Spiced Tofu with Fava Purée and Cracked Freekeh Pilaf

Arranged here are crisp pieces of tofu on a velvety hummus made of dried fava beans, not chickpeas. It is served alongside cracked freekeh, a nutty, roasted green wheat. Spiced Tofu with Fava Purée ½ cup olive oil 5 garlic cloves, smashed 1 ½ tablespoons coriander seeds 1 tablespoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon grated lemon… Read More

Rustic Fall Polenta with Fontina and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

The beauty of polenta is the ease with which a home cook can take it from everyday to special in an instant.  –- Maria Speck This beautifully colored side dish brings just enough opulence to a fall dinner. The sun-dried tomatoes help the polenta take on a lovely auburn or light orange hue. As these… Read More

The Vegetable Feast

Although turkey is usually the undisputed star of the Thanksgiving table I believe vegetables deserve a moment in the spotlight too. As a vegetarian, this Thanksgiving I aspired to find ways to let vegetables—especially the rich colored ones that flourish late in the season and carry us through the cold winter months—take center stage. And,… Read More

Za’atar and Pomegranate Roasted Tofu

While browsing the web to find an interesting recipe for fresh pomegranates, I came across an inspiration for this sweet, sour and tangy dish. Since I had recently written about za’atar, my favorite Middle Eastern spice, I thought this recipe would be a great follow-up as it includes another traditional Middle Eastern ingredient, pomegranate molasses. Both… Read More

What’s a Kohlrabi?

At a recent trip to my local farmers market, I came across kohlrabi. To be honest, I had no idea what it was nor did I have the slightest idea of what to do with it. This sputnik-shaped vegetable intrigued me. I asked the farmers for advice and immediately bought a few to begin experimenting at… Read More

Tomato, Zucchini and Leek Galette

Over the weekend, I made this gorgeous and simple dish. Layered on a bed of soft cheese, summer produce—ripe tomatoes, zucchini and leeks are seasoned with salt and pepper and deliver a taste like summer. As fall does not officially begin until September 22nd, I thought I’d share this dish which lets the true mettle… Read More