In the garden at The Spice House

Stopping by The Spice House

If you’re looking for a fun place to learn about and buy fresh spices check out The Spice House.  They’ve got great tips about cooking trends and how to keep…
Consider the Fork

Review: Consider the Fork

Consider the Fork is Bee Wilson’s insightful book about the history of how we cook and what we eat.
Pepper Jack Polenta with Anaheim Peppers

Pepper Jack Polenta with Anaheim Peppers

This creamy polenta has a nice bite from the Anaheim peppers and pepper jack cheese that goes really well with BBQ and other strong flavored main dishes.
Cookbooks

Why Minnesotans Should be Ticked Off that the New York Times is Trying to Pin Grape Salad on Us

There are a lot of good reasons why so many Minnesotans are ticked off that the New York Times is trying to pin one of the worst salad recipes ever…
Smokehouse Chili

Smokehouse Chili

This chili recipe uses a smoker and spices to help develop a deep smoky flavor and great texture in every bite.
French Toast with Maple Whip Cream

French Toast with Maple Whip Cream

This French Toast recipe uses soft French bread and grated orange peel to create thick slices of toast with a subtle hint of orange topped with maple whipped cream.
Timing is everything

Learning Life Lessons from Making Jambalaya

When you’re learning to cook certain dishes are important because they teach you something fundamental. It might be a new technique, a unique ingredient, or something as simple timing.
Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya

Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya

Spicy andouille, crisp bell peppers, and chicken so tender that it falls apart come together to create a delicious Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya.
Great Summer Gazpacho

What I Love About Gazpacho

A challenge for me can be making sure I’m eating enough healthy vegetables, which is why I love keeping a batch of fresh gazpacho on hand.
Raspberry jam all done

How I Learned to Can and Lived to Tell About It

Canning can be scary, but once I got over my irrational fear of poisoning my future self I was able to finally learn how to can.
Orzo Salad

Orzo Salad with Tomatoes and Basil

This light pasta salad made with orzo, tomatoes, and basil is brimming with late summer flavors and makes a great side dish for grilled chicken and fish dishes.
Great Summer Gazpacho

Great Summer Gazpacho

This Gazpacho recipe is one of my favorite soups to make during the summer. We usually have a big bowl of Gazpacho in the fridge all summer long because it…
Teacher eats lunch with students

Review: The Food of A Younger Land

If you’re looking for stories on how to make ash cakes, the right way to skin a possum, or how to celebrate rivers filled with Pacific salmon take a read…
Kayaking at the Channel Islands

At the Bar: Why Umami

I was coming back from kayaking around the Channel Islands recently, thinking about why I wanted to start Umami and what it should be about.
Nothing like making sun tea in the snow

At the Bar: Thinking About Spring During the Hard Time

It was a long bitterly cold winter in Minnesota this past year, the kind of winter that makes you think about how you can’t wait for global warming to get…