Recipes

A single mother with a flair for the dramatic, my mom specializes in quick and easy dishes with great presentation. The whole stuffed fish is easy to make and looks great on a platter. You can do it with small fish for individual portions, medium fish for smaller gatherings, or large ones for parties. For the holidays, my mom stuffs a large fish with oyster dressing. It travels well and it wows a crowd. Leftovers are a welcome treat.

Think of this as a romantic dish, because it is. Matelote is made from freshwater fish local to towns in Alsace, France, cooked in wine from the same region. There’s cognac and pancetta and a cornucopia of seafood, all served up in a buttery, boozy broth. Unless you live on a lake or river, however, chances are you’re unlikely to come across much freshwater fish. This recipe adapts matelote to use today’s more commonly available mussels, shrimp, and fish from the sea. Don’t worry about the combination—choose whatever is freshest when you shop, and it’ll turn out delicious. Poaching each fish on its own sidesteps the risk of any overcooking. Most often Riesling is the wine of choice, but sometimes, for a heartier stew, red wine such as Pinot Noir is used in its place. Beurre manié—literally translated as “kneaded butter”—thickens like a roux, but because the flour particles are suspended in the butter, all you need to do is pop it in the stew at the end and stir. Served in a welcoming pot, this is a perfect dish for a winter weekend supper.

This dish, which can be enjoyed as an appetizer with crusty bread or as a main dish with steamed basmati rice—will make you fall in love with Persian saffron. If you are serving it as a main dish for 4 people, I would double the recipe. You can use any herb you like—that's the beauty . Make sure to peel and eat the shrimps with your hands, without cutlery—it's more enjoyable that way!

This recipe is adapted from Melissa Clark recipe that appeared in the New York Times. It is a delicious ice cream, even for non vegans (like me). The cashew milk yields about 2 cups of which you will just use 1 cup for the ice cream. Use the rest for smoothies - it will last for 4 days in the fridge.

Banana and coconut lend there sweetness to these hearty, nutty wheat muffins.

These are incredibly easy and tasty egg puffs made healthier and crispier in air fryer and oven. This versatile snack makes a perfect treat for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a busy weekday evening.

French fries is a favourite snack or side, right? I guess most of you would say yes to that. Loaded fries in air fryer are even more sinful and perfect for an indulgence. My teen loves it.

This is a play on a classic: peas, prosciutto, cream and pasta. I make a pasta with jalapenos, cream and prosciutto, and so I built this sauce the same way but used peas instead of jalapenos. Fresh mint added at the end, along with the peas, gives the dish a light, springy flavor that pairs well with the cream, prosciutto and cheese. - lechef —lechef

If you have a colander, a spoon, and an hour, you can make spätzle -- these are the easiest homemade dumplings on the face of the earth.

I grew up going to my Italian grandmother's every Sunday for dinner. I have fond memories of handmade pasta drying on a rack, big pots of sauce simmering away on the stove and stinky hard Italian cheeses that I loved to snack on, even as a child. But my most favorite Sundays at Grandma's were the Sundays when she made her gnocchi.