It is a good idea to keep some cornmeal, canned tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese on hand so you can put this polenta together on a moments notice. Puttanesca sauce is a robust, brazen tomato sauce (puttana means whore) and it balances the subtle flavor of the polenta...
It's amusing to contemplate how much taste is inextricably linked to texture, and the best illustration of this is pasta. Although most pastas are made from the same ingredients, their various shapes will determine the character of the dish they're in. The ingredients...
This quick summer dish is best prepared at the height of the season, when tomatoes are irresistibly plump and red and fresh basil is available in abundance. This is, to me, one of the best pasta dishes, potent yet simple. SERVES 4 6 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 pound)...
Swiss chard is a delicious member of the beet family. It has a mild beet flavor and is an excellent source of vitamin A. Both the leaves and the ribs are used in this recipe, and if you are a gardener, you'll find that it is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. You...
Kasha (buckwheat groats) is a delicious grain to become acquainted with. It is very quick to prepare, has a tender, fluffy texture, and is high in protein and iron. The mushrooms in this lightly spiced sauce complement the nutty, roasted flavor of the kasha superbly....
Greens cooked with hot peppers and garlic are a staple in my house, and here they combine with an ideal companion a creamy polenta laced with tangy goat cheese. Because polenta is best served as soon as it is cooked, I like to have the greens completely cooked and...
Broccoli rabe, also called rapini, is a leafy vegetable with small flower clusters resembling broccoli florets. I like to cook it with onions because their natural sweetness balances its slight bitterness. The bow-shaped pasta is worth going out of your way to get; it...
The Cubans, along with many other nationalities, made a significant contribution to the culinary world by combining two nutritionally complementary foods beans and rice. I enjoy all the different variations: Louisiana red beans and rice, Indian dal on rice, Mideast...
Moroccan food is little known in this country, and it's interesting to become acquainted with this cuisines use of spices such as cinnamon and ground ginger in main-course dishes. B'stilla is a classic dish that combines sweet and salty flavors. This vegetarian...
There's something heartwarming about serving a pie for dinner. Tamale Pie is a delicious low-fat, high-protein pie that is made with a cornmeal crust. It is especially quick to make if you use canned beans. SERVES 4 TO 6 3 tablespoons oil 2 medium onions, diced 1...
This is one classic dish that cannot be improved upon. The spinach, feta, and dill filling enclosed in crisp, buttery filo is a superb marriage of flavor and texture. It is not as difficult to prepare as it seems just follow these directions and you can't go wrong. If...
I make a pizza from scratch and everyone responds with great enthusiasm for this special treat. It's not only the fact that people appreciate the time and effort involved (although it really isn't that time-consuming), but there is a fresh flavor in homemade pizza...