Did I have you at crispy? These tacos are speedy to put together and get their crunch from brushing with olive oil and high oven temperature rather than frying. Move over chimichanga – these are healthier and just as tasty. Get everything ready before…

Roasted cauliflower has long been one of my favorite winter vegetables. Tossed with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, roasting brings out the flavor of this somewhat bland vegetable with the caramelization that occurs when it turns a…

In my perfect world, all my weeknight dinners would be one-pan friendly and as few ingredients as possible. What’s not to love about having all the components of a complete dinner in one pan, as well as the least preparation possible. You don’t even need…

Streamlined recipes are especially appealing right now. We’ve all put a lot of miles around the track cooking at home this past year and it has been exhausting. I get it. On the positive side you have probably been eating healthier and you’ve most likely…

Smoked salmon is a bit of a secret weapon in the kitchen. The cooking has already been done, a small amount goes a long way and it’s a nutritional powerhouse. This is exactly why this recipe has been on repeat in my kitchen all winter.…

Some things are just more beautiful on the inside, like celery root.  You may have skimmed over it in the produce section thinking what is this unattractive and obscure vegetable, and how would I use it. Also known as celery knob or celeriac, it might…

My husband and I never can quite agree about what type of fish should go into cioppino. He says it must be salmon for the rich flavors it imparts in the broth. He also has a memory association from the first time he tasted it…

I know, I know. I can hear you whispering the “f” word when I say that Carbonara should be on your regular dinner rotation. Yes, it’s true. Bacon, cream, butter, egg and Parmesan – they all add up to one big fat party. And that’s…

There is no denying the magic of a slow cooker. The ingredients go in and hours later your house is ruminating with the welcoming smells of something fabulous. Every time I use my slow cooker I am infinitely appreciative and admittedly a bit smug knowing…

In these first few days of January, it seems like pretty much everyone is trying to eat healthier. January has become synonymous with “cleansing” after the indulgence of December and as a way to set oneself straight for a new year. I get that. So here…

The reasons to love meatballs are easy. Little flavor bombs packed with ingredients to make them way more interesting to eat than the meat on its own. For the cook they’re easy to throw together, roll and brown in a bit of oil and difficult…

Your oven does the cooking with this recipe, where roasted vegetables carry more weight than the protein. It encompasses all things great for a busy weeknight cook interested in flavorful, nutritious cooking using whole foods. And it manages to be a bit sophisticated. There is…

Cooking alongside the person or people you most love being with is a simple and powerful way to say I love you. It’s often said the kitchen is the heart of the home and the recipes prepared with love are the soul. So I say,…

Winter salad ingredients can be every bit as inspiring as those in summer. Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, baby kale leaves, juicy mandarin orange sections, creamy avocado chunks and pomegranate seeds all tossed together with a lime honey vinaigrette are proof of that. The addition of coarsely…

I consider black beans the little black dress of food. Elegant and simple, they can be dressed up depending on what you put with them. Curry powder, turmeric and cinnamon create a little exoticness in this one pot soup that makes enough to enjoy more…

I like the taste of salmon, but its nutritional benefits are the real reason I try to cook with it at least twice a week. I even break my seasonal ingredient rule, cooking it no matter what month it is. Fortunately the “previously frozen” wild…

Our love affair with these wraps began many years ago, but I’ve resisted sharing it with you because even though I’ve tweaked and personalized the recipe my daughter got from one of the families she babysits for, I do not know the original source. I…

“Love doesn’t make the world go around. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile”                       -Franklin Jones- I say there is always room to give more love in this world. Cooking dinner is one of…

Eat more seafood. Three simple words and one of my New Year’s resolutions that, so far, I am staying on track with. I realize we’re all more inclined to associate eating more seafood with summer when it’s easier to fire up the grill, but with…

It’s the week of the Super Bowl and if you haven’t already planned what you will be making, these Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas would be a good choice whether you’re watching or not. The recipe was inspired by one a dear friend gave me…

On a recent trip to San Juan Island I spent much of the time on the ferry ride reading through my neglected pile of recipe books, newspaper food sections and food magazines. I am one of those people who tirelessly spend long chunks of time…

Salad piled on top of a seared chicken breast and drizzled with dressing is one of my favorite recipe templates. It satisfies the craving for a lighter dinner and yet the chicken makes it substantial enough. Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded to an even…

Those of us who used to pass on Brussels sprouts are giving them a second look. In the past the motivation to eat them might have been more for their nutritional attributes than their flavor qualities. All that has changed. Thinly sliced and quartered, and…

Chicken Parmesan is simple enough for inexperienced cooks to prepare yet worthy for those who aren’t and it fits my resolution to give you a monthly recipe using a short list of ingredients. It could be your answer for an easy Valentine’s dinner. This abbreviated…

  In the countless times I’ve prepared pot roast I never once thought to cut the beef into individual pieces. So I was intrigued when Jamie Callison introduced me to the idea with his pot roast recipe while working on the Crimson Spoon Cookbook. I…

I know it’s winter and a bowl of warm bean soup or a slow simmering chunk of meat are mostly on your mind (and they’re on mine too), but I’m still craving a good, substantial leafy salad for dinner. And something healthy to increase the…

My New Year’s challenge is on. To include recipes each month with just six to eight ingredients or less (not including very basic ingredients like olive oil, kosher salt, soy sauce, etc.) My daughter thinks it should be every recipe, but hey I don’t want…

