Cooking

I have a kid. That means that every recipe I make either comes with a helper (known as the Tiny Kitchen Assistant) or his alter ego, Captain Distracto, who wants me to play baseball or Legos or do anything other than cook as dinnertime approaches.

Most of the meals are kid-friendly and easy enough to make in 30-45 minutes on a weeknight. The rare, time-consuming “weekend recipes” will be noted accordingly. Believe me, if I can make dinner six nights a week, you can, too.

Where do my recipes come from? Many are things that I’ve made for ages. Some are modifications of a single recipe; I link to or reference the original recipe wherever possible. Others are a strange hybrid of recipes that I find online; if I want to find a good stew recipe, for example, I’ll look at half a dozen and pick and choose the elements and techniques that work best for us.

Ready to cook?

Recent Recipes

What Would Betty Do Logo Try Something New: Kale with Bacon

I was determined to find a recipe that made kale work for me. Unfortunately, it required cooking it with bacon and likely obliterating all of the health benefits, but hey, it’s a process. This recipe serves two. You can easily double or triple the recipe for larger groups. Ingredients 1/2 bunch kale, rinsed, dried and […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

Crock Pot Arborio Rice Pudding Rice pudding feels like a flashback to childhood. I can remember Betty standing over the stove, stirring the pudding, worried about  the mixture sticking and burning. I loved the outcome, but I couldn’t imagine the endless stirring, especially with the Tiny Kitchen Assistant also requiring nearly constant attention. I’ve come […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Try Something New: Kale Chips

I struggle with the battle between Knowing that Green Leafies are Good for Me, and Not Particularly Liking Anything More Daring than Spinach. Searching the vast resources of the internet for palatable recipes for kale, I discovered that lots of people swore by kale chips. The details varied by seasonings and oven temps, but the […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Quick Bolognese

I’ve already posted my go-to bolognese recipe, but sometimes you want a hearty sauce that doesn’t take half a day to make. Behold: quick bolognese in under 45 minutes, even less if you buy pre-chopped onions and carrots from the supermarket. Ingredients Olive oil 1 onion, chopped fine 1 carrot, diced 1/2 lb ground beef 1/2 […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo What’s in Season? February

Ok, I’ll admit it: this is the time of year where the market seems pretty dismal. Sure, there’s plenty of stuff for sale, but I just can’t get excited about beets in the same way that I do about a juicy nectarine. Nonetheless, this buttered beets recipe from Whole Foods does look good, doesn’t it? […] Read More