Archive for the ‘ Kid-Friendly ’ Category
Try Something New: Tuscan-Style Beans
A couple of weeks ago, my local Raley’s supermarket had small white beans on sale for $0.89/lb. I bought five pounds figuring that they’re a pretty versatile bean and I could surely come up with something creative. (Right?) First I made the baked beans that I posted last week, but with four more pounds of […] Read More
Homemade Rye Bread
I’ve always loved a nice rye bread. I did not, however, have any illusions that such a thing could be created at home. That’s crazy. Isn’t it? Maybe not. I expected this recipe to be edible. I didn’t expect it to be where-did-you-find-a-Jewish-deli good. This recipe makes four 1-pound loaves. The bread freezes well; defrost […] Read More
Try Something New: Baked Beans
You’ll probably end up seeing a lot about beans in this “Try Something New” column. For years, beans managed to elude me, leaving me with giant pots filled with tough pellets or overcooked mush. But now that I actually know a little something about cooking, it’s my goal to figure out how to make all […] Read More
Easy “Cuban” Chicken
Bistec de Pollo I am a huge fan of Cuban cuisine. I’ve been making recipes from Three Guys From Miami since their cookbook was nothing more than a random collection of recipes online; I highly recommend investing in both Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban and Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban. For those who haven’t eaten Cuban […] Read More
Homemade Matzo
I’m not Jewish and I don’t celebrate Passover, yet I love matzo, clearly just an extension of my ongoing bread and carbohydrate addiction. Last year, I made homemade matzo for the first time. It’s ridiculously easy. While it doesn’t result in the flat, crispy cracker that you expect from Manischewitz, it does result in a […] Read More
Carrot Cake
This recipe was my mom’s. I’ve always marveled at how good it is, particularly considering that she wasn’t exactly what you would consider to be a good cook. We never had sweets at our house, so the carrot cake was reserved for holidays and church bake sales. Its rarity made it all the more precious. […] Read More
Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes
I was raised on conventional mashed potatoes: russets, margarine and milk. Years ago, I decided to get fancy and created this mashed potato recipe. Ingredients 1 bag red skin potatoes, quartered, skins on Kosher salt Sour cream Fresh chives, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Instructions In a saucepot with salted water, bring […] Read More
Try Something New: Betty Burgers
When our Santa Cruz friends suggested lunch at Betty Burgers, how could I say no? This place is supposed to be a Santa Cruz legend, and it’s easy to understand why. Not only do they have fabulous burgers featuring the slightly disturbing “secret lube,” they also have tasty fries, sweet potato fries and fantastic ice […] Read More
Grandma R’s Meatballs
A few confessions to start: 1) Grandma R isn’t my grandma. In fact, there’s some debate as to whether the recipe is really hers, or if it came from a different grandmother, and 2) I’ve made some modifications over the years. The original called for 2-4 cloves of chopped garlic. I don’t know about you, […] Read More
Sloppy Joes
Sometimes you just want comfort food from childhood, and there’s nothing quite as comforting as sloppy joes. I’ve updated the recipe a bit so that it’s better than your store-bought kit. If your family prefers a blander version, reduce the amount of steak seasoning by half. Leftovers can be frozen in single-serving sizes for a […] Read More
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