Now that you’ve established your risotto chops with the classic recipe, it’s time to play. Basically anything can be added to a risotto but I’ve found it’s best when limited to two or three additions (I think this holds true for pizza too). I pulled this recipe from Jamie’s Italy, a cookbook that I refer to time and time again for inspiration and it never disappoints.
To be honest, I haven’t always gravitated towards fennel. I tend not to go crazy for the licorice/anise flavor and I don’t prepare it raw too often. However, this fall I’ve been going bananas for roasted fennel, which brings out a sweetness and softens the licorice flavor. Roasted fennel can be added to salads, pizzas, pastas, and risotto, or eaten on its own. [click to continue…]
Yesterday I woke up to the first snowfall and I have to admit after two years of living in the Bay Area’s mellow climate I am not sure if I am ready for a Vermont winter.
It does help that last week I received my first winter CSA package from Pete’s Greens, and it was loaded with goodies: greens, carrots, onions, potatoes, and delicata squash. If you aren’t familiar with delicata squash you’ll have to give it a try, with a sweet and nutty taste I think it blows away the more popular butternut and acorn squash varieties. [click to continue…]
Greetings! This week I am in Vermont preparing for my big move across country. A big thanks to Amy from Eggs on Sunday for sharing a top-notch recipe here at Feelgood Eats while I am in the midst of clutter, paint, and a not-so-functional kitchen. With delicious recipes and an emphasis on local and seasonal foods, Amy’s blog is one of my favorites. If you haven’t already checked out Amy’s site you are in for a real treat - zip over to Eggs on Sunday and subscribe!
Hi there Feelgood Eats readers; Amy here from Eggs on Sunday. Sue asked if I’d be willing to write a guest post this week; being a fan of her blog and sharing her enthusiasm for local, seasonal foods, I was happy to do so!
Here in upstate New York, we’re slowly shifting into fall. There’s the occasional day of summer-ish weather, but all told, I’d say fall is peeking in at the corners wherever you look. At our farmer’s market last Saturday, hardy mums decorated the stands and lined the walkways, and bushels of apples were all around. [click to continue…]
I like recipes that seem a little off-beat, that take a common ingredient in a new direction or bring a new taste to an old favorite. This week I decided it was time for a little potato salad remodel, an update on a summer classic.
I have found many potato salad recipes to be over-dressed and loaded with mayonnaise and oils that dominate the flavor. They often turn out kind of slimy and not so nice to eat. I’ve been picking up delicious new potatoes at the farmer’s market and the last thing I wanted to do was overpower the potato with a heavy dressing. I also wanted to try something new and make potato salad interesting again. Luckily I have Penelope Casas’s expertise on my bookshelf. [click to continue…]
This past Monday I experienced a pleasant surprise when I peered into my local butcher’s deli case and saw three fresh, local, organic quails ready for me to take home. I usually don’t have access to fresh (vs. frozen) game birds, especially organic ones, so this was a real treat and I immediately began foraging for recipes.
Breezing through my cookbook collection, I pulled down Sunday Suppers at Lucques by Chef Suzanne Goin (of Lucques & AOC) to see if she had any quail offerings. Luckily she did, and it was just the type of recipe I was looking for: simple and quick. I decided to tweak the recipe a little bit, adding a balsamic marinade and subtracting the ricotta pudding (which I’ll have to try when I have more time!) [click to continue…]
Over the past couple of years I have been prowling used bookstores for culinary gems and have put together a nice cookbook library. I often refer to cookbooks for straight-up recipes, culinary inspiration and tips on ingredients and techniques. I thought it might be nice to share some of my favorites. This is a list targeted for new cooks but I think they are a great addition to any collection.
I try to purchase all of my cookbooks second-hand, either from local shops or on mega-sites like Amazon where you can buy from individual sellers - this definitely helps the budget and is also a bit more fun finding hidden treasures (I think this is how people who like to antique must feel!). [click to continue…]
Last weekend I enjoyed a wonderful dinner party hosted by my friends Tom and Meredith in their San Francisco “cottage” apartment. Although it’s not technically a cottage (especially if you are picturing a country farm on the Irish coast), it has the feel of a cottage, with beautiful re-furbished wood floors, older custom-built cabinetry and a huge oven from the 1940s that is still going strong.
We ate out back in their sunroom, overlooking the garden filled with small buds showing early signs of spring. It was a perfect, relaxing scene with great friends and great wine, and things only got better when Tom served his delicious tender and moist chicken. [click to continue…]
When walking down the health and nutrition aisle in your local bookstore, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the sheer number of books related to diet and nutrition. Considering the health crisis that we face today (a rise in diabetes among the youth and an increase in diet-related degenerative diseases among older adults), it’s no wonder that there are so many texts trying to define the way to eat. However, it is important to note that this overabundance of diverse diet information reveals two things: there is a strong market for diet-related books, and there is no single dietary answer that fits everyone’s needs.
While there may not be a dietary text that will answer all of your questions and concerns, Nina Planck’s Real Food: What to Eat and Why, does an excellent job providing solid dietary advice in a very approachable way. [click to continue…]
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