Submitted by Laura Semenza-Marcos, West Hills, California Memories of my childhood surround the holidays and food. As an Italian Roman Catholic from a family of nine, and many relatives, I have stories to tell. The family of my youth consisted of two parents and seven kids—one boy and six girls—in a three-bedroom house, with one…
The Family Table: Memories of Easter Baking, From My Big Italian Family
You Too Can Brew
You may not have realized it, but Prohibition didn’t entirely end in 1933: Brewing your own beer also became illegal under the constitutional ban, but the practice wasn’t made legal when commercial sales of alcohol resumed. Actually, you can thank Jimmy Carter for your homebrew, and, in turn, the craft brewing industry. California Sen. Alan…
For the Easter Table, a Cake That’s Pure Nostalgia
Easter is perhaps my favorite food holiday. It’s the day that the food of my people comes out: Slovenian and Czech braided bread, fried krofi, and sausage with sauerkraut. But also? This cake. This cake is nothing short of pure American ingenuity, in my mind—a sweet and sticky confection of angel food cake, marshmallow icing,…
Persian-Inspired Chicken Dish Is Filled With Flavor
Transform plain chicken thighs into an easy, Persian-inspired chicken and rice dish with a beautiful golden color and a wonderful fragrance. If you have saffron, do add that optional pinch; just a little will enhance the flavor and aroma of the dish. This double-batch recipe makes one meal for tonight and one to keep in…
This Easy One-Pot Orzo Makes Me Do a Happy Dance
When I was growing up, eating out usually meant going to an Asian restaurant or an American fast food joint. Our very rare visits to sit-down, non-Asian restaurants were big deals, and we mostly went to chain restaurants. One favorite was the Macaroni Grill, and I always ordered the exact same dish: salmon with a…
How to Freeze Eggs, Dairy Products, and More
I’m sure my supermarket is not the only grocery store with an area in the back I call “My Bargain Bin.” It’s refrigerated and features some dandy bargains, especially on perishable items approaching that “sell by” date. There are no limits on the number of items I can load into my cart—all of them with…
As the Weather Starts to Warm Up, Enjoy This Bright Dessert
Most lemon tart recipes feature butter in both the crust and the filling, but here we use extra-virgin olive oil instead. It makes the crust a snap: Just mix the flour, sugar, and salt with the oil and a little water until a soft dough forms; crumble it into the tart pan; press it into…
A French Stew Light Enough for Spring
Veal blanquette is a classic white stew from the French repertoire, made with tender veal chunks cooked “en blanquette” in a broth with vegetables and aromatics. Finished with a creamy, mushroom-studded sauce of tangy crème fraîche and zesty lemon juice, it brings together all the comforts of a winter stew, but with the brightness we…
Roast Lamb for a Springtime Feast
The versatility of lamb is one of its greatest features. Whether you’re preparing Italian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, French, or Scottish cuisine, a good roasted lamb dish can be the crowning glory of your meal. Springtime and lamb meat have gone hand in hand since ancient times. The conveniences of our modern world enable us…
Lamb, Kale, and Pomegranate Salad
This colorful salad looks as good as it tastes. The addition of lamb lends a “special occasion” feel to this otherwise straightforward dish, while the pomegranate amps up the flavor. I love to serve it in the springtime, and it makes great use of leftover roasted meat as well. Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time:…
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