“Is making homemade pasta easy?” my friend Ian asked during a rare midday phone call. “Sure it is,” I replied, “what are you making?” “I want to make ravioli for our Valentine’s dinner,” he said, meaning his and his wife, Kristin’s, dinner. We discussed his options; won ton wrappers (“won’t that be gross?”), purchasing pasta… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Cooking on a Budget
Cinnamon Bird(s)
Cinnamon has been an important spice since antiquity. Its origins were kept secret from Europeans by the Arab traders from whom they purchased this useful and expensive spice. Cinnamon was thought to have curative powers, was commonly given as gifts to royalty, and was burned in Roman funeral pyres. To these Europeans, it made sense… Continue Reading
For Sandwiches or Breakfast in Bed
It may seem to you that I’ve been remiss in my bread-baking responsibilities these last few weeks. I’ve noticed that I haven’t posted about bread since the Panettone post in December, but I can assure you, I have been baking bread. And baking, and baking. Each week, I make at least one loaf, and since… Continue Reading
Ribollita: Zuppa di Cucina Povera
If you’ve read any of the previous posts in which I’ve described having Ribollita for dinner, you are already aware that it comes from the tradition of cucina povera, or the poor kitchen – also known as peasant cooking – which was the necessary means of cooking throughout Italy for generations. Many of the dishes… Continue Reading
A Highly Regarded Beef Stew
When I first lived alone – by which I mean the very first apartment I had with no roommates, which was also my only experience living alone – I began cooking in earnest. I had started making up dishes years earlier, but, not insignificantly, the fact that I could afford an apartment on my own… Continue Reading