Grate stuff
Essential kitchen gadgets get the job done while others take up precious space. Graters come in all sizes, and some demand a good amount of storage, but anyone can make room for a miniature grater. I’ve used this three-inch grater for five or six years, and though it’s showing some age, it still handles the small grating […]
Second-chance lasagna
I’ve been making excuses forever not to give lasagna a chance. The noodle dish was on the menu at the restaurant where I worked for several years, and I can’t recall anyone ever ordering it twice or remarking on how good it was. This particular lasagna just wasn’t anything to get excited over or to justify adding to the calorie count […]
Order up . . . New design spices up The Cookery
Hello, friends! With a new season in mind, I’m re-launching my site and blog with an enhanced design and fresh menu at The Cookery. It’s been my pleasure to collaborate with Imedia Web Inc. of Austin, with the talented Robert Lopez taking the lead. We’ve been working on the new look over the summer, and […]
I Hate to Cook . . . the book
The Cookery welcomes Jane Manaster who shares this guest post with all of us. Many thanks, Jane! The I Hate to Cook Book, New York, Grand Central, 2010. Fiftieth anniversary edition. Even those of us who enjoy cooking run out of ideas sometimes. When Peg Bracken published her I Hate to Cook Book, it wasn’t […]
Wanted: Big Food Fix
I’ve been away for a stretch, and my family and I haven’t missed the pervasive environment of junk food back home in the USA. Health experts and concerned citizens have discussed the matter in detail while offering ambitious solutions, but without wide-scale environmental changes, junk food will continue to dominate much of our food landscape. Natasha […]
Sweetest Chard
With a little bitter and a load of sweet, this recipe for Swiss Chard reserves its place at the table. Couldn’t resist picking up a bunch of colorful, leafy chard at the market? Try my sweet and simple variation on chard. Sweetest Swiss Chard One bunch Swiss chard, rinsed, ends trimmed, chopped 3 cloves garlic, diced 2 tablespoons olive […]
Peach cobbler fast facts
Fast facts about this peach cobbler: It’s a pie crust variation on the Dutch Oven dessert with very little mess. We don’t have a genuine Dutch Oven, but a versatile oven-safe stock pot works well in The Cookery’s oven. If you’re not camping out and preparing peach cobbler over an open fire, make this at home. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and […]
Sign up over lunch
On the menu this week . . . mastering the alphabet in sign language. It’s not necessarily about being understood, but trying to understand. EduMat scores again . . . this time with their “Let’s Practice Signing” laminated placemats. These placemats are great for kids, but not just for little hands. Make your own and laminate them, or pick up a […]
Match this salad with summer
Garbanzo beans don’t get much credit in our avocado salad, but they pull it all together. This salad works any time, and it’s a great match with summer. Here’s one from The Cookery archives . . . Through the Garden Avocado Salad 1 large ripe avocado (or 3 small) 12 oz. (1 can) garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed) ¼ of […]
Get that party started with this caponata
Changing up the party menu this summer? Get that party started with this caponata, explosive with the flavors of green olives, eggplant, roasted red pepper, tomatoes, red onion, and garlic. The Cookery served this last week with crackers and fresh zucchini rounds. You may find a great selection of caponata recipes, but try Nathalie Dupree’s easy variation.