easy dinner

Looking for something different to make? Preparing fish or any other food “en papillote” is simply French for fish “in paper”.  It is considered a moist heat cooking method where the food is placed in a folded and sealed pouch and baked in an oven. Most often this is done using parchment paper; but in […]

This is one of the busiest weeks of the year.  And this is one of the easiest meal options I know.  This takes only minutes to cook.  This time of year, especially with the holiday prep, who does not need an easy meal option?  If you like shrimp, keep reading.  I am a shrimp lover […]

Everyone needs a quick meal sometimes, and this is a delicious one, plus it’s gluten-free. Sautéed rice noodles with ground pork is an easy, family-friendly dish that is also a quick meal. Asian noodles, a long-time consumer favorite, have become increasingly popular, at least in part because of their gluten-free factor.  With more people becoming […]

This carnitas-style slow cooker brisket is divine.  I think brisket is always delicious and there are many ways to make it, but this is special.  I have a bunch of recipes for brisket that I love and use often, but this time I wanted to try something a bit different, and boy, did I find […]

Baked ziti (ziti al forno) is a true comfort food to me.  A warm, baked, cheesy pasta dish bubbling from the oven is true comfort food.  Baked pasta dishes such as this have been around since the Middle Ages when nobles served such dishes at banquets. Once popular all over Italy, these days it is […]

My little one is a big fish lover, salmon in particular.  As if he was not already a big enough fan, a summer trip to Alaska and his exposure to incredible fresh salmon made him crave it even more. While traveling in Alaska we visited the Kenai River, the longest river in the Kenai Peninsula […]

I call this my California vegetarian burrito bowl: it’s nothing fancy, but it’s a favorite of mine.  It’s rather easy to make, adaptable, and healthy.  This one-bowl meal is a great, reliable option for busy nights when you need something fast that’s not from the freezer. This is also a great meal option for my […]

Ropa vieja is considered comfort food.  I can see why.  I first had ropa vieja on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at La Caridad.  This traditional Spanish dish, which translates to “old clothes,” is so named because the shredded meat looks torn, like old clothing. Prepared like a stew, the primary flavors–tomato, beef, pepper, […]

Pasta served with a shallot white wine sauce is much lighter than the cream-based alternatives that permeate Americanized Italian food.  Paired with mushrooms, the sauce has a rich, earthy flavor. Pappardelle with wild mushrooms is as simple as it gets, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity, it’s delicious. I served this dish recently at […]