Fresh peas are one of spring’s great pleasures. In this bright and silky chicken soup, their verdant green adds a pop of color and little bursts of flavor throughout. I love the way they look with fregola sarda, a toasted semolina pasta from Sardinia shaped like tiny balls. Rather than simmer the chicken breasts in…
Soups
Luscious New England Clam Chowder with Thyme & Bacon and Perfect Popovers on the Side
For Valentine’s Day this year, I made two things Greg has always requested, but I’ve never made: clam chowder and popovers. As natives of CT and MA, of course I am referring to New England clam chowder. Chowder reminds me of being a kid and visiting my cousin in Rockport every summer with my grandparents….
A stunning and simple Winter soup: Cauliflower Soup with Chive Oil
Bon Appetit calls this soup “elegant” and I would have to agree. It’s flavor is the pure essence of cauliflower (and butter), and it has a silky, creamy texture. The chive oil splashes a pop of lime green color on the white surface. It makes a perfect winter dinner with a green salad alongside. Instead…
The Best Beef Chili: Gourmet’s Chili Con Carne with Sour Cream Cheddar Biscuits
I first heard about this chili through Smitten Kitchen, an excellent blog written by a New Yorker in her tiny kitchen. Turns out, it is a much heralded recipe from Gourmet, originally published in 1990. I made this chili for the Superbowl and it was as delicious as advertised. I added a jalapeño and a…
The Italian Peasant Soup from your childhood: Pasta Fagioli
Like most Italians, my husband grew up eating his Noni’s Pasta Fagioli, aka “pasta and beans.” No doubt, you’ve heard its colloquial name, “Pasta Fazool”… Southern Italians have a habit of dropping the final vowel. Pasta Fagioli is a rustic, thick soup made with cannellini beans and ditalini pasta. The base consists of a classic…
Belated St. Patrick’s Day Post: Guinness Beef Stew with a secret ingredient
I’m an Irish lass, and this year, I made my ancestors proud with a sensational beef stew. Since I’ve never made this dish before, I went with a fool-proof recipe from America’s Test Kitchen. This slow cooker recipe yields luscious beef, spoon-tender vegetables and a rich, beefy broth. Guinness is a classic ingredient in Irish…