Share Shopska Summertime Salad

Fresh from Bulgaria By Mary Ann Ebner A savory aroma met me at my front door and led the way to our kitchen as a spicy blend of sweet and sour promised the evening’s menu included no regular fare. But before any tasting, a cross-cultural lesson was in order. My personal chef-for-a-day, working away, wanted […]

Wild about maple

Wild about maple? Let maple syrup be the perfect springtime transition on your table. Check out my latest Cook On food column and break out the syrup with me.

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 […]

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 […]

A thing of beauty is . . .

a salad. Garden greens get my attention standing alone or sharing the stage. Growing up, salad was an afterthought around our table. I remember my surprise when a classmate’s parents invited me over for dinner – and they were all smiles when they announced the menu . . .  salad! I didn’t know what the fuss was about, […]

Fattoush – toasted and tossed

Add this salad to your vegetable repertoire. My fattoush variation is as simple as shop, chop and serve. Provided you skip the baking and buy the bread required for this recipe, fattoush requires painless preparation. If you’re in Austin, drop by Phoenicia for Lebanese bread. Fattoush 2 pieces flat bread (Lebanese bread or pita) 2 […]

Goat Cheese, Please

The time has arrived.  I’ve been overlooking the Alice Waters Baked Goat Cheese with Lettuce Salad far too long.  But it’s happening tonight . . . right here in the cookery.  Have you tried it?  I can’t wait to share this.  Let me know if you have any twists on this salad!

Cuisine-sheltered in my small hometown

Call me sheltered in the small hometown of my childhood.  I tasted few foods from around the world until I turned 18.  One of my undergrad instructors first entertained the thought of Middle Eastern cuisine.  A Lebanese American, Dr. Shaheen sent me on a journey to discover this Lebanese salad:  Tabouleh.  After some searching, I finally […]

Carrot Cranberry Salad

After the kids peeled the carrots over the sink, Cookery Dad had to step in to fix the sink drain.  It seems as if a couple of enormous carrots accidentally slipped out of the hands of my helpers.  But the bulk of the carrots survived.  Here’s a recipe for one of our favorite carrot salads.  6 medium […]

Tomato Toss

This low maintenance dish goes a long way with flavor. Start with 16 ounces rinsed cherry or grape tomatoes.  Halve tomatoes. Chop two tablespoons fresh cilantro. Crumble two tablespoons goat cheese. Mix together with 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil.  Add a dash of salt and a twist of freshly ground pepper.  Toss and you’re ready to serve and savor.