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
How to Cook: Pan-Roasted Chicken
Several years ago, I listened to a cooking presentation given by Terry Conlan, Executive Chef of Lake Austin Spa. He told us that we should always cook chicken with the skin on, then remove it before eating. The amount of added fat would be negligible, he said, but the improvement in taste and texture would […] Read More
How to Cook: Wheat Berries
I have to admit that, like most people, I’m new to wheat berries, but I’d been looking for new side dishes that used more whole grains. You can’t get much more whole than wheat berries. They are whole wheat, the whole grain that companies grind into everyday, recognizable flour. They have a great texture. I’ve […] Read More
How to Cook: Quinoa
How to Cook Quinoa The fact that you’re reading this post means that you’ve heard about quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah), the miracle grain. I say that with some amount of sarcasm, but it really is good stuff. It’s high in protein and fiber, ranks low (35) on the glycemic index, and is vegan-friendly and gluten free. […] Read More
How to Cook: Simple Pasta Sauce
Easy Butter and Tomato Sauce If I had to guess, I’d say that I probably haven’t bought pasta sauce in a jar since before we moved away from the east coast in 1999. I’ve found the answer to a perfect, simple sauce that can be made in the time it takes to boil water and […] Read More
How to Cook: Steak
How to Cook a Steak Have you ever been really excited to cook a steak, only to end up with tough, leathery meat? We’ve all been there. Here’s how to avoid it. Searing meat at a high temperature creates a fabulous, flavorful crust. It can also make the meat tough and dry. Cooking the meat […] Read More
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