Ayana loves hot sauce. The first time I went over to her house, when we first met, I was astounded by the collection of hot sauce bottles in her fridge. There must have been fifteen of them. By way of explanation, she introduced me to …
If you are looking for a Thanksgiving dessert that will absolutely knock the family’s socks off, this pumpkin creme brulee is the dish. Falling neatly in the middle between rustic family feast and haute cuisine, this dish is both familiar and elegant, featuring all your …
I was told once that the American food that most fascinates foreigners is the Thanksgiving feast. The immutable menu of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie has become an image that those in other countries long to experience. I was surprised when I first heard this, but really it makes perfect sense. Not only is this a meal that the American media has broadcast all over the world, but it may also be the best menu of truly American foods. Continue reading Stovetop Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
These are the mashed potatoes that were served at all family gatherings when I was growing up, and I’m pretty sure they are the best out there. I know that I have a certain amount of bias, seeing as these are the taters of my …
For those of us living in tiny homes, vans, buses, and the like, Thanksgiving can be a difficult holiday to celebrate. It is a lot of cooking to be done in that tiny little kitchen. We made it doubly hard on ourselves by opting not …
This here is Grandma’s Impossible Pie.
We used to eat it every year at Christmas, and I have recently learned why: the “impossible” part of the name refers to how it must be impossible for such an easy pie to be so dang good, which makes it the perfect second dessert to feed a big family. Christmas and Thanksgiving feasts are a lot of work, why not let at least one dish be easy? Continue reading Grandma’s Impossible Pie
For me, this recipe is my childhood. Growing up this dish was, at least in my mind, Mom’s specialty. It was one of those special dinners that we didn’t have every week, but every time we did eat it, I wondered why we couldn’t have …
Steak Bearnaise is without a doubt one of the best dishes out there. What on earth is more luxurious than a fine piece of grilled beef drizzled with a hot butter sauce? Flavored with tarragon, shallots, and white wine vinegar, bearnaise sauce somehow adds both …
Furutsu sando is a subtle dessert that celebrates seasonal fruits, tastes delicious, and looks beautiful–sounds like Japanese patisserie.
Something like a strawberry shortcake, furutsu sando is a sandwich made with whipped cream, whatever fruits are ripe at the time, and, traditionally, Japanese milk bread. It is light, delicate, and delicious. And when properly prepared, it can be quite stunning on the plate. Continue reading Furutsu Sando
Yakitori, literally “grilled bird,” is a dish of grilled chicken, and is serious business in Japan. Like other culinary specialties in Japan (think sushi, tempura, ramen), there are many restaurants that only serve yakitori. These yakitori joints are hyper-specialized, serving up every part of the …