Whenever we leave the city, one of us will inevitably say in the car on the way home “Can you believe we haven’t left the city since [some time we left the city]?” and the other of us will agree and then five minutes later one of us will remember some more recent time we left the city. But even if we get out more often than we think, it’s still probably only five or six times a year tops, and that includes trips to the suburbs to buy bulk diapers. So when we do manage to get out, we want everything to be perfect, and perfection is what we got this weekend when we went strawberry picking at Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction, NY. (If Fishkill seems like a weird name, it’s just Middle Dutch for Fish River.) [Read more…]
johnny jump-up jam
Things have been a bit quieter here than I’d like, but to make up for it, I made you some jam. And not just any jam, flower jam. Fragrant, light, and somehow exactly what you might imagine it was like to eat flowers.
But first, a note on the quiet. [Read more…]
preserved meyer lemons
You may not be ready to think about this yet, but things can get a little gloomy after the holidays. After the celebrating is done, the tree is gone, and the new year welcomed, we’re faced with the chilly, gray reality of January. And February. Which is why this is a perfect time to have preserved lemons on hands. From winter braises and stews, to everyday pasta, hummus, dip, or even ice cream, they brighten things up and add a surprising kick of distinctive flavor.
This year, I made a mess of preserves to give out as holiday gifts. Not just delicious, I feel like the small jars are a little pocket of brightness and warmth to help us all make it through the winter months to come. [Read more…]
Crushed Canned Tomatoes
A recipe for simple canned crushed tomatoes.