I’ll never forget my first experience with grits. I suspect Southerners taste grits right around their first birthday, but I was a full-fledged adult, enjoying brunch with friends in New York City, when the urge struck. Never one to enjoy true breakfast food after about 8 a.m., I opted for the shrimp and grits, the most savory sounding dish on the menu. The first bite was a revelation: creamy yet textured grits, rich from copious amounts of butter and cheese, punctuated with bits of chopped garlicky shrimp. But it was the poached egg with its […]
Shrimp Sauté with Thyme Grits
Makes : 4 servings | Breakfast/Brunch , Main Dishes Dairy FreeBraised Chicken with Buttery Leeks
Makes : 4 servings | Featured Recipe , Main DishesAfter a long winter of feasting on rutabagas and storage apples, I know I’m not alone in welcoming asparagus, snap peas, and all the tender greens of spring to the table. But for me, the main object of my anticipation is the oft-neglected leek. Leeks are part of the allium family of vegetables, which also includes chives, onions, garlic, scallions, and shallots. You’ll likely see most of these used as aromatic enhancement, adding flavor to a dish without being the main focus. Since leeks taste fantastic on their own, though, I like to treat them […]
Soba Noodles with Asparagus and Salsa Verde
Makes : 2 main dish or 4 side dish servings | Main Dishes , Salads/Sides Dairy FreeI have to admit, buckwheat soba was rarely a go-to ingredient for me before I started eating gluten free, but I’ve since changed my tune. Soba’s toothsome bite and bold flavor may be a tad overwhelming for some, but it’s exactly those traits that lured me to the buckwheat camp. Made from buckwheat flour (a gluten-free food, despite the “wheat” in its name), the brown noodles have a hearty chew and a hint of nuttiness. Soba tastes great hot, room temperature, or chilled, but because the noodles have a distinctive flavor, I either keep the […]