When my youngest daughter saw the soup on the dinner table this week, she groaned. “Cold soup? Can’t you just serve that to the grown ups?” Like most kids, she has pretty narrow parameters about the way she likes foods. She’s more adventurous than her sister, but to both of them, cold soup is a […]
It was 90 degrees in Chicago last weekend. And when it’s that hot out, you don’t feel much like eating, it just makes you sweat more. Hence the classic summertime pairing of soup & salad. I should really say former classic, because this summer will not be like seasons past. As you can see from […]
Everything I know about rhubarb fits into a tin or a diamond—from the sweet-tart pie filling that out-sours both Pippin and Granny Smith apples to the everyday scuffles that used to define baseball before money did. (Did somebody say sour?) So when my sister-in-law walked me through the early part of her garden clipping rhubarb […]
Ever felt like you’re just tapped out? You’ve been working all weekend and you don’t have the energy to throw together a meal. And since times are tough, you can’t afford to eat out either, no matter how many coupons you may have. So… it’s leftovers again, which is kind of a harsh word when […]
I’ve got a confession to make. I’m not crazy about eggplant. It’s bitter. It’s sort of rubbery. And when you add it to most dishes all it really adds is texture. I’m sorry if I’m offending anyone with these comments. It’s how I feel, and I suspect I’m not alone. I’m talking about you Europe, […]
When I was growing up, the kitchen was the domain of the mothers and sisters. The males would wander in occasionally with their ham-fisted attempts at cooking such family favorites as fried chicken and tamale pie (the only known use for Green Giant Mexicorn), but for the most part we stayed out of the way. […]
If you read last week’s post, you might think a good cook can correct any dish that hasn’t turned out right. Add a little bit of this, a little of that and voila, the meal is saved. Sorry. Sometimes when culinary explorations don’t work out the only recourse is to start over. That’s what happened […]
Making soup is like playing matchmaker. You try to pair ingredients into a lively but sustainable relationship. Sometimes things go together. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes like attracts like. There isn’t a consistent formula. Not that I’m an expert, I’m a guy. Even worse, I’m a husband. All I know about relationships is […]
The cucumber is soft-spoken. It’s flavor is neither strong nor brash. As a result it’s a vegetable that often doesn’t get a lot of respect. You might even say it’s the Rodney Dangerfield* of vegetables. At best the cucumber is a supporting player adding texture and crunch to other ingredients that hog the spotlight. In […]
