Today, my favorite three-year-old cook’s helper, Ethan, and I made chicken and vegetable soup in my Instant Pot. The Instant Pot is my go-to appliance for soup because pressure cooking melds the flavors beautifully in an exceptionally short time. My little helper and I cut up all the vegetables—he has his own kid’s knife that…
Tag: recipes
Vanilla Chai Cupcakes
For anyone who loves the flavor of chai, you might be interested in the delicious chai cupcake recipe below. It is VERY good. I substituted agave syrup for sugar since we don’t eat refined sugar. Vanilla Chai Cupcakes Recipe(Adapted from The Novice Chef Blog) Cupcake Ingredients:o 1/2 cup (1 stick) buttero 1 cup sugar (I…
Post-Delivery Homemade Lasagna Request
Daughter Rachael has requested that I make a couple of make-ahead dishes that she can freeze for after baby Milo is born. His due date is March 15, so I need to get cracking on this just in case the little guy (who is now weighing in at 6 lbs, 14 oz.) makes an early…
Mayonnaise in the Cake? Trust Me.
The chocolate cake pictured contains a “secret ingredient” and is one I’ve returned to again and again, always producing a rich, moist cake. If you find yourself longing to bake but short on eggs and butter, here’s a surprisingly reliable alternative. That ingredient is 3/4 cup of mayonnaise, and its use in cake baking has…
A Perfect Soup for Winter or for Lent, If You’re So Inclined
This lentil soup with spinach is a perfect soup for winter and, if you happen to observe Lent, also just perfect for a Lenten meal. This comes from The Foods of the Greek Islands: Cooking and Culture at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean by Aglaia Kremezi. This particular cookbook is ranked #2 in a list…
A New Version of My Already Excellent Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
As a non-beef eater, I am happy to report that I learned a while back that I can produce a decent meatloaf made with ground turkey instead of beef. It’s been a staple since then and is excellent with mashed potatoes and green beans, or with a green salad. Perfect comfort food. But recently, I…
A Gift from the Past: Patricia’s Buttermilk Pie
Over twenty-five years ago, my old friend, Patricia Butler—God rest her soul—hand-wrote some of her favorite recipes for Ray and me before she died. She had been a production baker at the Old Pecan Street Cafe, one of Austin’s favorite breakfast-and-brunch spots in the 1980s and ’90s, and she was among the bakers who produced…
Agave-Sweentened Banana Pudding w/ Italian Meringue
Since Ray and I don’t eat refined sugar, I am often modifying refined sugar recipes to accommodate honey, maple syrup or agave syrup alternatives. A tried-and-true recipe that I have perfected over the years is my honey or agave-sweetened banana cream pie, which is a family favorite. However, when Ray recently bought a honey-sweetened lemon…
“Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake Recipe w/ Butter Cream Frosting
If you want a foolproof cake for the holidays with a frosting that’ll knock your socks off, then just follow the recipes below. We substitute honey for ours, but I have kept the original white sugar measurements if you would prefer to go that route. The first recipe comes from the back of the Hershey’s…
Perfect for a Vegetarian Main Dish: Pumpkin Lasagna w/ Ricotta and Swiss Chard
This is a favorite dish of our daughter Rachael. It’s a perfect addition for the vegetarians coming for Thanksgiving this year. This super-creamy lasagna is unusual because it’s made without tomato sauce. I highly recommend it for a holiday treat! Pumpkin Lasagna with Ricotta and Swiss Chard ACTIVE: 45 MINTOTAL TIME: 1 HR 45 MINSERVINGS:…
20 Minutes a Day 