• Cantaloupe gazpacho in bowl
    Food

    Cantaloupe Gazpacho

    This cold summer soup balances savory and sweet with ripe, juicy cantaloupe and tomatoes as the base.  Although gazpacho is a traditional Spanish soup, here the addition of cantaloupe and a garnish of prosciutto or jamón serrano makes it more broadly Mediterranean and, for me, taste like Italy.  A staple appetizer on the Italian side of my family was prosciutto-wrapped melon.  As a child, I would wrap the juicy slices and marvel at how my mother invented such a delicious pairing.  I thought she had invented so many of the classics in the way we naturally ascribe inventor status to those we love. Topping the cantaloupe gazpacho with a bit…

  • Triple berry crisp
    Baking

    Triple Berry Crisp

    “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit…” – Henry  David Thoreau The berries have been just so good this year.  After plucking some from the refrigerator, I realized it was time for their brightness  to be matched with a buttery crumb.  On went the oven.  Even as the months get warmer, I don’t hesitate to bake up a fruit-based dessert such as this triple berry crisp. In this recipe, I combine strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries because they’re delicious alone but even more so when combined.   As they bubble and thicken in the oven, the berries mingle, some burst, but quite…

  • Roasted carrots with green garlic dip
    Food

    Roasted Carrots with Green Garlic Dip

    Even if you haven’t cooked with green garlic, chances are you have seen it at the market and maybe even mistaken it for a scallion.  Harvested during spring, the young allium is fresher, lighter, and slightly milder than mature garlic with a flavor that tends toward onion.   Look for the beginnings of a bulb and flat green leaves (or reach out to me with a snapshot!) to make sure you have the right ingredient for this healthy dip.  Serve it with small rainbow carrots for a vegetable and dip pairing that’s fit for the season. As a universal spring dip, this recipe also works well with other raw and…

  • Strawberry sorbet in yellow bowl
    Food

    Strawberry Sorbet

    Ripe, sweet strawberries become even more lush when transformed into sorbet.  And when it comes to this transformation, the process requires no special equipment – just a blender.  If you read about my nectarine sorbet or Mexican ice cream, you know that I favor no-churn desserts.  A simple process creates decadent flavor, and as the weather gets warmer I seem to crave both. Made from just a few ingredients, this dairy-free alternative to ice cream and frozen custard can also be layered with them parfait-style.  Let it settle between rich vanilla scoops or use it to top a cocktail (or mocktail), and it will impart strong berry flavor as it…

  • Vegetable tart on white plate with red gingham napkin
    Baking,  Food

    Caramelized Red Onion Tart with Seasonal Vegetables

    Tarts are some of my favorite things to bake…and eat. With the perfect balance of crust and filling, this red onion version makes use of a variety of vegetables and cheeses already on hand – a handful of green beans, a few cherry tomatoes just about to become too ripe. They combine beautifully to top a caramelized onion layer. Tucked beneath the vegetables are goat cheese and feta as well as Parmesan, which lends a nutty quality. I love dishes such as this one that change throughout the seasons.  Certainly the assorted leftover vegetables in my kitchen could make a salad, but here the beautiful slices are celebrated even more…