Thanksgiving is almost here and I’m ready for it to arrive. Case-in-point, I have been working away on new recipes and this roasted acorn squash with quinoa is my latest favorite. Packed with some of my all-time favorites (quinoa, pecans, and feta cheese), this flavorful dish is also an eye-catcher. I have a true soft […]

Every Jewish family has a kugel recipe as well as a strong opinion about it. Kugel is not a required Jewish holiday dish, but trust me, by not required, I mean it’s at every Jewish holiday meal. I have been asked many times over the years what my kugel recipe is…ironically, I had never really […]

Going old school French with this recipe for Duchess potatoes. Chances are, you’ve probably had Duchess potatoes, but likely didn’t even know it. Most don’t know the name or why it gets such royal recognition. Considered a classic dish in French cuisine, this dish is said to have been created for a British Duchess who […]

Crispy, oven-baked leaf potatoes. These are an adapted version of a dish my mom used to make when I was a kid. Scalloped potatoes was one of her signature dishes. Talk about decadent; potatoes, cream, butter, cheese…need I say more, they were outrageously good. My leaf potatoes are a slightly healthier twist, I still use […]

Life is a bit repetitive these days. But we all have to eat, so I encourage you to use this time to cook new things you’ve never made before. You can do it, be daring, be bold, be different–try this! Yorkshire pudding is one of the most traditional British dishes there are, although the origins […]

I’ve always been a polenta fan. This is my favorite, effortless oven polenta with mushrooms that takes all the work out of making this hearty favorite. But when you break it down, polenta is nothing more than coarsely ground cornmeal. Served as a hot porridge-style dish, or cooled and cut which can than be baked, […]

I always considered myself a mashed potato person, but my sister loved Thanksgiving stuffing. It took me a few years, but I got there. Thanksgiving is my prefered holiday. I’ve mentioned this before, but a holiday based around food, friends and family is the perfect holiday to me. Thanksgiving has no real rules when it […]

I recently learned that potatoes originated in South American and that although they were brought over to Europe in the early 1500’s, it actually took a few hundred years for people to get over their apparent distrust of this strange new food. Fascinating. Fast forward to current times, potatoes, in any form, are considered a […]

Halloumi (or haloumi), is often associated with the Greek island of Cyprus, and is a semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese made from a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk and sometimes cow’s milk. Halloumi cheese, often referred to as a “grilling or frying cheese” due to its high melting point allowing it to be easily fried […]

Mushroom farro is a hearty winter comfort food to me. The addition of black truffle oil makes this simple dish even more delicious.  Farro is an ancient grain from Mesopotamia that has been around forever. Considered a nutritious grain, farro is high in protein, fiber and B complex vitamins, and is considered a much healthier […]

My eleven-year-old taught me how to make homemade corn tortillas and they were outstanding. My son appreciates good food, he always has actually, with the exception of sweet potatoes. As a baby, he loved most flavors and textures. By age five it was clear I had a fish and vegetable lover on my hands and […]

Everyone has their favorite comfort foods, truffle polenta fries are one of mine. Totally serious. I have always been a big fan of polenta; the simple addition of truffle oil is a game-changer. Polenta, served in the form of “fries“, is a fantastic way to incorporate an earthy grain into your winter meal without much […]

My entire family is addicted to Chinese food.  For my husband and me, it’s just in our blood after growing up in NYC. We grew up eating crispy Peking duck served with fluffy pancakes; dumplings of all varieties; and perfectly browned, crispy scallion pancakes. Our older son was born in NY and being that I was […]

Let’s discuss millet. Millet is an ancient seed originating from Africa and Northern China. Millet has been around for centuries and remains a “staple” in the diets of about 1/3 of the world’s population. With a milk sweet corn-like flavor, this grain is naturally gluten-free–making it a go-to for Celiac sufferers. Millet is a whole […]

This is a fun dish, and a great seasonal one for warmer weather. I love to serve it with Noah’s cod cakes. I’m a big quinoa fan. I have basically stopped eating rice, and I do watch my carbs–so quinoa and riced cauliflower have become my go-to’s.  Quinoa, for anyone who does not know, is […]