Veggies

Brussels sprouts Gjelina

25 February 2016

Brussels sprouts may sound like a curious substitute for birthday cake, but today’s veggie delight will be appreciated by my lovely pal Anne in Venice, California, who lives down the coast from the Santa Monica pier and down the street from Gjelina, the restaurant that in a few short years has exploded from neighborhood eatery […]

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Zucchini carbonara

22 August 2015

I’m back – whoa. I don’t think I’ve taken a month off from here in five years, and I didn’t intend to now. I don’t ever feel the need to escape from here – this is my escape – but we took the kids to Europe for the first time that they’ll remember, and I […]

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Jalapeño greek yogurt dip

16 July 2015

I’m not an overachiever in the kitchen at any time of year, but in the summer when appetite is down and laziness up, I just want to assemble a good meal rather than cook it. The season’s fresh produce makes it easy to have a picnic at home – great cheese, juicy ripe fruit, well-dressed […]

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Sweet vinegar slaw

17 June 2015

Mealtimes with my gregarious Ohio family are much more about socializing than cooking. Impromptu family gatherings call for pizza – round pies cut in snacky squares, as is the norm here – but planned family events, like all four of my kids’ baptisms, are accompanied by takeout from our favorite local barbecue joint. The smoked […]

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Magic mushrooms

24 April 2015

Ripe fruit can be perfect in its naked glory, but vegetables like a bit of dress up. A juicy tomato wants great olive oil, a fluffy baked potato begs for melting butter. And this mushroom saute, with minimal enhancement, simply showcases the earthy richness, meaty texture and indefinable umami that are the essence of mushroom […]

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Chicken and veggie lettuce cups

16 April 2015

I picked up a wavy green head of butter lettuce at the farmers market last weekend, fully intending to make salad. But as I washed its ruffly leaves, the neatly cupped shapes begged for something warm and savory to hold. I felt like the mouse in the kids’ book, If You Give a Mouse a […]

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Super duper veggie burger

12 February 2015

Veggie burgers have hit the big time. No non-vegetarian would choose fake bacon over the real thing, and only a desperate teetotaler would drink near-beer. But veggie burgers have become more flavorful and creative as mainstream ground beef has become sketchier, and now you’ll find plenty of omnivores choosing a tasty veggie patty over beef. […]

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Roasted brussels sprouts salad

20 November 2014

Back in 1999, when brussels sprouts were far from cool, San Francisco chef Gordon Drysdale put on the menu of his new restaurant a salad made of brussels sprouts leaves, briefly sauteed in olive oil and tossed with bacon, caramelized onions, hard-boiled egg and a red wine vinaigrette – and immediately obliterated the childhood memories […]

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Chopped taco salad

9 July 2014

At the end of our friends’ visit to Ohio last summer, Paul left wistful for more pie, and Venus dreamed of Jeni’s ice cream. This year they came again for a longer stay, and we indulged in so much pie and Jeni’s that by the end, the only food they wanted more of was this […]

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Lemony potato and green bean salad

19 May 2014

I’m happy to pull out this reliable recipe again, like a favorite pair of checked shorts, for the warm-weather season. Paired with bright green beans, this fresh dish is both vegetable and starch in one generous bowl, only needing a bit of grilled chicken to complete the meal, or even some hard-boiled eggs for an […]

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