My work travel is decidedly less enjoyable these days.  Wearing a mask for hours on end is tiresome and uncomfortable.  (I am aware that health care workers and teachers and everyone else on the front lines of this pandemic must wear masks and protective gear for much longer stretches and I can only say that …

I like pasta in all its many incarnations, but I think spaghetti alla carbonara has to be one of my favorite pasta dishes.  It is not overly complicated, with minimal ingredients and steps to making it.  But the combination of those few quality ingredients makes it taste like you labored for hours (which always makes …

Katya: Last Christmas/Chanukah, which seems a lifetime ago, Noah and I gifted each other a foodie weekend in Chicago.  We planned it for the first week in April and we were each responsible for three meals.  We had so much fun planning it and researching the restaurants that were going to be our surprises to …

Everyone needs a go-to recipe that is deceptively easy and always a crowd pleaser. This is one of mine.  You mix everything together, spread out on a large sheet pan, and you have yourself a winner every time.  Great for brunch or a snack.  And be prepared to give a bunch away too because this …

This is the story of a kitchen fail.  Twice.  I hate admitting that something has me beat, but sesame balls, you win.  I have rarely eaten something that I am unable to recreate at home, but that was before I tried making this treat that is my favorite item on any Chinese food buffet. I …

Back when I lived in Charlotte, one of my favorite places to grab lunch with my mom was Futo Buta, a swanky ramen joint on the hip side of town. And while the ramen was exceptional, I think the real draw for my mom and me was actually an appetizer – Crispy Rice Squares. The …

I like to experiment in the kitchen, but I like to do so within the parameters of a general sense that this has been done before and will taste good and won’t kill you.  I basically riff off of a recipe, adding my own twist or using it as a launching pad for whatever tweaks …

As we say goodbye to warmth and sunshine here in Wisconsin, I think it’s good to break out the summer recipes for one last hurrah. And one great recipe is the fruit crisp or crumble. This recipe works fantastically with many fruits (I usually go with peach), but Leigha and I had a hankering for …

I have said it before and I will say it again… I love rice.  I especially like it when it is a vessel for other yummy ingredients, and it really is the perfect canvas for whatever direction you want to go.  I always have rice on hand so it is also a great go-to if …

I remember when I was pregnant with Noah, someone asked me if I had any pregnancy cravings.  When I replied that I did not, David was incredulous.  What about that time I made him drive to Bethesda (we were living in Silver Spring, Maryland at the time) for Persian rice?  Oh that.  That wasn’t a …