I hesitate to give you this recipe because it is so freaking unbelievably good.  And its really freaking unbelievably easy.  Freak yeah it is. What you need: 1 pound of dried whole pinto beans 4 garlic cloves 12ish peppercorns Salt to taste Here’s how to make it. Soak the beans overnight (best method) or if [...]

Marilyn, aka Jared’s mother and my mother-in-law, is am amazing cook. Some of my favorite of her repertoire include: delectable homemade cinnamon rolls (they put butter on them. On TOP of the frosting. Weird.) Creamy delicious Peas and potatoes, and cheesy goodness cauliflower. YUM. But really, anything she makes is wonderful. So here is a [...]

Kale is a superfood. It is packed with beta-carotene, an important nutrient for good vision.   Kale is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which is good for cold prevention, as well as a reduced risk of colon cancer.   Kale is also rich in minerals, such as iron, manganese, calcium and potassium. It’s a member [...]

Don’t forget the Book Club.  Head over to the forum and introduce yourself.  E-mail me if you need help. Here’s a recipe from Veganomicon my favorite cookbook that happens to be Vegan. 4 large Russet potatoes, scrubbed, baked (poke em repeatedly with a fork, wrap them in foil, bake in a 400 degree oven for [...]

Yes, Brussels Sprouts.   You may have hated them as a child, you probably hated them as an adolescent, but your sophisticated adult pallet is ready to enjoy their yummy goodness now.   Brussels Sprouts might be the cutest vegetable, I challenge you to find a cuter one*.  They contain good amounts of Vitamins A and [...]

The best way to get flavorful poultry, regardless of how it is prepared, is to start with a brine. Brining adds moisture and flavor to poultry and helps to keep it from drying out.  Brining requires planning ahead and a bit of extra work, but it is well worth it. Here’s what you’ll need: A [...]

When Beth and I lived in Lawrence, Ks we used to visit The Merc nearly every day.  It was the best place in town to buy tofu and they had cheap bulk goods, but it was the prepared salads that kept us coming back.  Among those prepared salads was this very salad, Thai Roasted Tofu, [...]

I’ve been tweaking my Enchilada Sauce for years and it still hasn’t turned out the way I want it. I just can’t get the flavor right, too bitter, too sweet, too spicy and it seems lately that It’s getting worse. That is, until last Saturday. Last Saturday I came as close as I ever have [...]

FOR THE PUMPKIN WHOOPIE COOKIES 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon ground cloves 2 cups firmly packed dark-brown sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract [...]

We’re sick, stomach problems, sore throats, sinus headaches, we’re just plain sick (except for Beth, she has somehow avoided it).  So, I was pleased last night when Beth turned Dinner reponsibility over to me.  I wanted chicken noodle soup, without the chicken of course, but we didn’t have any of the canned stuff.  A quick [...]