Ham, Bean & Sauerkraut Soup
It’s hard to beat the rib-stickin’ comfort of a bowl of ham & bean soup. I prefer it brothier than the version I grew up eating, and like many soups, it’s made even better with the tang of sauerkraut.In fact, sauerkraut’s salty acidity elevates many savory dishes, far beyond the typical brats-n-beer pairing (which is,…
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
I’m always trying to find things to douse in Cedar Summit cream, because let’s face it, I’m obsessed with the gloriously grass-fed stuff. Given a giant bag of darling little baby Brussels from the farmers market, and a hankering for my fave cauliflower gratin, I present the easiest, coziest Brussels dish in the world. I…
Coconut Rice Pudding with Apples & Cinnamon
I’ve been having a blast submitting comfort food recipes for Xcel Energy’s #XElab Facebook page. In typical Minnesota fashion, we’ve gone from warm to brrr in the blink of an eye and everyone is heading to the kitchen to make soups, stews, roasts, gratins, and warm desserts. In the spirit of #XElab’s goal to share…
Buckwheat Crepes with Scrambled Eggs & Brie
Gluten-free flours can be a significant pain in the neck to work with, with less than stellar results, which is why I don’t do a lot of gluten-free baking. Crepes, however, are an exception, given they require very little flour. Buckwheat flour crepes are my current favorite, a French classic that provides a hearty blanket…
Twin Cities Chef’s Table: Part I
As I’ve mentioned several times already, I’m writing and photographing a cookbook called Twin Cities Chef’s TableĀ (TCCT), to be published by Globe Pequot in spring 2014. The book will be part of a well-established series of lovely Chef’s Table books, featuring cities and regions from around the country. TCCT will of course include recipes from…
Fall Steak Salad with Sweet Potatoes, Avocado & Maple Vinaigrette
As a kid, I thought salad was the food women ate to punish themselves into dropping a few pounds. I used to eat French fries with a knife and fork to pretend I was eating salad, just to feel like a grown-up. I clearly had a lot to learn, including the fact that a well-made…
Smoky Sausage Soup with Kale and Chickpeas
I realize, typing this, that I’m hitting you with two soup/stew recipes in a row. Oops! Well, ’tis the season, right? The combination of cool nights and piles of gorgeous harvest apparently makes me want to stew everything in sight. (In fact, I sort of do that, in batches as I go, a way of…
Weeknight Chicken & Butternut Squash Stew
And just like that it’s cinnamon season, cool and crispy. Everyone loves fall, but I think Minnesotans love it more, in a nervous sort of way, bookended as it is between months of sweat and shivering. We understand that open windows are a rare and special treat, enjoyed most heartily right now, in late September/early…
Warm Squash Custards with Bourbon & Cream
I tend to make these warm, creamy, pleasantly boozy custards to use up leftover squash but that said…they are SO worthy of custom-roasted squash. In fact, they are worthy of a trip to the store or farmers market to purchase nothing but the ingredients for these custards. When you go, make sure to pick up…
Fried Chicken with Watermelon, Tomato & Corn Salad
I’m writing a cookbook called Twin Cities Chef’s Table, to be published by Globe Pequot in spring 2014. The book is a snapshot of the Twin Cities food scene, incorporating recipes and full-color photographs from chefs, growers, and purveyors. Twin Cities Chef’s Table will be part of a series of beautiful Chef’s Table books that…