Table of Contents

This Table of Contents, slowly and lovingly constructed, will give you direct access to every recipe in the blog simply by clicking on it below. If you want to find the recipes by ingredients or ethnic cuisines or whatever, you'll need to go to the Labels at the right. Of course you can still casually scroll through the blog, clicking on Older Posts when you reach the bottom of a section.  

You wonder about the chicken? I have a "thing" about chickens. I'm afraid that I will never have any of my own. But my younger son, Ben, has recently acquired four of them. And to my great joy, I was allowed to hold one and talk to her.

Welcome
Table of Contents

Creating the Kitchen You Want 
Five Kitchen Improvements

Nine Kitchen Renovation Suggestions

Your Basic Pantry

Essential Cookware
I Love/I Hate My Cuisinart  
My Favorite Kitchen Tools

I Love to Cook

Chapter 1 Appetizers  and the Story of How I Started to Cook
   Apricot Thrones
   Carrot Purée with Caraway and Feta 
   Curried Carrot Dip 
   Cauliflower, Caper and Pumpkin Seed Spread 
   Foster's Pimiento Cheese Spread and How to roast peppers
   Dates Stuffed with Almonds    
   North African Hummus with Za'tar Spiced Pita
   Mushroom Paté  
   Fig and Black Olive Tapenade
   Green Olive Tapenade 
   Red Pepper, Walnut, and Pomegranate Dip      

Chapter 2 Soups and a Story about Sitting Comfortably
   Chilled Almond Gazpacho with Grapes  
   Jane's Bacon and Lentil Soup and How to peel and seed tomatoes
   Thai Chicken Coconut Soup 
   Red Pepper Soup with Olives, Lemon Zest and Yogurt
   Curried Butternut Squash Soup 
   Warm Cream of Tomato Soup
   1991: A Cold Moroccan Tomato Soup 
   A Cold Yogurt and Cucumber Soup and How to peel and seed a cucumber                  

Chapter 3 Chicken and a Story about Traveling, Cooking, and Eating 
   Barbeque Pulled Chicken
   Lemon Chicken
   Chicken Marbella
   Moroccan Chicken
   Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce
   John's Roasted Chicken with Herbs and Lemon
   Chicken in Saffron-Almond Sauce       

Chapter 4 Beef and Pork and a Story of Two Birthday Dinners  
   Braised Short Ribs
   Bistro-Style Steak with Sauce Marchand
   Bobotie from South Africa
   The Best Chili
   Persian Meatloaf
   Picadillo
   Pork Piccata
   Pueblo Green Chile Stew
   Bacon-Tomato-Corn Ragout with Creamy Polenta
   Polenta, Sausage and Tomato Layers
   Italian Sausages with Lentils
   Italian Sausages with Red Grapes

Chapter 5 Dal and a Story about Indian Food  
   Chickpeas with Mango Powder 
   Dal with Coconut Milk
   Red and Yellow Lentils                               

Chapter 6 Pasta Dishes and a Story about Eating in Rome 
   Linguine with Lemon Sauce
   Pesto with Pasta
   Puttanesca Sauce
   Penne with a Slow-Cooked Sausage Sauce  
   A Creamy, Calming Pasta Dish with Sausage
   Spicy Soba with Tofu         

Chapter 7 Seafood and a Story about Menu Planning
   Fresh Marinated Cracked Crab
   Fish with Teriyaki Sauce  
   Catfish with Cherry Tomatoes and Lemon Sauce 
   Salmon with Swiss Chard 
   Tuna Steaks with Onion Marmalade
   Spicy Shrimp with Garlic and Oil
   Shrimp with Romesco Sauce         

Chapter 8 Eggs and Cheese and a Story about Chickens and Eggs  
   Spinach Quiche 
   Tomato Cheese Tart and How to shred basil
   Papaya Quesadillas with Spicy Tomato Relish 
   Grilled Sharp Cheddar Cheese Sandwiches with Cranberry-Walnut Relish 
   Chilaquiles and Andouille Sausage Scramble with Salsa Verde
   Classic Cheddar Cheese Soufflé                        

Chapter 9 Dinner Salads and a Story about Being Seduced by Organic Produce 
   Chicken Salad with Walnuts and Grapes

