starch

tummy-warming piles of pasta, risotto, potatoes.

facing my fear of yeast.

04/17/2010 | 7 Comments | Topics: food spotlight, starch

I don’t bake bread. Or pizza dough, or croissants or cinnamon rolls. I don’t DO yeast. Until now. I always stood on the stage of ‘cooking.’ But I knew at some point I would have to tackle my fear/avoidance/aversion to baking-with-yeast. To part the curtains, and brave the unknown. If you are a bread baker, you probably think that is silly. And why not just use a bread machine?… [more]

Mushroom Risotto

02/02/2010 | 17 Comments | Topics: default dinners, entree, Italian food, starch

I feel like I am making up New Year’s resolutions as a I go. I seem to have sidestepped the pressure of December 31. But the things I want to accomplish continue to hit my mental temples and I feel the need to organize. No surprise there. One of the things that keeps showing up in my mind’s eye, is my desire to teach my sons how to cook. And… [more]

how to make focaccia

01/27/2010 | 27 Comments | Topics: Italian food, starch

One of my culinary goals while living in Tuscany is to learn to make great focaccia. I confess, I am more of a ‘cooker’ than a ‘baker’ and yeast doughs and breads are not a consuming part of my repertoire. But that doesn’t mean it is going to stay that way. I mean to learn the yin and yang of yeast in 2010. Even if I have to throw… [more]

how to make polenta

12/28/2009 | 12 Comments | Topics: Italian food, starch

I am so excited! My goal was to learn to make focaccia, pizza dough and pasta dough while living in Italy. I figured I could pick up on the nuances of certain foods simply by having the time to cook, repeat and tweak. For example, how many rounds of focaccia will it take to really ‘know my dough.’ Knowing how to make something, to me, has a lot to… [more]

Potatoes [Pommes] Anna

02/01/2009 | 3 Comments | Topics: culinary school, starch

A little disclaimer, I had written this just after Christmas (when, apparently I was still in the holiday spirit). Then I forgot to post it… but Christmas dizziness aside this is a fun take on potatoes when you are in the mood for something different yet with the same ole ingredients. My kids love these potatoes—all sauteed and crisped—and when cut into wedges they look… almost professional. Without further… [more]

Summer is coming: Gratin Be Gone

04/25/2007 | 5 Comments | Topics: food., starch

Quick: before summer is officially here, make this gratin. You—and I—won’t want these thick, buttery, cheesy carbohydrates mid-summer when we are concerned about our midriffs. But the caveat is: this gratin satiates and fills you with even a small portion (I am all in favor of trimming portion sizes so I can still enjoy favorite dishes!). I make this gratin for big holiday meals, when I am asked to… [more]

Roasted Vegetables: Spicy Sweet Potatoes

01/18/2007 | 9 Comments | Topics: food., starch, vegetables

Foodies have their obsessions: foods they are prisoner to, enchanted with and cannot stray from… though I doubt any of us try. Clotilda from Chocolate & Zucchini loves, well, chocolate and zucchini. Deb over at Smitten Kitchen has a ‘thing’ for artichokes. And if you are thoroughly enthralled with a particular food or food genre: your blog is named for and… [more]

Amazing Macaroni & Cheese

12/07/2006 | 14 Comments | Topics: default dinners, entree, food., freezer, starch

Yes—I too ate the boxed version of macaroni and cheese in college. I would add smokies and/or broccoli to give it a little color and flavor (my other main indulgence was making Big Gulp size lattes on the $30 Krups espresso machine, back in the day we actually thought it was ‘expresso’). For the record, I would read Gourmet and Bon Apetit magazines while eating said boxed macaroni and cheese.… [more]

Thanksgiving Orange Rolls

11/29/2006 | 2 Comments | Topics: food., holidays, starch

Luisa over at The Wednesday Chef inspired me to bring on the orange rolls! She made Wheat and Cornmeal Cheese rolls, another savory sweet, light and airy bread in a roll experience. Hats off to stepping off into the world of novelty bread recipes!