The fall equinox takes place this Sunday, September 22nd, and represents the day directly in-between the summer and winter solstices. On the fall equinox the amount of daylight is exactly equal to the amount of darkness. It is the ultimate representation of balance, and a great reminder to connect with the season around us and look at balance in … [Read more...]
Anatolian Bulgar Stew
My cooking classes on The Big Trip just keep getting better! Last week we took a class at Cappadocia Home Cooking in the small rural town of Ayvali, Turkey. We had a terrific evening getting to know a local family, learned quite a bit about traditional cuisine, and cooked to our hearts content. The evening began with a tour of their beautiful … [Read more...]
Sweet and Spicy Carrot and Squash Tagine
There are so many things I like about this dish -- warming spices in mid-winter, anti-inflammatory ingredients, an excuse to use lots of parsley, and getting to say the fabulous word tagine! I've made this a few times this fall and winter and it gets better each time. Sweet and Spicy Carrot and Squash Tagine Ingredients (serves 4): 1 yellow … [Read more...]
Holiday Brussels Sprouts
I made these for friends recently and we all decided they would be perfect as a holiday side dish given the vibrant red and green colors. They also happen to be delicious! I will be recreating them on Christmas Eve for my family and am already looking forward to eating them again. As you may remember from my top five vegetables post, I love … [Read more...]
Vinegary Sausage and Kale
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes! It is easy to make and a crowd pleaser every time. It does involve meat, which most of my cooking doesn't, but in this case a small amount goes a long way in enhancing the flavor profile. I begin by removing the casing on two or three sweet italian sausages and chopping/crumbling them into a … [Read more...]
Thriving Through Fall
Fall and spring are seasons of change. It's important to recognize these changes in our environments and in ourselves and make sure we're supporting our health throughout them. For me, there is a clear transition in what I eat as the weather turns colder and the fresh produce changes. In the summer I eat lots of cold meals - essentially … [Read more...]
Curried Pear & Butternut Squash Soup
This soup tastes like chilly fall evenings curled up by the fire. My mom made it when I was growing up and it seems to be the perfect antidote to cold, dark nights. It highlights the best of seasonal cooking, while tasting rich and decadent without any dairy. It's also pretty darn simple to make, which is always a plus! Curried Pear and … [Read more...]
Lemon Ginger Apple Butter
I really love apples. There is something about the fall tradition of going out on a sunny day and visiting an orchard. It's actually probably the food Americans are most familiar with harvesting themselves. Way to start the trend apples! We recently went out and picked a ton of apples. I saved quite a few for eating as-is, and decided to try … [Read more...]
Roasted Celeriac and Brussel Sprouts
Celeriac is absolutely delicious, but often overlooked by cooks due to its bizarre physical appearance. Celeriac is the root of the celery plant and has a mild and sweet root vegetable flavor with hints of celery. Celeriac is harvested in the fall and can be stored throughout the winter. It can be eaten raw or cooked in salads, stuffings, soups, … [Read more...]
Embracing September!
It's September and it's starting to feel like fall in Boston. Suddenly the humidity is out of the air, leaves are beginning to turn, and fall fruits and vegetables are popping up at the farmers markets. Although there are many things I love about the fall, my immediate instinct is to dig in my heels and try to hold onto summer for as long as … [Read more...]