Improving on a favorite mushroom Stroganoff soup made with Thanksgiving leftovers. Read more →
Question: Why should you cook with wine you'd be happy to drink? Answer: So you can drink the leftover wine! That's a good reason -- a great reason -- but it's not the only reason. When you apply heat to wine, the alcohol and water evaporate, leaving behind the flavor of the grapes, a bit of acidity, and the natural sugars in the fruit. Never, ever, ever use cooking wine, which is bumped up with excess salt, artificial flavoring agents and food coloring. When that combination is concentrated by heating, you'll be left with a nasty, salty, technicolor taste. (The one exception is Chinese shao hsing wine.) In cooking, wine features in marinades, as a primary cooking liquid, as a deglazing medium for sauces, and... Read more →
One of my favorite dishes from childhood, kasha varnishkas (bucket with bow tie noodles) is still comfort food to me. Read more →
My father's recipe for the Passover classic breakfast dish. There's really no way to improve on this! Read more →
If ever there were a winter soup, this Polish potato and mushroom soup is it. Rich, creamy, with a bit of sour cream added at the end. Read more →
Kasha varnishkas (buckwheat groats with bowtie noodles) is one of my favorite dishes from childhood. Read more →
Sweet potatoes make a nice twist on the traditional Chanukah potato pancakes. Read more →