Back to school can mean many things to different people. For me, a large part of it is getting my cooking life back to normal by organizing my cooking schedule. Although I cook with my friends a lot in the summer, it’s more spontaneous, when varied schedules may just happen to overlap. But now, at ...
No Fuss Gaspacho
On a hot summer afternoon a few weeks ago, my girlfriend called and asked me if I wanted to make Gaspacho with her. Since making anything that required an oven or stove that day was out of the question, I instantly agreed. I encouraged her to bring over all of her vegetables that needed to be used. ...
Blackened Fish Tacos
These tacos are a big hit for family dinners or get-togethers with friends. Kids and adults both love them, and the toppings can be customized for every taste. Recipe source:Cooking With Friends KitchenIngredients3 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 ...
Turning Cranks
Two cranks were turning as my friend and I began our end-of-summer sauce making tradition — one was attached to a press, mashing tomatoes into a seedless, skinless puree, and the other was attached to a pasta maker, creating silky ribbons of dough. Our kids, one at each end of the kitchen, worked ...
Summer Salsa
Local Jersey tomatoes just arrived, and Debbie and I both had loads of cilantro and garlic from our farm shares. With the nationwide salmonella outbreak behind us, we were itching to make something with tomatoes -- Spicy Grilled Salsa would be ideal. Our salsa making mission involved a lot of ...
Cooking with Imaginary Friends
Sometimes, just the thought of cooking with one of my friends gives me the incentive to tackle a dish requiring patience. This time it was a beautiful fresh fruit tart. While making shortbread crust and custard for the tart I’d be bringing to a BBQ, I thought about being in the kitchen with a ...
Chocolate and Zucchini
With an excess of zucchini amassed from our gardens, my farm share and Saturday morning visits to the farmer’s market, Suzy and I knew last week’s cooking date would include zucchini as the star. We briefly pondered what simple and useful food to make on such a hot and uncomfortable summer day. ...
Black Bean and Corn Salad
This salad, both pretty and delicious, makes a great summer side dish or a salsa for fish tacos. Recipe source:Cooking With Friends KitchenIngredients4 ears of corn, cooked and kernels removed 2 jalapeno peppers, diced 6 scallions, washed, stems cut and chopped 1 cup diced red pepper 2 cans ...
An Extra Share
Upon returning from my vacation, I received an e-mail from my close friend and cooking partner Debbie, who was about to go away with her family. She was suggesting that I pick up her CSA share while getting mine. You see, among other reasons, Debbie and I planned to participate in the Starbright ...
Food Reflections
It’s my first day back from vacation and though I’m bleary eyed and jet lagged, I mustered up a bit of energy for my morning jog. The rhythm of my footsteps naturally lulled me into thoughts of the food I created and enjoyed with my family while away. For the brief thirty minutes of my run, I am ...