Winters in Japan mean congregating around heat. We camp out under kotatsu, Japanese heated tables, and share all kinds of nabemono, hot one-pot dishes such as shabu-shabu, oden, or sukiyaki. Combining a medley of ingredients in a simmering broth, these Japanese hot pots are cooked at the table, to be enjoyed as a communal feast….
Sukiyaki (Japanese Beef Hot Pot)
To make sukiyaki at home, you can buy a special wrought-iron sukiyaki pan, or simply use a large skillet. Sukiyaki is best enjoyed when cooked at the table with a portable stove, but you can certainly prepare it all in the kitchen and bring it out to family or guests. Purchase ingredients such as kombu…
Easy Entertaining: A Light, Bright Wintertime Supper
This year, my friends and I are planning a much-needed trip to sunnier climes. In order to get ready, a few “light” meals are on my horizon—not that I like to restrain myself, but a couple of weeks of lighter fare will help me shed some pesky winter pounds. I’m inviting my traveling companions for…
Orange and Pomegranate Salad
Any kind of citrus fruits, such as navel or blood oranges, tangerines, or even grapefruit, work well in this wintry salad. Crumbles of blue cheese—or goat or feta cheese, if you prefer—add creaminess and some savory funk. Serves 6 2 heads baby romaine lettuce 2 oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds (blood orange and navel)…
Lighter Moussaka
Ground lamb is essential in making this Greek-inspired dish, first browned, then simmered with tomato sauce, rosemary, and warm spices for depth of flavor. The meat sauce is layered with baked eggplant slices and then finished in the oven with a little melted cheese—rather than a full layer of bechamel. I love this lighter take…
Lemon Sorbet
Refreshingly tangy, lemon sorbet is often served in between courses to clean the palate. I love it as an easy-to-make dessert all year round. Sorbet is easy to make, with or without an ice cream maker, but you’ll need to plan ahead to allow fo ample freezing time. I add a splash of vodka to…
Struggling Woman Asked Stranger for 50 Cents To Buy Meal
There are so many hurting people in the world. May the Lord bless them and may we always be willing to lend a hand of love to help them.
This Sweet and Salty Steak Salad Is Packed With Flavor
Here’s an easy salad recipe to kick off the new year. It’s salty, sweet, and sour with a hint of spice, the traditional flavors that round out a Thai dish. It’s easy to pull together and will have more flavor than any bagged Thai salad you’ll find at the supermarket. Thai Beef Salad Serves 4…
Go Big or Go Home With This Layered Shellfish Stew
As noted, I view January as bowl-food month. Therefore, I shall close out the month with an ambitious stew. I won’t lie—it’s a bit of a project. But hey, since many of us are homebound and hunkering down, why not roll up our sleeves and have some fun with this recipe? I am a big…
Wine Fraud and Authenticity
When we buy a bottle of a famed wine, we take it on faith that it’s genuine and not a fake. In fact, fake wine is precisely why corks began to be branded with the name of a winery as well as the vintage date. It’s also why most reputable wineries still use branded corks….
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