Reviving Traditional Foods
Onion bisque, a decidedly humble food, bridges the seasons of winter and spring in a beautiful marriage of overwintered onions and shallots with the new leeks of early spring. While many traditional bisques rely on thickening from cream or a floury roux, this simple onion bisque relies instead on a smooth body of pureed leeks [...]
Roast lamb is, without a doubt, one of our very favorite dishes. In the spring we serve it with young vegetables: carrots, English peas, parsnips and fennel, but we’ve recently started serving it with Greek-inspired ingredients: olives, lemon, garlic and oregano. And it is heavenly. There is nothing quite light the vibrant perfume and flavor [...]
Allioli. Allioli. Allioli. I love how the vowels and lulling Ls roll off the tongue – softly and whimsically – almost like a child’s nonsense word. all-ee-oh-lee. It’s a melodic sound. Allioli is a Catalan version of classic aioli, and it differs fundamentally from Provençal aiolis in that it is made without egg yolk – offering just a combination of good quality olive oil, fragrant garlic and unrefined sea salt.
It’s 20 below and the only thing that seems to sustain me through these long, dark, frigid days of winter is a warm, nourishing soup. While broths and thin soups serve a purpose – as an appetizer or beginning to a meal – nothing truly satisfies like a dense, full-bodied soup overflowing with flavorful ingredients: [...]
Money woes are everywhere. Healthcare costs are rising. Food costs are increasing. Electricity is higher now than it used to be. Between lost jobs, shortened working hours, missed bonuses and the ever-increasing costs of living, it seems everyone is looking for ways cut back. Of course, we’re no exception. Money’s [...]
Anchovy toasts make a simple appetizer or lunch that’s rich in flavor. Anchovies are small, oily fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and minerals like selenium – a mineral that is remarkably good for hair, skin and nails. Sadly, anchovies are little-loved. To make enough anchovy toasts for 6 servings, [...]
This dish is a staple at our table regardless of season since quality greens are often available year-round. The dish is inexpensive, yet it can be made even less expensive by using the greens attached to the root vegetables you pick up at the market: the beet greens, the turnip greens etc. Greens [...]
Though far from local at least where I live clams have been a welcome treat at our dinner table. They’re rich in vitamin B12 and iron and they taste delicious. I’m accustomed to eating clams with lemon, parsley and butter but this Asian-inspired dish is a nice, luxuriously flavorful alternative. I serve these with [...]
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Jenny McGruther is a wife, mother and cooking instructor specializing in real and traditional foods. Her work has been featured on CNN, the Globe & Mail, the Atlantic, the Christian Science Monitor, Denver Post and WebMD. Click here to learn more.
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