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…

The idea of cooking dinner every night can be overwhelming. This quote I saw on instagram sums it up, even for me and I truly enjoy cooking. “Who knew the hardest part of being an adult is figuring out what to cook for dinner every…

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…

Right now it’s all about tomatoes. Ripe, plump, juicy and bursting with the flavor that is really only possible to get this time of year. Yes, we’re lucky they are available all year long, but honestly when tomatoes truly aren’t in season I will take…

Are you among the statistics of cooks who prefer to spend an average of 27 minutes to get dinner on the table? True confessions, I count myself in that group, at least several nights a week. My personal challenge is to produce something that tastes…

Every so often I crave fried chicken. Not the thickly battered, slightly greasy bone-in pieces I associate with a not to be named fast food restaurant that showed up in a cardboard bucket at my childhood picnics. Instead a version using boneless, skinless chicken and…

I’m in one of those phases where I will only consider a recipe if it takes less then 45 minutes to prepare and if it’s in one pan. I spent several weeks in April working on three different asparagus recipes with this goal in mind…

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…

Don’t miss out on cooking with lemon grass because you don’t know what to do with it. I’ll admit it can be an intimidating ingredient. The long, woody stalks don’t look like something worthy of eating and their citrusy scent isn’t unleashed until you cut…

I look forward to September if only for the structure it provides for returning to cooking dinner on a more regular basis. But how to get motivated after the warm and dreamy days of summer where throwing dinner together at the last minute and dining…

Right now is perhaps my favorite time of year. The light beginning early in the morning and extending well beyond what’s typical, is reason enough to feel happy about what’s to come now that summer has officially arrived. It’s also reason to be eating more of…

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…

Many nights, about 45 minutes seems to be the amount of time I prefer to take to cook a weekday dinner. I guess I am a bit more patient than the average person who spends about 27 minutes according to Michael Pollan in his book…

Sometimes I avoid cooking with peaches so I don’t have to deal with removing the skin. It’s lazy and ridiculous, I know.  And my loss to not be slicing, chopping and cooking with this luscious, melt in your mouth fruit. Particularly at their absolute finest…

Two articles I recently read confirmed what I already knew. Eat more vegetables and use the best tasting ingredients possible when cooking. In the first article, The Cheaters Guide to Living to 1oo, it outlines simple secrets to living longer, healthier and happier. One recommendation…

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…

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…

I’m not sure when I veered off the path of making my own roast whole chicken and instead fell into the habit of picking one up at the grocery store. It must have happened gradually while in the blur of raising kids but it was…

It’s not often I hear someone say they don’t like meatballs. I think it’s because they are just fun to eat. Each bite has many flavors and they’re tender from mixing additional ingredients to the ground meat. True, they do take a bit more time…

I count you one of the lucky ones if you’ve tasted a date shake. My husband introduced me to them many years ago at Hadley’s Fruit Orchard about 30 miles West of Palm Springs, California. Back then, their location was marked by a huge metal…

They’re something satisfying about knowing what I am going to make for dinner as I sit at my desk working or if I’m off carrying on with my day somewhere. Admittedly there are many days when that’s not the case and I’ve waited long into…

Poor rhubarb. Not only does it suffer an identity crisis but also it can’t always stand on its own. It’s thought of more often as a fruit even though it’s technically a vegetable, and a sour one at that – needing to be paired with…

The components of an exceptional salad are simple. Begin with fresh, chilled greens. Add several ingredients that harmoniously work together to add interesting flavor and texture and toss them with preferably homemade vinaigrette. I’m a fan of Mexican and Southwest ingredients so I’ve brought some…

Big flavors, healthy ingredients and dinner on the table in 30 minutes with bucatini pasta, spicy Italian chicken sausage and fresh oregano. Bucatini is my favorite pasta shape. Slightly thicker than a spaghetti noodle with a hole running down the center, buco means hole in…

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…

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…

My good friend Carol has a special place where she hunts for chanterelle mushrooms. She’s graciously invited me to follow along with her a few times but much to my loss our schedules haven’t lined up for me to be the fortunate beneficiary. So like…

My son has been using A Year At The Table recipes to cook dinner. Having graduated from college he is living in an apartment and facing the often-daunting task of what to cook for dinner. He’s frustrated though with the cooking process. Doing the shopping, organizing the right equipment and doing the actual cooking can be overwhelming, he says. Can’t there be a simpler way?