This time it’s not about the meat but instead homemade Italian Bianco and Marinara sauces to go with fresh cheese ravioli. Is it a leap of faith to center a menu on something other than a roast, fillet or breast? Not with this menu. Bianco…

My good news is that I am co-authoring a cookbook. The downside is that right now and for several weeks I am in a crunch phase with final recipe testing, writing and editing and so my weekly blog posts are not very weekly. Here’s the…

Tasting beef brisket eluded me most of my life. I am not sure how this happened, considering my Mom grew up on a farm and my childhood was graced with the typical American beef recipes like pot roast and beef stew. So when I tasted it…

After the first year of writing this blog, someone asked me if I was going to continue. She went on to explain how the name “A Year at The Table” had implied to her one year. It made sense even though I had never looked…

For some, cooking is simply about getting food on the table and the faster the better. For many it’s a consuming passion without regard to a time element. And there’s the huge swath of people who fall somewhere in between. That’s where I put myself.…

I’m sharing my obsession with two different vegetable preparations – Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Kale Chips. I’ve hesitated to post them because in my commitment to give you a main dish recipe, I hate to take a weekly post with a side dish. The…

One pan recipes intrigue me. But only if they rely on the flavors of the central ingredients and not a can of creamed soup or a package of dry seasoning like the casseroles a generation of us were raised on. My kids don’t want anything…

January cooking is all about healthy and easy, without sacrificing taste, especially after a December of lengthy meal preparation and consuming copious amounts of sugar, fat and alcohol. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to seafood, preferring it to be mild flavored…

Spring is getting close, but for now, wintery soup will still grace my table. I am a lover of beans and especially when they are in a soup. I’m so happy when I remember ahead of time to soak the dried ones. But I forget just…

Yaki Soba is a Japanese fried noodle dish typically made by stir-frying noodles with chicken, shrimp or beef and vegetables with a flavorful sauce. You could say it’s the Japanese equivalent of Chinese chow mein. The beauty of it is you get protein, starch and vegetables…

Ah, such a simple dish, really.  Bread, ham and cheese. I’m tempted to say the French version of our American grilled cheese, but I think it works the other way around. I so distinctly remember my first croque monsieur in Paris at the very hip…

Is it spring already, someone. This relentless winter carries on. So bring on the beef stroganoff. Years ago, I used to make this recipe all the time. I’m not sure at what point I stopped because my family always loved it. I used to make…

This recipe pretty much never fails to deliver for an easy, simple popular dinner. Both kids and adults will love it. Double the recipe for a larger crowd and serve it for a weekend dinner party. The best part is you can use this recipe…

Coconut Shrimp tend to be considered “restaurant food”, something that most people do not make at home. The lack of a doable recipe, not enough time or unfamiliarity with buying and handling shrimp are possible reasons for this. Now you’ll have no reason not to…

One of my favorite winter pasta dishes is this recipe for Spaghetti Puttanesca. All of the ingredients are available this time of year and many of them in my pantry or on the condiment shelf in my refrigerator. Those that aren’t can be easily found…

  Curry brings something different to a classic winter favorite. And Basmati or jasmine rice replaces the more traditional potatoes. Browning the beef is necessary to give good deep color to the sauce and flavor to the meat and stew. Heat the oil in the…

Something a little lighter, yet still in the category of wintery warm and hearty… Start to finish this can be on the table and ready to eat in 30 minutes. Happy New Year! Rosemary Chicken Wilted Spinach Salad   Print Serves: 4 Ingredients 4 slices bacon, chopped…

Quite often I come across people who are not familiar with Petrale Sole. Awareness of this fish is similar to how it behaves at the bottom of the ocean. Shaped like an oval platter with one side of its skin olive brown and the other…

This salad became an instant favorite when it hit the menu at the restaurant we owned many years ago. The restaurant is long gone but the recipe lives on and my family never tires of eating it. The secret to this recipe is the thickness…

I think slow cookers are magical as they cook food for you while you are away from the kitchen. In the morning the ingredients go in and when you return later in the day they have turned into something fabulous smelling and wonderful tasting. For…

Who doesn’t like chicken noodle soup. It’s the ideal comfort food for a Sunday night dinner or a weeknight meal. A touch of tarragon adds a unique flavor to the soup. Some recipes have you make your own stock or broth, but to save time…

This is a Mexican dish originally created to use leftovers. Tortillas, chicken, cheese and chiles are layered to make a casserole-style dish. But don’t use the word “casserole” with your family, because if they are anything like mine they will refuse to eat it at…

Here is a possibility for your Valentine’s Day dinner. Not only is this recipe quick and easy, it’s a less expensive way to say I love you than a pricey cut of beef or filet of seafood. I guarantee you will find as many recipe…

This recipe is a little more involved than my last several posts. But believe me, it’s worth it. Make it on the weekend when you have plenty of time, the first time you try it, rather than a weeknight when you’re in a hurry to…

I first learned about Cajun “blackened” seasoning in the 80’s when Paul Prudhomme made his splash on the culinary scene. Typically to prepare blackened fish you dip the fish fillet in butter and then coat it with blackened seasoning and sear it over high heat…

  This is one of my favorite classic winter dishes. Easy to make during the week as it can be prepared start to finish in about an hour and yet it’s fabulous for weekend entertaining too. You can use chicken breasts or thighs or a…

Don’t be mislead by the name of this recipe. It’s not a typical Mexican-style tortilla, but instead a classical Spanish egg dish made with potatoes in the circular shape of a tortilla. This is simple home cooking at its best.  All of the ingredients you…