Every September, aware that the last moments of perfect summer tomatoes are imminent, I prepare them these simple ways in of advance winter, and remember Neruda’s lovely ode.
Read MoreA Sicilian Cook’s Perfect Tomato Salad
The most perfect tomato salad I’ve ever had was made by wine writer Anthony Giglio following the formula of Lucia Lo Presti, his Sicilian mama-on-law. Here’s her formula.
Read MoreA Guide to Eating As Many Flowers as Possible
“One of my life’s quests has been to eat as many flowers as possible” wrote Dina Falconi in her wonderful book. Then she showed us how…
Read MoreWhat to Eat When Hiking Naked and Other Essential Info
While reviewing Greenbelly Meal Bars, I also found a trove of useful information about navigating the outdoors with pleasure and ease. Even naked.
Read MoreLearn The Secrets of Great Fried Chicken from The Fried Chicken King of Harlem
In this 3-minute video, Harlem fried chicken legend Charles Gabriel shares the secrets to perfect, REAL fried chicken.
Read MoreThe Metaphysics of Mayo + Fast, Delish Ways to Transform Storebought
Poet, critic and theorist Fred Moten’s insights into the true nature of mayonnaise got me thinking about my favorite ways to jazz up storebought Mayo
Read MoreSimple Furoshiki Cloth Becomes a Carry Bag, Apron, Kitchen Towel, Scarf…
This useful little video and chart demonstrate ways of using furoshiki cloths — large multipurpose squares of cotton fabric — to make carry bags, aprons, more…
Read MoreWild Green Butters of Spring: Ramp, Nettle, Spring Onion
One of the best ways to capture the flavors of ramps, nettles and spring onions is to blend them into good butter that you can eat on all manner of foods and freeze to have on hand. Here are two methods.
Read MoreBrandless’ Will Deliver Some Seriously Good $3 Bargains, and Ideals, to Your Door
Brandless is a unique e-commerce platform that sells its own food, personal care and household items for $3 each. Intrigued by its premise and high ideals, I placed an order.
Better stuff, fewer dollars. Just what matters.
Online retailer Brandless’ mission is ‘Better stuff, fewer dollars. Just what matters’. Skeptical that generics could
Read MoreCure for Bed Heads: Our Stripped Down Version of The Cuban Table’s Sublime El Pecado (Layered Coffee)
The Cuban Table’s recipe for el pecado, which layers three kinds of milk with strong Cuban coffee, is so compelling, we’re going to make it this weekend…
Read MoreParsnip Fries with Cocktails: Sublime!
In early spring, when it’s still cool enough to blast the oven, I make big batches of crisp, chewy, caramelized, amazingly satisfying parsnip fries.
Read MoreMakeshift Mortars and Pestles Make Sublime Walnut Pesto (and Other Delicious Things)
Although a real mortar and pestle is a lovely tool to have, you can achieve their rounded flavors and elemental textures with makeshift ones. Take this Walnut Pesto, for example…
Read MoreJulia Child’s Life Lessons (On Live TV, 1963)
In this short clip, Julia Child attempts flipping a potato pancake — “a rather daring thing to do”— and imparts extraordinary life wisdom when she flubs it.
Read MoreHow to Roast a Frozen Chicken (It’s Terrific)
Although I love roast chicken, I don’t always plan the defrosting part far enough in advance. Could I roast a chicken frozen? I wondered. So I tried it.
Read MoreAnnals of Personal Hungers: Nori ‘Bread’ and Butter
No doubt it was my hunger for buttered toast that caused me to spread really good butter on a sheet of nori seaweed. That surprising combination has become another thing I hunger for
Read MoreTest-Driving Portable Coffee Systems: Brux vs Makeshift Thermos and Cone Rig
For me, just-right coffee is a necessity that helps me get into my day, especially when on the road. So I compared portable coffee systems: the BRuX vs my trusty makeshift rig. Here’s a full report.
Read MoreHomemade Lemon-Scented Olive Oil For Bright, Summery Flavor Anytime
Casting about for foods that could sparkle things up and remind me of warm places and summer, I remembered my simple Lemon Olive Oil recipe. YES, that’s what I need, to use and give as gifts.
Read MoreEase and Many Pleasures in a Cookbook Pot-Luck
Our clever friend Fran Black’s brilliant innovation of the traditional pot-luck dinner party model where guests are asked to bring a dish to forge an entire meal, yielded a to-die-for party that felt like Sicily.
Read MoreSalt-Roasted Root Vegetables: Potatoes, Shallots, Sunchokes and Others
One of my favorite ways to cook small, whole firm root vegetables is to bury them in Kosher salt and roast them. It yields an extraordinarily pure flavor.
Read MoreEmergency Ginger Scallion Sauce for Everything
When I am stressed or blue or just plain tired, I turn to the smallish jar I keep in my fridge of ginger scallion …sauce…condiment…elixir…potion…
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