Tostones bring back so many memories of my childhood in the Bronx. I first discovered these fried crispy treats as an 11 year old. I used to visit my friend Elena and no matter what the meal, tostones were on the table. Her family was from the Dominican Republic. She told me that a meal was not a … Read More
Delicata is just how it sounds. It’s delicate! Of all of the squash I have discovered in the past couple of years, this one is a fave. Once roasted, the hard outside becomes edible. Yes, I was shocked too! You can roast the whole squash and eat the whole squash. How awesome is that? Roasted delicata tastes sweet … Read More
Roasted mushrooms did not make it to my plate until I was a full grown adult. As a kid, roasting anything was not really the norm. Our oven worked over-time on cake, cornbread and baked meats but never for vegetables. It sounds silly now but I don’t ever remember anyone being excited about turning the oven on for … Read More
Purple sweet potatoes are just beautiful. I grew up with white potatoes in my potato salad. The orange version ruled my childhood. It wasn’t until I was a full grown adult that I discovered the purple sweet potato. I’ve been getting groceries delivered for a while but last week I went out to shop. I always get excited … Read More
Broccolini sounds like a cute baby broccoli. But it’s not. It is actually a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. Chinese broccoli is also known as Gai Lan. I became a fan of Gai Lan after spending time at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. You might recall that those folks inspired me to create a … Read More
Polenta. I like saying the word. PO-lenta sounds like poor lentils. Not too far fetched since this was originally a dish for the poor. This included the working class and farmers. Known as Italian grits, and made popular in Northern Italy, you can now find them around the world. Traditional polenta can cook slowly and for a long … Read More
Brussels sprouts are not the most hated vegetable in America. They are the most hated right behind turnips, beets and radishes. Shocking right? I am a skeptic too! I’m not the only one who grew up hating sprouts. But I can’t honestly tell you why. My mom never made them. I think it I picked up the idea … Read More
Candied yams on the table is a nod to soul food at its best. I have seen the battle for the yummy and it’s no joke! Everyone has their reason for loving this sugary side dish. For me, it’s the way the butter meets the brown sugar. This is one of those sides that can actually become the … Read More