vegetarian

Now that’s Guacamole!

May 5, 2011
Guacamole

[Original post April 31, 2011] Oh boy oh boy do I love guacamole! And I love making it, too, because then I get to eat it! The secrets are texture and plenty of lime juice and salt. The other ingredients can be adjusted or left out to suit your taste. I have found that people prefer [...]

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Chili Lime Fruit Salad

May 3, 2011
Chili Lime Fruit Salad

You may not be surprised to learn that Pittsburgh has been rainy for 21 out of the past 34 days. It’s no wonder I’m longing for sunshine and summer to get here! So I’ll break the drearies with a summertime post. (And you’ll forgive me if I revive it in melon season…) This stunning and [...]

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Ramp & Pea Pesto Spaghetti

April 30, 2011
Springtime Spaghetti with Wild Ramp & Pea Pesto

It’s springtime in Pittsburgh and the local restaurants and farmers’ markets are serving up the tender young vegetables of spring: morels, fiddleheads, peas,  ramps, and more. This morning I was lucky enough to pick up some ramps and morels from the Mushroom Guy at the Public Market on Smallman. [UPDATE: the Mushroom Guy is actually [...]

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Perfect Oven Fries

April 23, 2011
Perfect Oven Fries

For me, french fries are simply a vessel to carry delicious ketchup (Heinz, of course). It’s a shame the potatoes have to be doused in vats of saturated fat before they are fit to carry out their life’s mission. That’s why I try to bake real potatoes at home whenever possible. This recipe for oven-baked [...]

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Potato & Cheese Pierogies

April 20, 2011
How to Make traditional Pierogies

Ah, the most revered of Pittsburgh picnic delicacies- the salty, savory, butter-glistening pierogie. Many Eastern European cultures lay claim to the original, but in Pittsburgh we’re satisfied with lumping it into the general hunky classification. Both my Polish and my Slovak grandmothers enjoyed making and eating pierogies, and their recipes were very similar. Fillings for [...]

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Easter Pavlova with Berries

April 14, 2011
Pavlova with Fresh Berries

Want to wow your family this Easter with a stunning and simple dessert? Try a pavlova – a pillow of marshmallowy meringue topped with sumptuous whipped cream and a sauce of fresh berries and jam. It’s perfect for a light dessert after a summertime meal, but I like to serve it after brunch. There’s nothing [...]

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Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake

April 10, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake

I had this idea when I was eating a Cinnabon roll. They make the topping out of cream cheese, so why not make a cheesecake with the same flavors? The crust of this cheesecake is made from cinnamon roll discs. Bake them for half of the time on the package instructions to keep em gooey [...]

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Haluski (Cabbage & Noodles)

April 8, 2011
Haluski - Polish Cabbage & Noodles

A Pittsburgh tradition from Polish & Slovak heritage… both of which are in my family’s ethnic composition. My Slovak grandmother likes to make her Haluski with anisette or caraway seeds (she uses anisette in her pizzelles too), and my Polish grandmother opts for sauerkraut over fresh cabbage. Here’s my take on one of Pittsburgh’s all-around [...]

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Avocado Tzatziki

March 31, 2011
Avocado Tzatziki Sauce

I wait all year for the Northside’s Holy Trinity Greek Food Festival to get the best gyros & honeyballs (aka Loukoumades). There’s something about waiting outside in a tent and sharing a big blue plastic-covered table with strangers that makes the food taste even better. The sad part is that one of my favorite gyro buddies [...]

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