The Other Woman Cooks

The news from U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark that Nazda Alam was to be her guest at President Obama’s State of the Union address brought a round of cheers in Democratic party circles here in Massachusetts.  My first introduction to Nazda started with a phone call . She was running for Democratic State Committee and hoping I would consider voting for her as an Affirmative Action add on candidate. She talked about the importance of encouraging civic and electoral participation in immigrant populations and communities of faith. She talked about her own experiences as a Muslim American and her love of this country that she chose to pledge her allegiance to as a new citizen. She was gently insistent and passionately sincere. I said yes. Her hard work and advocacy has led to an appointment to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Immigration and Refugee Policy and the State Treasurer’s Diversity Council. Nazda is a great Democrat and even mo...

This perfect harvest time chicken and sides complete meal is special enough for a small dinner party - not so fussy that it can't be served on a weeknight. Prep time is in the brining, which can be done in the morning and will be ready to roast at the end of a busy day. Luscious aromas coming from your kitchen will delight and tickle your appetite. So pour yourself a cup of warm apple cider (maybe spiked with a little bourbon) and nibble a slice of local cheddar to tide you over until dinner is served! CIDER-BRINED ROAST CHICKEN                                                                             ...

Wishing for a low-carb dinner that satisfies your Italian food craving.  This lasagna is the perfect solution, especially in the summer with homegrown garden-fresh veggies and herbs. That said, don't underestimate its appeal in the winter when only comfort food will do. You won't even miss the noodles! Eggplant “Noodles” 2 large eggplants peeled, sliced lengthwise into 1/4 inch noodle-like strips cooking spray (olive oil spray is best) 1 cup flavored breadcrumbs Sauce 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 clove grated garlic 1 red pepper, chopped 1 (8 ounce) package mushrooms, chopped 1 tablespoon italian seasoning (or mix of oregano, basil and thyme) salt and pepper to taste 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional) 1/2 cup red wine 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree 2 cups fresh (or one 15 ounce can) diced tomatoes   Cheese Mixture 2 cups ricotta cheese 2 eggs 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley 2 cups shredded mozzarella 1⁄2 cup grated parmesan Directions Preheat oven...

Today the pickle cucumbers are ready to harvest. Seemed just the right time to repost this gem of a refrigerator dill recipe!  Anyone remember the pickle episode from The Andy Griffith Show?  All Andy and Barney had to do was give Aunt Bee this easy peasy recipe for refrigerator garlic dills and their troubles would have been over! But NOOOO... The resulting hilarity was worth it on the sitcom but at home, I much prefer a big success on days like today, when the cukes are ready to pick from our backyard garden. This one is a winner!  EASY PEASY PICKLES   2 pounds Kirby cucumbers
 1 cup apple cider vinegar
 1 cup water
 1-1/2 tablespoons pickling salt (or Kosher salt) 
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed (2 per jar)
 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper per jar (1/2 teaspoon total)
 1 teaspoon dill seed per jar (2 teaspoons total) 1/8 teaspoon yellow mustard seed per jar (1/4 teaspoons total) Wash, dry and cut cucumber end so they will fit in the jars. ...

Thomas Jefferson collected recipes and left notes on refining the tastes of simple fare like apple dumplings and beef stew for fifty-eight years. The 3rd President of the United States was a foodie who agreed wholeheartedly with Jean Jacques Regis de Cambaceres, an 18th century French politician, that is was mainly through the table that one governs. When given the opportunity to go to France, he struck a deal with a 19 year old slave named James Hemings. Young James was to master the art of French cooking, and help Jefferson introduce Americans to the style of cooking that hundreds of years later made Julia Child a star. In return, James would be granted his freedom.  It's widely reported that it was James Hemings' cuisine that put Alexander Hamilton into a good enough mood to compromise over the location on the U.S. capitol in July of 1790. No doubt that had Jefferson been born in the 20th century, he'd have been an avid food blogger or possibly a cooking channel ...

There's nothing better than red, ripe, just picked strawberries. And turning those juicy, sweet berries into fabulous treats is a long standing tradition in all kinds of kitchens. For three generations, the Russian Imperial kitchens were headed by the great French chef, Pierre Cubat. Assisted by a team of Russian cooks trained in the best culinary schools of France, Chef Cubat created dozens of simple yet elegant dishes. One of Chef Cubat's most celebrated desserts was strawberries Romanov. The yummy combo of macerated berries set on a pillow of whipped cream is uniquely suited to dress up an American classic, strawberry shortcake.  In this gussied up version, the shortcake is kicked up a notch with a biscuit that has a satiny texture. When berry season ends, don't despair: think peaches and cream. SHORTCAKE 2 cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup salted butter, at room temp, cut into cubes 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/2 cup hea...

Go ahead, ask around. I guarantee that someone you love loves chocolate cake.  This little cake packs a chocolate punch that will surely make your beloved swoon. And to make matters even better - it's easy .... a rich, moist chocolate cake that takes only a few minutes to prepare the batter using one bowl. Use dabs of frosting to attach whole raspberries or strawberry halves to the top layer to make your cake the ultimate in sexy desserts. Finally. look for a sparkling rosé with strawberry or raspberry undertones for a delightful wine pairing.   Perfect! Don't let Valentine's Day catch you by surprise this year.  I don't know for sure if chocolate is an aphrodisiac but it's worth a shot. Make a plan to bake a cake, a chocolate cake! TRUE LOVE CHOCOLATE CAKE 1 cup white sugar 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 jumbo egg 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon va...