Curried Red Lentil Soup

Lentils. I’ve never really given them much thought and never even had any in the house, but we had some lentil soup at a local restaurant and James seemed to enjoy it. Although I liked the way it tasted, the brown-mush-look in combination with the dreary Atlanta weather didn’t exactly appeal to me. Regardless, I… Continue reading Curried Red Lentil Soup

Weekday Chili with Black and White Beans

So to celebrate, I made a pot of chili. I have a few versions of this up my sleeve – there’s the kind of chili that takes all day to cook, and there’s fast chili that you can throw together in 15 minutes and have on the table in an hour. This particular recipe is quick and versatile – just right for a weekday meal.

Chicken and Roasted Green Chile Stew

Earlier this year I entered a recipe contest sponsored by Biad Chili Products.  I submitted this recipe from She Cooks He Cleans, which won 5 pounds of roasted Hatch green chiles  and an entry in Biad’s 2nd Annual Tough Book of Green Chile Recipes.  We have really been enjoying the chiles, which arrived frozen in… Continue reading Chicken and Roasted Green Chile Stew

Roasted Cauliflower Soup (gluten-free, dairy-free)

Inspiration: Puree of White Bean Soup from Brasserie le Coze This week I got a blender, a powerful one, something that incredulously was missing from my arsenal of cooking tools.  I could not wait to take it for a spin.  After making a couple of smoothies, I thought I had the hang of it.  Let’s… Continue reading Roasted Cauliflower Soup (gluten-free, dairy-free)

Vietnamese Clay Pot Pork (Thit Kho To)

I fell in love with a Vietnamese restaurant, and with Clay Pot Pork.  Chateau Saigon is a gem of a restaurant in the mecca of multi-ethnic eateries that line Buford Highway.  Restaurants in this area of Atlanta are mostly in shopping centers and strip malls, alongside pawn shops, thrift stores, and car dealerships.  In other… Continue reading Vietnamese Clay Pot Pork (Thit Kho To)

Clams in Wine, Garlic and Herb Broth

Over the last decade (or two), I seem to have developed quite an aversion to crowds of people.  The feeling of being hemmed in, the annoyance of trying to get where I’m going while people stand obliviously in the center of the walkway, frustration with children running over you while their self-adsorbed parents text and… Continue reading Clams in Wine, Garlic and Herb Broth

Beef and Vegetable Soup

It has been cool and a bit blustery in New Mexico this week – and what better to warm up with than a big pot of soup. This soup has an Italian twist to it, so I wanted to add just a bit of pasta.  Here’s my big confession (followed of course by my justification)… Continue reading Beef and Vegetable Soup

Shrimp and Corn Chowder

Modified from Bon Appétit / Epicurious Since our wedding anniversary is also New Year’s Eve, we decided to have a pre-anniversary get together with friends to usher in the New Year a day early.  We snacked from a table of nuts, cheese, and bacon-wrapped stuffed dates to help soak up all the alcohol from the… Continue reading Shrimp and Corn Chowder

Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Soup

This is a nice, simple soup for a cool evening!  This recipe is part of our feature on U.S. Wellness Meats, “Music and Meals to Warm You Up“.  Visit their website for free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, and other great products! Although I haven’t tried it, coconut milk can probably be substituted for the heavy cream… Continue reading Chicken, Leek and Mushroom Soup

Roasted Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This soup is really “Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Cheddar and Jack Cheese”, but that title isn’t very catchy.  Whatever you call it, it is hearty and delicious, and will warm up your belly on a chilly day. There’s no flour thickener in this soup!  Hand-blending the roasted vegetables in the pan thickened the soup,… Continue reading Roasted Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Braised Beef with Harissa and Preserved Lemon

Source:  The Spice House Recipes A few weeks ago we received a 1/8 cattle share of grass-fed beef from Heritage Foods / Hearst Ranch.  In amongst the steaks, roasts, and ground beef were a few pounds of meat labeled “fajita strips”, which provided a challenge for me as to what to do with them.  Typically… Continue reading Braised Beef with Harissa and Preserved Lemon