https://youtu.be/l23nrIe8DWU Store-bought pita leaves much to be desired. Upon surveying a few friends on the subject of pita, the word that came up repeatedly was "cardboard." This descriptor, I think, is mostly fair. Pita hasn't caught up to naan and tortillas, which even at semi-mass ...
Tzatziki (Greek Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce)
https://youtu.be/sPK1Wrtcp5E Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt- and cucumber-based condiment, typically seasoned with herbs such as mint and dill, garlic, and lemon. I grew up eating it with this chicken souvlaki, but I find it to be a nice match for both meat and vegetarian dishes ...
Schug (Zhug) Sauce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGo_ZI0M9jg Schug (pronounced skoog, sometimes spelled zhug) is a spiced green sauce originating from Yemen but used throughout the Middle East. It's a blend of herbs, chilies, and toasted spices. I first wrote about it several years ago after discovering ...
Falafel Burgers (Vegetarian, Broiled)
If you love falafel but are deterred by the idea of deep-frying at home, these falafel burgers are for you. They're loaded with vegetables, herbs, and spices, making them not only delicious but healthy, too. Serve with pita, quick-pickled onions, schug, tahini or yogurt sauce — the combination is ...
Q&A with Susan Spungen
Friends, most of you likely are familiar with Susan Spungen, but in case you are not, let me briefly sum her up: original Martha Stewart Living editor, New York Times contributor, food stylist of Julie and Julia, It's Complicated, and Eat Pray Love. I knew all of this before I opened Open ...
Blistered Shishito Peppers with Avocado Crema
https://youtu.be/fFgSCIF9C5I Say hello to my new favorite dish: blistered shishitos with avocado crema. This recipe comes from Susan Spungen's new cookbook, Open Kitchen, which I wrote about last month. Just like the previous recipe I shared from the book, "Grilled" Romaine Ceasar Salad, ...
Simple Sourdough Pizza Crust: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here is my guide for making sourdough pizza crust at home. As far as sourdough pizza recipes are concerned, this one is as simple as it gets — it's made with all-purpose flour and there is no autolyse or preferment. Everything gets mixed together at once and you are on your way! Ready? Wake up your ...
Two *New* Peasant Bread Kits with Bowls
Just before Christmas, I added a "peasant bread kit" to the shop. It included nearly all of my favorite bread baking tools: a digital scale, a GIR spatula, and a Dot and Army cloth bowl cover. But it left out maybe my favorite bread baking tool, as far as baking peasant bread is concerned: two ...
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
If your mother is anything like mine, all she'll want on Mother's Day is a card. (Or a phone call!) But alas, here I am sharing some material things that have caught my eye these past few months. And while it's hard to encourage spending for a Hallmark holiday given the state of the world, I ...
Rad Na Thai Noodles
https://youtu.be/Yb6OA4tkEA4 Last weekend, I found myself rummaging through my pantry and came across a stockpile of Asian noodles: dried lo mein, udon, soba, ramen, dangmyeon, and a few packs of wide rice noodles. Upon seeing the wide rice noodle, I immediately found myself dreaming ...
Spatchcocked Roast Chicken with Dates & Artichoke Hearts
https://youtu.be/228onwc0YLA Easter is going to feel different this year. There will be no epic gathering of relatives around a lamb at my aunt and uncle's in Vermont. There will be no intimate reunion of siblings at my parents' house in Connecticut. And alas, there will be no punch. Am I ...
Charred Broccoli Chopped Salad with Spicy Cashew Dressing
https://youtu.be/Gj-clNeMPNg At the end of January, I spotted a dressing recipe in Bon Appetit that intrigued me. It was cashew-based, but unlike many cashew-based dressings, which require soaking raw cashews in water for a couple of hours, this one called for roasted cashews and no ...
Korean Double Hot Tuna with Crostini
One evening last fall, Ben and I had dinner at Momofuku Ssäm Bar. Having read so much about the restaurant over the years, I had a few must-order dishes in mind, namely the fried Brussels sprouts and pork buns. Blinded, perhaps, by my anticipation of these renowned dishes, I glazed straight over ...
15 Favorite Pantry Meals
Pantry cooking is the name of the game right now. With a bag of lentils or beans, a box of pasta, or a package of ramen noodles on hand along with some fresh produce (or not!), a satisfying meal can materialize in no time (or a long time!). Here are 15 of my favorite pantry-ish ready meals. Some ...
Chickpea and Escarole Soup
I left the grocery store yesterday morning with a somewhat renewed sense of optimism: some of the previously empty shelves — flour!! — had been re-stocked, and the general supplies throughout the store looked good: bananas! kale! milk! (Still no toilet paper). But the shopping experience ...
