Kanten is the Japanese name for a jelled dish (savory or sweet) made using agar. (Or agar agar.) Agar (from red algae) is used in jellies, ice cream, popsicles, custards, preserves, candy, soups and sauces. It is easy to cook with, nearly tasteless, vegan and makes a really light, delicious alternative to gelatin. Agar also […]
I usually have some homemade canned salsa in my basement to use at will. Nothing fancy-just good.(My favorite go-to is from the Ball Blue Book – Zesty Salsa) I just ran out. No fresh tomatoes in sight. But I love to use what I have and make something useful (delicious and beautiful). I have attempted […]
In the past I have shied away from recipes using hazelnuts (also known as filberts). The process of roasting and then getting the skins off looked tedious and too complicated for my busy life. I was so wrong. The whole technique is quick and easy. Toast in oven, cool, then rub skins off with a […]
A year or so ago I saw a sidebar in a cooking magazine where they had taken an actual plank, finished it, and used it like a giant appetizer serving dish. (Martha Stewart November 2017) . It was brilliant and gorgeous! I loved the rustic look and clean lines of foods placed directly on the board. […]
This recipe has very simple ingredients and a simple process. Easy! Make popcorn. Boil syrup. Add cinnamon, Mix and quickly toast in oven to crisp it up. The tricky part is cooking the syrup. It is such a small amount its hard to get a good read on a candy thermometer. So I rely on […]
Popcorn is fun and simple and unpretentious…a food everyone can relate to. It’s something you have at the movies or make at home for movie night. Goes really well with kids and skating and hot chocolate on a cold day, or a cold afternoon with a good book or puzzle. You can make it straight […]
All tofu is not created equal, although each does have its own special merits. I came into the age of cooking with using the freshest artisan tofu. Gosh it works so well in so many tofu creations. It’s creamy with a hint of sweetness – when it’s fresh. Buying tofu at the supermarket is a […]
Dulse is a wonderful sea ‘vegetable.’ And is not actually a seaweed. Dulse is an algae. Yum! Ok so dulse has been eaten for thousands of years because of its abundance and nutrient rich flavor. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Both are great if you know what to do. Here is a simple start. Take dulse […]
This time of year I am always looking for good alternatives to the standard cheese and cracker board for appetizers on the holidays. The kids and I have experimented with a lot of different things. From goat cheese bread stick log cabins to horseradish pickled beets to tiny stuffed quail eggs…omg! ( Some of those […]
Not only are sunflower seeds fun and delicious to eat, they are packed with helpful nutrients, including vitamin E, phytosterols, antioxidants and selenium. Sunflower seeds can be eaten raw or cooked. And they are so versatile. You can eat them on salads or oatmeal, in smoothies or muffins or grind them for a crumb topping. […]