One of my favorite snacks is a sea salt and vinegar potato chip; there is nothing quite so tangy and crisp. After a particularly unhealthy day of travel, when breakfast was a chocolate-covered granola bar and lunch was string cheese and an ossified apple, I treated myself to a bag of sea salt and vinegar chips. Who knew vinegar could have such an amazing effect on the stomach? Apparently almost everyone, but it was news to me. Vinegar increases the […]
Do you remember the old nursery rhyme, “What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice…” These sugared and spiced nuts and seeds are an updated take on those delicious sugared pecans that have become a holiday classic. They make a terrific hostess gift, taking about ten minutes to assemble, followed by 40 minutes of baking. Just pop them into a jar, tie a ribbon around the base, and you’re all set. They would also be amazing […]
I had a version of this beet salad on a recent trip to London, and couldn’t wait to come home and try it myself. Beets and horseradish have always been a good combination; when you add a flavorful mix of young greens and beet greens, and garnish with scallions and pine nuts, the whole mélange is just so good! It does take an hour to roast the beets, but the rest of it is as easy as making salad dressing […]
It’s Tex-Mex Thursday again, and I’m thrilled to pass along a recipe that puts a cheerful zing into what can be a traditional, but ordinary, Thanksgiving side dish. Matthew Wendel’s sweet and spicy sweet potatoes elevate a Thanksgiving staple to new heights: he uses chipotle chiles tempered with the soothing richness of Greek yogurt. If Matthew’s name is familiar to you, it’s because he worked for President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush at their ranch in Texas and at […]
Hurray for Tex-Mex Thursday! If you need your regular fix of Tex-Mex food, here’s an easy recipe that can turn an ordinary meal into a fiesta by adding a happy jolt of jalapeno and sharp cheddar to a baking powder biscuit. This recipe comes from my buddy Matthew Wendel, who cooked for the Bushes at their ranch in Texas and at Camp David. He knows a lot about satisfying, simple home cooking. Here’s what he says about today’s scrumptious recipe: […]
