Sarina and I were so in love with the Spaghetti with Fresh Artichokes we had last week at The Pink Door, I wanted to recreate it at home. I got reasonably close for a first try. This is a pretty simple dish, but requires a bit of prep time for the artichokes, and the technique …
Pappardelle With Cauliflower and Zucchini
I find it fascinating how different types of Italian pasta seem to want different sauces. I don’t know how much of that is from their inherent properties or just repetitive association. I guess that is a nature vs. nurture question. Were these noodles born loving butter or did their momma teach …
Polenta With Asparagus And Olives
This is a quick and easy meal you can throw together in 20 minutes if you have the ingredients in your pantry. The key is to use a polenta that is quick-cooking but not instant. The instant stuff has been parboiled and doesn’t taste too great.
My favorite is an organic …
Cranberry Bean "Fool Mudammas" (aka Borlotti Beans)
I’d never worked with Cranberry beans (also known as Borlotti beans) before. By appearance they reminded me of pinto beans with more spots. I knew they were best known for use in Italian soups. But when I boiled them up and tasted them, the flavor immediately reminded me of …
Ask a professional chef to taste and evaluate a dish, and odds are that if they think it needs something, that something will be salt, acid, fat, or crunch.
Read the Series
Salt
Acid
Fat
Crunch
A Telling Failure
Why? Because these are fundamental elements that make food pop. They aren’t going to turn undercooked eggplant into a silk purse, but if …
Fresh Spinach Fettuccine With Goat Cheese, Jerusalem Artichokes, Morels And Leeks
When we got to the farmer’s market at noon last Saturday, I hadn’t thought about how little might be left. It is early in the season, and Seattle’s throngs of organic produce devotees had snapped up just about everything edible.
Still, I spied beautiful fresh spinach …
Vietnamese Sandwiches with Tofu (Banh Mi Chay)
I must be a sandwich, ‘cuz I’m on a roll. Ba dum dum. Yeah. Anyhow, when I last wrote about Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi), it was to tell you where to find them in Seattle. Until last night I’d never made them at home.
Considering that they retail for …