I promised him I would develop a recipe “template” that he can use over and over, reminding him that like anything, the more you cook the same recipe the better you get at it…

A good chicken marinade is worth a lot. One that calls for just a few ingredients and still packs flavor is even more valuable. Smoky chipotle powder complimented with a bit of fresh lime and garlic delivers big flavor in this recipe for Chipotle Lime…

I’m back and I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I really hope you haven’t stopped relying on my recipes and wandered off somewhere else looking for dinner inspiration. Here it comes. I found new salad recipe ideas in several places, some in Seattle…

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.…

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…

In my humble experience as a Mom, I have found there are windows of opportunity for introducing new foods to kids. When they’re very young most kids want plain foods that don’t touch on the plate. Gradually as they get older you can introduce them…

Many years ago I came across a recipe for Chicken Breasts with Mustard Sauce by Pierre Franey, the “60-Minute Gourmet” from the New York Times food section. I was drawn to the recipe because of the ingredients, as well as the fact that it went…

My daughter’s boyfriend is a huge fan of turkey meatballs. Particularly the ones pre-made at Trader Joe’s because as a college student athlete who does a lot of his own cooking – easy, healthy and good tasting food is a priority. So when he was…

“Jeunes filles dans la cuisines, jeunes filles dans la cuisines”. Each time he said it his voice would get louder and his head would shake from side to side. I remember it like it was yesterday, particularly his tone and his French accent. And even…

Dry rubs are a fast alternative to marinating. You can rub them on for as little as 30 minutes before grilling to impart flavor. They work especially well for something like boneless, skinless chicken breast that cooks quickly but needs the extra flavor that the…

My inspiration for this recipe was a recent sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands. The warm, tropical temperature, the brilliant turquoise water and the laid back atmosphere of this part of the world are nothing short of amazing. Most of the beachside restaurants offered…

I’ve streamlined the technique for making Pho simple enough to make at home during the week. Forgive me Pho purists but I do think this version is really good. The key to good pho is the broth, which authentically is made by grilling onions and…

I’m ushering in the spring equinox with one of my favorite salads and keeping my fingers crossed that the warmer weather will be finally coming our way. Cheers to the beginning of spring. Curry Chicken Salad with Coconut   Print Serves: 4 Ingredients 4 cups…

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…

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…

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…

As much as I feel strongly about keeping my Thanksgiving menu traditional, I like to change it up for Christmas and New Year’s. A recipe that can be partly or fully made ahead is my only requirement so I can enjoy myself too. So this recipe…

Chicken and white beans refresh the more traditional style of chili with this recipe. And all simmered together with beer gives it a subtle but distinct flavor. For a change I suggest serving the chili over rice. A friend taught me this a few years…

When my Mother in law sadly passed away from cancer at too young an age, I was the fortunate recipient of her small index card sized recipe box. Early in my marriage she frequently asked us to Sunday dinner at their house. I always knew…

Okay, I know that last Thursday was the final day of summer but I just couldn’t resist posting this salad recipe in hopes that we’ll have a few more warm days in the coming weeks and you still may want something lighter to eat. Not…

This recipe is a long-standing loyal member of my arsenal of dependable and favorite dinner recipes. I have been making it for many, many years and to date, my family or friends have never tired of it. It was also a favorite at my cooking…

These easy skewers feature the savory flavor combination of lemon, oregano and garlic that is so prevalent in Greek cooking. I love them for summer dinners as you can marinate the chicken the night before and throw them on the grill just before you want…

As much as I love to cook, I look for easy ways to make dinner quickly during the week with a recipe that does everything in one dish – protein, vegetable and starch. Highlighting the season’s fresh asparagus, this pasta recipe does it all in…

If you like the exotic flavor of curry and coconut  and the idea of marinating to save time then you will love this recipe. Marinating can be your best friend when it comes to putting together a weeknight meal because it does the majority of…

If there ever was a dependable weekday recipe then here it is. Consistent and reliable, easy to prepare and happily devoured by anyone who encounters it, this rock star recipe is prepared all in one pan and on the table in less than an hour.…

Little preparation and big rewards. That’s was this recipe for Barcelona Chicken, inspired from the Silver Palate Cookbook’s Chicken Marbella delivers. It’s the perfect recipe for entertaining because most of the work is done ahead allowing you the freedom to actually enjoy your guests rather…

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…

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…

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…

  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…

You can literally make and serve this recipe within an hour from start to finish. The preparation is made easy with “oven-ready” lasagna noodles that do not require boiling. This is definitely one of my family’s favorite recipes for the taste and mine for the…

It took a warm weather vacation and my girlfriend’s encouragement for me to take shortcuts with this salad. Until I visited her, I happily did all the chopping, measuring and whisking. But with a vacation mentality I didn’t want to do all the prep even…