I call these New Orleans onions because I was inspired by an old Creole recipe for Spanish onions. In that version, the onions are braised in beef stock enhanced by the addition of liquor such as bourbon or port. After the onions are cooked, the cooking juices are reduced and herbs, such as capers or fresh thyme, may be added to the concentrated sauce. In my opinion, this simplified version is every bit as tasty. If your guests like spice, pass hot pepper sauce at the table.
I love the simple, but unusual and effective combination of flavors in this dish, which is inspired by Indian cuisine. It’s my favorite way of cooking small summer beets fresh from the garden because I don’t have to heat up my kitchen with a pot of simmering water on the stove top. If you prefer a spicy dish, add hot pepper sauce, to taste, after the beets have finished cooking.
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, try this. The dates add sumptuous fruity notes that are slightly unexpected when combined with rosemary and a hint of tomato.
Juicy and full of flavor, brisket is tender and delicious and lends itself to a wide variety of sauces and seasonings. This version, which relies on New Mexico chiles for its rich, tangy taste, is mildly piquant.
This is a great dish for entertaining because you can assemble it just before your guests arrive and turn the slow cooker on when they come through the door. By the time everyone is enjoying drinks and nibblies, the conversation is flowing and you’re thinking about moving to the table, the fish will be cooked. Serve with a big platter of sautéed spinach or rapini alongside. Add a good dessert and await the praise.Continue reading
Although this chicken dish is remarkably easy to make, its slightly sweet yet spicy coconut-milk sauce gives it an exotic flavor.
If you are desperately seeking a break from the same old thing, try this take on yassa, a traditional celebratory dish originating in Senegal. It’s very simple — chicken braised in a blanket of onions and seasoned stock — but the results are seductive.
I call this soup “new world” because it’s a variation on the classic French leek and potato soup, using sweet potatoes and peppers, two ingredients that Christopher Columbus introduced to Europe during his explorations of the Americas. Serve small quantities as a prelude to a celebratory meal, or add a tossed green salad for a light supper.
I love to make this delicious dessert in the fall when apples and cranberries are in season. This version is a little tart, which suits my taste, but if you have a sweet tooth, add more sugar to the cranberry mixture.
Although I love salmon cooked almost any way, poaching produces the moistest result. The problem is, successfully poaching a large piece of salmon used to require a fish poacher, a piece of kitchen equipment that was rarely used yet relatively costly and cumbersome to store. A large oval slow cooker is the ideal solution. It produces great results with little fuss.