One of the most popular requests I receive is for inspired side vegetable dishes. Something easy, something delicious, something that (hopefully) everyone at the dinner table will eat. Green beans are one of those vegetables that pretty much everyone likes. You hear complaints about broccoli or eggplant or spinach, but green beans are quite well-loved, or at least pretty inoffensive. This recipe takes this…
This lovely cake represents my first successful foray into gluten-free baking. My daughter and I attempted a birthday cake for a friend earlier this year which yielded dubious results. Now I realize the error, and on the opposite side of the coin, what it takes for successful gluten-free baking (and this theory also applies to successful vegetarian and vegan cooking):…
Artichokes have always been to me, a beacon of spring. In the US, though available year-round on the west coast, most of the country starts seeing them in March; in the UK they typically debut in May. So living in the UK – for less than two more months :(( – I’m just now glimpsing the first artichokes of the season. Most people eat the…
One of the things I like best about where we live is the plethora of neighborhood restaurants. At the end of our block you’ll find Japanese, two Italian, Chinese, Korean BBQ, Thai, two pubs, Indian and Rock ‘n Rose (not sure how to describe this last one, but their tagline is “food, passion, glamour”). No chains; all local, mostly family-run, unique places.…
This is one of those recipes I’m not quite sure how to categorize. My daughter eats the entire batch in one sitting, so I’d think that qualifies as a main course. However it also makes a great protein-packed snack as well as a side dish to grilled meat or fish. All I know is that lately I can’t make enough…
We are amidst the storm before the calm. The last minute shopping, decorating, baking. The school Christmas concerts, ice skating trips, packing for holiday travel. All leading up to a (hopefully) peaceful Christmas, New Years or whatever other upcoming celebrations you have planned with family and friends. So while a home-cooked meal is still as important as ever, I am…
Earlier this week I was lucky enough to do a guest post on a fellow American expat in London’s blog, the lovely Angloyankophile. She was looking for some inspiration for Thanksgiving side dishes and I thought this Updated Green Bean Casserole was just right. Check out the recipe below and be sure to check out her blog as well. She…
Conversation in my house the other day as I am preparing dinner: Me: “Girls, it’s your lucky night…dinner is Hearty Minestrone Soup with garlic ciabatta bread.” Girls: “Whoop! Whoop! We LOVE your garlic bread.” Me: “It’s going on the blog this week.” Girls: “Wait. You haven’t put that on your blog yet?? Are you kidding me??” A panicky pit arose in…
The kids are back in school!! Time to tackle my never-ending to-do list. In theory. Not quite there yet. My sister visited from NY this past week, so we had much more pressing things to do than tidying up the back garden or organizing summer holiday photos or sorting out the girls’ outgrown clothes. But I do have a friend who is on the ball,…
Shakshuka – you probably aren’t familiar with it, but I’m hoping to change that. Shakshuka is an Israeli dish of eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. Works just as well for dinner as for breakfast or brunch. Though I haven’t been fortunate enough to travel to Israel….yet (would love to visit Dr. Shakshuka in Tel Aviv…I hear that’s ground zero for…