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Pennsylvania Dutch Red Beets & Eggs

June 16, 2011
Red Beets and Eggs

As a resident of Pittsburgh’s historic Deutschtown neighborhood, I’ve come to accept that my neighbors are going to keep saying Dutchtown as if we are all running around in our ancestral wooden klompen clogs. (Newer transplants to the North Ver-sayles area know what I’m talking about here.) Much to the chagrin of the Netherlands Society of Pittsburgh (NSOP), [...]

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Yard Lettuce with Sherry Vinaigrette

June 8, 2011
Yard Lettuce with Sherry Vinaigrette

One of the earliest harvests from a Zone 5 garden is the tender selection of salad greens. Today I’m making a simple salad of what I like to call yard lettuce (because I go out to the yard to get it, obviously!). Pictured from left to right above are (top row) Red Leaf Lettuce, Green [...]

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Mixed Berry Whole Wheat Pancakes

June 7, 2011
Mixed Berry Whole Wheat Pancakes

These pancakes are not only fluffy, light and delicious, they are also heart healthy. If you make your pancakes on a non-stick surface, like hard-anodized, you don’t need a drop of oil. If you must, try smearing the surface of your pan with a paper towel moistened with canola oil. If you can’t find whole [...]

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Arctic Char with Spring Mushrooms, Asparagus, Ramps

May 15, 2011
Arctic Char with Ramps, Mushrooms, and Asparagus

Arctic Char is a mild-flavored pink fish that is available year round. It is similar in flavor to salmon, but with  a much more delicate, buttery taste. Incidentally, I don’t care for salmon, but I love char. I find it’s a great compromise that satisfies the salmon lovers and the white fish lovers equally. This [...]

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Garden Basil Lemonade

May 11, 2011
Garden Basil Lemonade

Quick! While the sun is still shining, whip up a batch of this simple, refreshing lemonade. If you like using mint with citrus then it’s a safe bet you’ll like using basil, too. Some of the most popular herbs used for culinary purposes come from the mint family: lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage, and basil, to [...]

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Surf & Turf Tacos

May 5, 2011
Blackened Tuna and Steak Tacos

So no, there  isn’t a huge Hispanic population in Pittsburgh in case you were wondering. And at no point am I doing anything authentic here. But I really think that Mexican-style dishes are my favorite to make. When I call you and ask, “Do you wanna come over for tacos?”, there’s really no way you could [...]

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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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