A mixed bag of plain and spinach garganelli from Emilia-Romagna had been patiently waiting in my cupboard for the perfect application. Nothing rich and saucy came along, so instead, I decided to try it with this basic lemon and oil preparation.
Garganelli (which, not very appetizingly, translates to “small esophagus”) is thin, rolled tube pasta, ridged […]

Did you know the name Farfalle (that most of us know as bow-tie pasta) comes from the Italian word farfalla, for butterfly?
The addition of fennel, which relaxes into a mellow, sweet flavor when cooked, really makes this dish (delicious hot or chilled) unique. The almond pesto adds textural interest as well as a smooth […]

It’s been unusually cold and rainy in Southern California lately and this pureed soup is really comforting, even more so when you know that every ingredient is good for you. I’m always impressed with chowdery soups that manage to not contain any cream (Le Pain Quotidien is an expert). This recipe is simple, but it […]

It has to be fall, two butternut squash posts in a row!
I had seen the original version of this recipe (by Marcella Hazan) before, and then recently saw it posted on another food blog. I was really interested in what the consistency would be like and could not wait to try it. First, I made […]

 
This is one of those recipes that resides in the back of your head under contemplation for a while. It holds up very well as a hearty dish with a really interesting and nice consistency that isn’t at all gummy. It is fulfilling as a main dish with a simple salad, or as a consideration for […]

 
Before all signs of summer weather are gone (which I can’t say is so much the case here in Southern California), this is a last chance at a light, chilled dish that is very simply prepared. You may be used to seeing udon (a thick, wheat based Japanese noodle) served in hot soup, but it […]

 
This variation of traditional Shepherd’s Pie is less heavy, but just as comforting as the cold night staple I was craving on a warm night. And with the availability of fresh produce from the farmers’ market, you don’t have to rely on frozen vegetables. This dish does not include meat, and I find it is […]

 
It is unfortunate that beets are easily associated with the pickled salad bar specimen that someone, at some point, probably tried to force on you. However, it can’t be denied that the beet is a nutritious addition to any diet. Table beets contain significant amounts of vitamin C in the roots, and the greens are […]