I may not have a drop of actual Italian blood in my body, but I often feel like I’m an honorary Italian because I love their food so much. To wit, is there really anything better than pillow-y ravioli filled (and topped) with something delicious? I’d be hard-pressed to dream [...]
One of the best things about cooking is that it has the power to make you feel like you’re somewhere else. And last night, just a few miles down the road from my house, I had the whole Italian trattoria experience without having the cross the mighty Atlantic. Thanks to [...]
When you’re writing a novel where Italian food plays a starring role, let’s just say the “research” is pretty fun. To wit, I took a class in making homemade gnocchi last week, and it was not only lots of fun and easier than I thought, but incredibly delicious. And while [...]
After watching Jon Favreau whip up some Spaghetti Aglio E Olio (that’s Italian for spaghetti with garlic and olive oil) for Scarlett Johansson in the movie Chef, I knew I needed to make some for Will (and me, too, of course). So last Sunday, I decided to see what all [...]
In terms of broadening my culinary horizons, my post-college move to Nashville back in 1998 pretty much changed everything. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t collard greens or black eyed peas or the glories of fried chicken that left the most memorable impression. It was the red curry at Siam Cuisine off [...]
Until a couple of years ago, I didn’t know just how easy it is to make homemade cranberry sauce. In the past, Crate & Barrel used to sell an incredible cranberry conserve the Barefoot Contessa whipped up, so that was easy. Open the jar, put in pretty serving dish, and [...]
I’m not quite sure how it happened so fast, but we’re now only nine days (!!!) from chowing down on turkey celebrating Thanksgiving. Considering how all the stores transitioned to all things Christmas weeks ago (yes, I actually heard “Silver Bells” while shopping the day after Halloween—absolute craziness), I think [...]
There’s nothing better than when two of your favorite foods come together and make something even tastier. Case in point: this homemade pumpkin granola. In what won’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me well, I’m a pretty ardent pumpkin enthusiast. Whether it’s in a pie, scone, latte, ravoli, [...]
I'm embarrassed to say that I got this for Christmas and (gasp!) finally got around to flipping it open this past week. Better late than never, right? Yes, I'm one of those people—the kind who practically devours cookbooks like good fiction. Like most things, I admittedly jumped on the Smitten [...]
Will and I have been on the healthy eating track as of late, but to make tonight’s Greek salad with roasted shrimp (mmmm!) a little more special (it is a Saturday night, after all), I decided I’d make my own croutons with the leftover rosemary bread in the cabinet. And [...]
