty skillet to make a healthy, bright hash. I had Jamie… Read more
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Real 30-Minute Meals
The Real Deal about 30-Minute Meals You can’t turn a page or flip a channel these days without being bombarded by a barrage of ever-decreasing cooking times for whole meals. Dinner in under an hour has turned to the thirty-minute meal. Soon we’ll be cooking for eight in under eight. For starters, let’s be honest.… Read more
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Cooking with Leftovers
Waste Not, Want Lots –Or, How I Emptied the Fridge for My Spring Vacation Bizarre child that I was, I loved clipping coupons. I’d grab the shiny inserts from the Sunday papers, cut them with my mother’s special scissors, and arrange them in neat stacks on the counter where my parents would promptly ignore them… Read more