• Sun-Dried Tomato Cornbread
    Baking

    Sun-Dried Tomato and Scallion Cornbread

    When I was young, my father would fill up the kitchen with pots and frying pans as he made batches of a cornmeal recipe he had committed to memory, a fried polenta-like dish known as cornmeal mush. If you’ve been to any of my Food Traditions workshops, you may have heard me reference this as well as the butcher shop foods on my mother’s side. Recipes are lost for many reasons – the passing of a loved one, damage to a handwritten cookbook, or the simple fact of never having been written. I love working with individuals and groups to rediscover and recreate their traditions and encourage you to book…

  • Mexican Street Corn
    Food

    Mexican Street Corn with Chile Butter

    Cultivated and still grown widely in the Americas, corn has its origins in a wild grass of Mexico that encased its kernels in a hard shell. Luckily it is easier to access the kernels of modern corn, which we can bite right off the cob. When it comes to the Mexican street food known as elotes, it might also be messier. Vendors top grilled corn with a creamy sauce, cheese, and chile powder, creating a meal unto itself. This version replaces the traditional mayonnaise with a slather of chile butter. Serve it on the cob (elotes) or off the cob (esquites). Ingredients 4 ears of corn ¼ cup unsalted butter,…

  • Corn chowder in white bowl
    Food

    Vegetarian Corn Chowder

    With many corn chowders relying on bacon or chicken stock for extra flavor, they don’t meet the needs of vegetarians or anyone who is eating mostly plant-based meals. Since I always prioritize flavor, rest assured that this version is just as satisfying. For a decadent finishing touch, I top it with crispy frizzled basil. A quick dip in the frying pan turns basil shatteringly crispy and translucent…not to mention incredibly tasty. Loaded with fresh corn and topped with herbs, this chowder is ideal for those days when you have a counter full of goods from the farmers market. Naturally sweet, local corn is such a treat that I use the…