Pink of Perfection

When last we spoke I was waxing poetic on the beauties of spring. But you know what? Since then it’s been rainy and cold, and I have twice caught sight of flurries. Because of the unseasonable precipitation and a schedule that has included more running around than I would like, I haven’t bought much in the way of fresh ingredients lately. I just can’t get it together.

But that doesn’t mean I’ve been speed-dialing Joy Kitchen every night. In a perfect world I would have an entire roster of delicious meals that could be made from nothing but the contents of a well-stocked pantry. In reality I have a mere sense of what can be made with cans of this and boxes of that. With a little creativity and hard thinking, my handful may one day become a roster after all.

This quick dish would be great with other dried fruits, like apricots and plums. Is it cheating if the pine nuts come in the box? Who cares. You are hungry, this stuff is delicious, and America’s Next Top Model comes on in 15 minutes.

Continue reading “Pantry Supper: Moroccan Stewed Tomatoes, Chickpeas, Raisins, and Pine Nut Couscous” »

When the weather turns rainy and cold, I want to be snug as a bug in my apartment slurping down something spicy, even if I have been eating a hell of a lot of soup lately. With its rounded saltiness from the fish sauce, a fresh zing from cilantro and lime, and jalapeno to clear your nasal passages, this soup stands in nicely for the neighborhood Thai place when you can’t bear to brave the elements. Shallots would have been nice in place of the red onion here, and leftover roast chicken can stand in place of the poached chicken breast. Feel free to work with whatever you have on hand. When the cats and dogs are coming down, you can hardly be expected to do anything else.

Continue reading “Asian-ish Chicken Noodle Soup” »