We had a craving for minestrone soup. We are still new to Instant Pot, so we decided to try this recipe. The soup turned out well overall. Our modifications: first, we used lacinato kale, stems removed and hand-torn. Second, we found the soup too chunky (esp. with the 3/4 cup ditalini pasta) and added an…… Continue reading Instant Pot minestrone soup
Maangchi’s updated Korean steamed egg in an earthenware pot (ddeukbaegi gyeran jjim)
We tried Maangchi’s simpler recipe today: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/ttukbaegi-gyeranjjim Our modifications: we used 4 large eggs and added 1 tsp fish sauce to 1 cup chicken broth. This was a more straightforward dish than her original 2011 recipe, and more broth got absorbed into the egg mixture. (Apr. 2025)
Japanese curry with chicken meatballs, sweet potato, and Swiss chard
We had an extra bunch of Swiss chard, and we decided to try this recipe for the leaves (no stems): https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026680-japanese-curry-with-chicken-meatballs?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share This was a delicious dish, with an unexpected combination of sweet potatoes and greens that worked well. Our modifications: first, for the meatball mixture, we followed reader suggestions to increase the panko from 1/2…… Continue reading Japanese curry with chicken meatballs, sweet potato, and Swiss chard
Maangchi’s kimchi fried rice
We threw this dish together based on our pantry: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/kimchi-bokkeumbap We generally followed this recipe, except we added about 2 tsp sugar to balance out the sour kimchi we had on hand. We separately panfried 1/4″ slices of Spam until browned and crisp, and we drizzled 2 tsp drippings from that pan into the fried…… Continue reading Maangchi’s kimchi fried rice
Ottolenghi’s spiced pea stew
We love peas, and we are fans of Ottolenghi. We tried his Persian-inspired recipe using frozen peas: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026665-spiced-pea-stew-with-yogurt?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-shareo Our modifications: first, we found that the stew consistency at the end of cooking was less viscous than expected (more like a thin soup than a stew). In the future, we may reduce broth by 1/2 cup…… Continue reading Ottolenghi’s spiced pea stew
Black-eyed peas and rice (Hoppin’ John)
I was searching for a bean and rice recipe for work lunches, and we tried this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022837-hoppin-john?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Per the instructions, we soaked 1 lb dried black-eyed peas overnight, then rinsed and drained. Our modifications: first, we added 2 large stalks celery (diced) along with the diced onion. And then we added the minced garlic…… Continue reading Black-eyed peas and rice (Hoppin’ John)
Chicken broccoli rice casserole
Craving homestyle comfort food, we tried this recipe: https://www.recipetineats.com/one-pot-chicken-broccoli-rice-casserole/ We found this recipe especially appealing because it calls for a roux with flour and milk, rather than canned soup. Our modifications: first, because my husband prefers white meat, we used 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast (2 pieces) instead of thigh, and we diced it…… Continue reading Chicken broccoli rice casserole
Lebanese bulgur pilaf with tomato and chick peas
We tried this recipe: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/bulgur-pilaf/. We found the ratio of 3 cups broth to 1.5 cups bulgur too wet; the next time we may factor in the liquid emitted from the fresh tomato and 1/4 bell pepper. At the end of cooking, we squeezed juice from 1/3 of a lemon into the pilaf. We also…… Continue reading Lebanese bulgur pilaf with tomato and chick peas
Baked penne in marinara sauce with mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella, and ricotta
We have been exploring weekend casseroles to make for weekday lunches. We tried this recipe: https://www.feastingathome.com/no-boil-mushroom-baked-ziti/ Our modifications: first, for the mushrooms, we followed a 2:1 ratio of cremini to oyster. Second, for Italian herbs, we used crushed red pepper and dried Greek oregano. Third, to reduce sodium in the sauce, we used only 16…… Continue reading Baked penne in marinara sauce with mushrooms, spinach, mozzarella, and ricotta
Indian-style butternut squash
We made this recipe for sweet and spicy butternut squash from Shubra Ramineni’s cookbook, Healthy Indian Vegetarian Cooking. Recipe to come (Feb. 2025)