The United Nations has proclaimed 2016 as International Year of the Pulses. While I’m not one to jump on trends or embrace what’s ‘trendy’, this is something I can easily get behind. First things first, what is a pulse? Pulses are part of the legume family; the term “pulse” refers to the dried seed. Pulses … Continue Reading
Did all you East Coasters finally finish shoveling out from last weekend’s blizzard? Hope you stayed put and warm and had a couple of lazy and relaxing days, preferably with a big pot of soup/stew simmering away to keep you warm. That’s how I enjoyed a blustery cold weekend here in Brooklyn, NY, watching one … Continue Reading
I love a warming pot of beans or lentils on a cold winter’s night. On their own, beans/lentils are more or less a blank slate, not a whole lot of flavor going on. That’s where spices come into play. I make sure to keep plenty of spices on hand. By the way, it’s best … Continue Reading
Happy 2016! Thought I’d start out the new year with something really simple — hummus. Who doesn’t like hummus? As is the case with most mass-produced food products, there’s a whole lot of hummus out there, but I think the best hummus is the one you make yourself. And, hummus is really easy to make. … Continue Reading
Can’t believe it’s the eve before the eve of Christmas. Although I’m not Italian, not evenly remotely so, I’ve always wanted to do a Feast of the Seven Fishes — an Italian Christmas Eve celebration. For my hypothetical seafood feast, I would start with some oysters, brandade, or smoked fish pâté, followed by octopus (of course), … Continue Reading
