At Leslie Taft’s shiitake farm in Housatonic before she moved to Maine These nostalgic treats make a stress free Thanksgiving side, because they can assembled ahead, refrigerated, then cooked while the turkey is waiting to be carved. Local dried mushrooms, shallots and cheese abound. (Hawthorne Valley Farm makes what they call an Alpine Cheese with […]
Last night I made a warming, not-too-rich risotto with fall crops, butternut squash and leeks. Season with a choice of either light Asian flavors, with a gentle touch of fire to spar with sweet squash, or with cheese and aromatic sage or green peppercorns. I liked it both ways and so did my guests. 1-1/4 […]
Now that you’re starting to think about shopping for bird-day, what are you gonna buy? This passage from my last book, The Locavore Way, might clarify. Try a real turkey this holiday, or anytime at all. Farm fresh turkeys are a different bird entirely from the standard factory farmed frozen turkeys, which are raised as […]
Even my husband, a cauliflower hater, loved this recipe — Cauliflower cut into steak-like slabs, roasted until slightly browned to bring out its nutty flavor, then topped spiced bread crumbs. Dense heads of the freshest local cauliflower are plentiful now at farmers markets, farm stands, co-ops, CSAs and even some supermarkets (ask). The recipe can […]
Try adding cubes of colorful sweet butternut. I love developing core recipes that serve as a foil for local foods, which end up being the star performers. In this flexible dish, beans and local booty can easily be made into a soup, stew or rolled into a tortilla. And the smoky smell of the beans, […]
What’s- Left-Of-My-Market-Shop-Kuchen I used apples, peaches and a few cherry tomatoes tossed in sugar. Little input, great results. This quick ‘n easy crowd pleaser is ideal for those who hate to bake or are pressed for time. Serve it to holiday guests or at pot luck meals. I especially like it for brunch. Better yet, […]
Last of the local potatoes anyone? This is a lazy person’s pizza, made with store-bought dough, last of the local potatoes and coarse cornmeal from a regional CSA. It’s a starch lover’s dream come true; potatoes and bread, seasoned with dried Italian herbs from the garden and a touch of local cheese. (I like Alpine […]
A bowl of Phở. Breathe in before you begin.. (Thursday nights in the winter at The Meat Market. Call first to confirm!) When I was young and living near Manhattan’s Chinatown, I fell in love with cheap Asian food, devouring pork buns on my way uptown to cook elegant lunches as an executive dining room […]
In this issue A recipe for Maine Shrimp Seviche What are community supported fisheries? Berkshire fish — a buying club Maine Shrimp Seviche If you live in the northeast, celebrate the winter with Maine shrimp, which are small and sweet with the taste of a cool ocean breeze. They’re in season right now when they […]
Everything I love and hate about the local food movement is rolled into this Saturday market here in San Miguel, Mexico. Joy — an organic market! When I first came to this town, 30 years ago, most of the food vendors where not producers, but middlemen, just as they used to be back home. So […]
USDA approved school-tested local food recipes and a supplement for educators.
