Two Bean Butternut Squash Chili

I’m a sucker for a good chili … spicy, warm, comforting. And for some very strange reason, I never make the same chili twice. I’m always tweaking: always adding a little extra this or subtracting a little of that. Sausage, ground meat, bell peppers, beans; regardless the ingredients, there is always a soul-satisfying, heartwarming bowl of chili to enjoy. This time around, chunks of butternut squash replaced meat and provided for the perfect counterpart to cannelini and black beans. Chipotle chilies added a smoky, spicy dimension of flavor every bowl of

Pumpkin Rizogalo

Pumpkin pie is certainly an important part of an American Thanksgiving … it’s the day’s quintessential dessert and frankly, Thanksgiving just doesn’t feel right without this sweet, spice-laced pie gracing our humble table. But for those that aren’t so enthusiastic about traditional pumpkin pie, there are some great alternatives. Pumpkin and Coconut Milk Panna Cotta anyone? Or how about this Pumpkin Rizogalo (that’s Greek for rice pudding)? For me, rizogalo is one of those food items that brings back a flood of memories and emotions. One

Cranberry Apple Chutney

Thanksgiving is just a week away so I thought I’d share some recipes that will be gracing our table this year. There are, of course, a few dishes that remain virtually unchanged year after year: the turkey is roasted simply with fresh vegetables and herbs; the sweet potatoes are baked with brown sugar and marshmallows; and the rice is made in our family’s traditional way … and there are no ifs, ands or buts about it. But some dishes I like to tweak and experiment with include appetizers, the essential cranberry sauce and all the fall inspired desserts.

Short Rib Terrine

Short ribs are easily my favorite cut of beef. I adore them. They need minimal TLC (barely any hands on cooking, just a bit more time in the oven or on a burner) and yet yield so much flavor — a simple braise with fresh vegetables and herbs is all they need in my book; deglaze the braising liquid with some red wine and you’ve got sheer perfection. To change things up a bit, this past weekend I tried my hand at this Short Rib Terrine and I am pleased to say it’s now one of my favorite tapas and a really great way to use my beloved short ribs. Served with

Roast Chicken, Cranberry and Honey Mustard Pita Sandwich

I love roasting a whole chicken and then using leftovers in a variety of ways. My favorite as of late is this pita sandwich with roast chicken, homemade cranberry sauce, sweet and tangy honey mustard and fresh watercress. It’s a satisfying little sandwich and it’s pretty healthy. I used Greek pita bread that I placed under the broiler for a couple of minutes to get some color but you can obviously use any bread you wish. Layer some roast chicken breast over one half of the pita and top with honey mustard, cranberry sauce and a handful of watercress. Top with

Olive Oil Poached Cod, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Pine Nuts

We eat fish quite a bit: I pan fry whole porgies or cook them in a foil “pouch” with oregano, garlic and olive oil on a weekly basis. But more supple fillets of fish inherently prone to overcooking, usually pose a problem as they demand a bit more attention than I can offer on a weeknight. It was only just recently I figured out a solution to this problem; it was only just recently I figured out that poaching fish in olive oil is an unbelievably forgiving method of cooking delicate fish that yields such amazingly tender, moist results. I cannot sing this