Even my “100% local” meals are generally only 99.5% local as I refuse to cook without salt. And even though I live not far from the mighty Atlantic, and you would think that someone, somewhere in my general neighborhood would be producing Atlantic sea salt, I’ve been unable to find it. I bought some “Atlantic sea salt” only to find out that it was produced in Holland. I had heard of Maine Sea Salt Company, but at $10/lb plus shipping, it was a […]
Categories: 100% local
I confess I often use canned chicken stock (well, “boxed” is more appropriate now, I guess) or bouillon-type base. Yes, I know, not very local of me (not to mention not very ‘chef-like’) but my efforts to eat lower on the food chain result in eating less meat in general and the need for soup stock definitely overwhelms the amount of stock bones that pile up in the freezer. Nevertheless, making your own stock is the way to go, whenever you […]
Categories: 100% local, chicken, soup, stock, year round
Sweet and savory, delicious and nutritious, a vegetable and a dessert: pumpkin bread is all things to all men. And women. And dogs, if they can get their paws on some. (Although I suspect cats would just bat it around for awhile before disdainfully leaving the room to find some furniture to ruin. But I digress). Pumpkin bread, like pumpkin itself, is a lovely thing. This one is nicely spiced, not too sweet, easy to make, and stores well. And? […]
Categories: baking, breads, breakfast, chocolate, dessert, fall, nuts, Use it or Lose it!, whole wheat flour, winter, winter squash • Tags: baking, cooking, fall, food, local, pumpkin, recipes, whole grain breads
I cannot recommend enough The Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum. If you’ve never heard of Rose, you are either new to cooking, or simply are not a baker, because she is justifiably famous for her Cake Bible; the Pastry Bible and Christmas Cookie books are equally as wonderful. I’m sure the Bread Bible is as well, although I have yet to get my hands on a copy. Friends that I cook for often simply have to hear […]
Categories: 100% local, baking, dessert, pastry, pie, vegetarian, whole wheat flour, year round
Cranberries & habanero peppers: two of my favorite things. It’s so unfortunate that I really loathe mustard, because this condiment would be right up my alley: spicy, gingery, puckery, gorgeously pink-hued. Alas, the mustard and I, we just don’t get along. The husband, though, is a mustard-loving fool (hence the plethora of Evil Seed recipes herein), as are many other people: homemade mustard is a gift that never fails to impress, yet is simple & thrifty to make. As one […]
Categories: canning, condiments, cranberries, fall, hot chile peppers, mustard, preserving, year round • Tags: canning, chiles, condiments, cooking, cranberries, food, mustard, recipes
I love cranberries and I am always looking for new ways to preserve them for enjoyment all year round. This recipe is adapted from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving and from Leda Meredith’s Basic Chutney recipe on Leda’s Urban Homestead. This chutney is spicy and flavorful; the habaneros deliver quite a kick that is balanced nicely with local honey. Serve on a sandwich with turkey & brie, put on a cheese platter with crackers or whole wheat focaccia, or make […]
Categories: 100% local, canning, chutneys, cranberries, fall, hot chile peppers, preserving • Tags: canning, cooking, food, local, recipes, vegetarian
Chicken soup is pure comfort food. Everyone has their favorite recipe and most have strong opinions; rice, pasta, or potatoes, peas or no peas, homemade stock or canned. I’ve made this recipe for years – the original was from a lovely little cookbook called For Goodness’ Sake by Terry Joyce Blonder (unfortunately, now out of print). My adaptation does change with the seasons and depending on what vegetables I have in the fridge. My fiance likes what he calls “chicken shtoup;” when […]
Categories: carrot, celery, chicken, herbs, main course, parsley, soup, winter, year round • Tags: chicken, cooking, food, local, main course, quick & easy, recipes, soup
A warm and satisfying soup for a chilly winter night.
Categories: 100% local, fall, leek, main course, potato, quick & easy, soup, vegetarian, winter • Tags: cooking, food, local, main course, potato, quick & easy, recipes, soup
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