Banana everything cookies

This is a kitchen sink recipe that uses banana as a binder in lieu of eggs and butter, plus chocolate chips, walnuts, and oats. We tried this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012904-banana-everything-cookies?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share We used 1 large, ripe banana. Instead of spraying the baking sheets with oil, we lined with parchment, which we then sprayed with corn oil. We… Continue reading Banana everything cookies

Stracciatella with spinach

We tried this NYT recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012899-stracciatella-with-spinach?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share We left the spinach leaves whole. Prior to adding the spinach to the simmering broth, we added 1/3 cup tiny star pasta (pastina) and let it simmer for a few mins. Then we added the spinach, followed by the egg-parmesan-semolina mixture. We also added ½ tsp crushed red pepper… Continue reading Stracciatella with spinach

Cast iron skillet cornbread

We tried this recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/cast-iron-skillet-corn-bread-recipe-2012669 For the buttermilk, we combined 1 Tbsp white vinegar and nearly 1 cup (1 cup minus 1 Tbsp) of 1% milk (see Note below). We also used 1 cup blue cornmeal and ¼ cup yellow cornmeal. When coating the hot skillet with 1 Tbsp melted butter, we encountered a lot… Continue reading Cast iron skillet cornbread

Syrian chicken and potato soup with bulgur

We tried this recipe from Mayada Anjari’s Syrian cookbook, The Bread and Salt Between Us: The Bread and Salt Between Us: Recipes and Stories from a Syrian Refugee’s Kitchen, available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1891105639/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bOD8Bb4DRVHEN Here is the original recipe, with notes about our modifications: first, place a 2 lb bone-in, skin on chicken pieces (we used a… Continue reading Syrian chicken and potato soup with bulgur

Beef barley mushroom soup

We followed this recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/rich-beef-barley-soup-recipe-2041687 Our modifications: first, we used 1 lb each oxtail and boneless beef roast. Second, we added 8 oz cremini mushrooms (cut into bite-sized pieces - halved, then each half cut into 3-4 pieces) to the carrot and celery mixture. Following the instructions, we cooked the barley separately, then we drained… Continue reading Beef barley mushroom soup

Greek-style braised cabbage with chickpeas and bulgur

We tried this NYT recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013499-cabbage-with-tomatoes-bulgur-and-chickpeas Our modifications: first, we used about half a medium head of cabbage, julienned into ¼ inch width. Second, we used 2 cups unsalted chicken broth instead of water (see Note below). If you use water or vegetable broth, this is a vegetarian dish. Third, instead of 14.5 oz canned… Continue reading Greek-style braised cabbage with chickpeas and bulgur

Bulgar and chickpea salad with oven-roasted trimmed artichokes

We tried this NYT recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016221-bulgur-and-chickpea-salad-with-roasted-artichokes First, for detailed instructions on trimming and roasting artichokes, see this method post: http://piglettedc.tumblr.com/post/175450614661/oven-roasted-trimmed-artichokes-we-trimmed-large Second, we modified this NYT recipe by reducing the amount of salt to barely ½ tsp total and using no-salt canned chick peas. We also used 1 Tbsp dried chives instead of 2 Tbsp fresh… Continue reading Bulgar and chickpea salad with oven-roasted trimmed artichokes

Polenta with sausage and spiralized butternut squash

Details here: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016103-butternut-squash-polenta-with-sausage-and-onion Our modifications: first, for the polenta, we used 5 oz spiralized butternut. We also added about 1/3 cup water slowly over time while simmering to make sure the polenta mixture wasn’t too viscous. Second, we used a mix of hot and sweet Italian chicken sausage (2 links each). We also sautéed the… Continue reading Polenta with sausage and spiralized butternut squash