   Sesame Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Salad and How to poach chicken breasts
   New Wave Salad with Red Wine Basil Vinaigrette
   Grilled Pancetta-Wrapped Figs and Arugula
       with Mustard Lavender Vinaigrette
   First Night Dinner Salad with Red Wine and Paprika Vinaigrette
   Prosciutto, Pear, and Parmesan Salad with Lemon/Chervil Vinaigrette
   Warm Potato Salad with Garlic Sausage
   Shrimp and Black Rice Salad with Vietnamese Vinaigrette
   Thai-Style Steak Salad with Thai Vinaigrette
Chapter 10 Side Salads and a Story of Lurking Fruits and Veggies 
   Moroccan Two Reds Salad and How to cook beets
   Beet and Yogurt Salad
   Erasto's Coleslaw
   Gujarati Cabbage Slaw
   Caramelized Carrot Salad 
   Couscous Salad with Apricots, Pine Nuts, and Ginger
   Cucumbers with Yogurt and Mint and How to drain soupy yogurt
   Cucumber Salad 
   Fruit Salad with French Fruit Salad Dressing
   Everyday Green Salad with Everyday Salad Dressing
   Iceberg Lettuce with Tangy Blue Cheese Dressing
   Jicama Slaw
   Mango and Hearts of Palm Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
   Orange and Black Olive Salad 
   Avocado-Papaya Salad with Papaya Seed Dressing
   Papaya Salsa
   Parsley, Celery and Herb Salad
   French Potato Salad and How to steam potatoes
   Quinoa Salad with Pistachios and Cranberries with Sherry Vinaigrette
   Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Toasted Almond Dressing
   Grilled Patty Pan Squash with Smoked Bacon and Olive-Caper Vinaigrette
   Summer Squash Salad with Feta
   Tabbouleh Cracked Wheat Salad
   Cherry Tomato, Mozzarella and Corn Salad with Basil
   Ensalada criolla (Creole Salad) with Cuban Vinaigrette

Chapter 11 Vegetable Sides and a Story of Eating from the Garden
   Oven-Roasted Asparagus
   Broccoli with Raisins and Pine Nuts
   Indian-Style Broccoli with Spiced Yogurt
   Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
   Brussels Sprout Chiffonade and How to chiffonade Brussels sprouts
   Braised Carrots 
   Cauliflower with Garlic and Pepper
   Eggplant Slices with Pomegranate, Yogurt and Tahini
   Stir-Fried Sugar Snap or Snow Peas
   Silky Sautéed Red Peppers
   Simple Sautéed Fresh Spinach or Swiss Chard
   Summer Squash Gratin
   Six-Spice Winter Squash Purée
   Oven-Roasted Tomatoes
   Oven-Roasted Tomato Variation 
   Oven-Roasted Zucchini   

Chapter 12 Grains and Potatoes and a Story about Staying on Top of the Weight Issue
   Coconut Rice
   Rice with Herbs
   Yellow Rice
   Creamy Polenta
   Lemon Barley Pilaf
   Roasted Potatoes
   Potato "Tostones"
   Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
   Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Chapter 13 Breakfasts, Brunches, and Baked Goodies and a Story of Kunst Sunday Morning Breakfasts
   Cheese Omelet
   Mother's Home Biscuits
   Orange and Black Current Scones
   The Best Granola
   Pancakes
   Tuesday Pancakes
   Pear/Mango/Candied Ginger and Pecan Muffins
   Karyn Smith's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
   Breakfast Cake
   Lemon Cornbread
   Persimmon Bread   

Chapter 14 Desserts and a Story of Overcoming Fear           

   Apple Almond Crisp
   Individual Berry Crumbles
   Chocolate Pots
   Ginger Pots de Crème
   Buttermilk Panna Cotta
   Italian Lemon Ice
   Royal Grapefruit Sorbet and How to section citrus
   Rudy's Hot Fudge
   Oven-Roasted Grapes
   Oven-Roasted Strawberries
   Jamaican Rum Cake
   Sally Schmitt's Cranberry and Apple Kuchen with Hot Cream Sauce
   Lemon Pudding Cake and How to separate eggs and beat egg whites
   Lemon Love Notes
   Fudge Brownies
   Classic Oatmeal Cookies
   Lavender Shortbread Cookies
   Apple Crumb Pie