My first job as an editorial assistant in Midtown Manhattan was very close to a stop on the E train that had a Subway sandwich shop inside it: a Subway in the subway. I never made a habit of going, but on days that I was feeling particularly grumpy or unmotivated I would slink underground and buy a ...
Winter Tomatoes
This tomato recipe is my secret weapon for entertaining. I pretty much always make it when we are hosting brunch because it's so easy, it makes your house smell amazing, and it's a great compliment to egg dishes. There is no reason you couldn't serve it for dinner, too, but let's be honest--when was ...
Roasted Vanilla Bean Apple Pear Sauce
I'm a very good cook, but my mother-in-law has me beat in several important categories, including all things poultry and potatoes. We are celebrating Hanukkah at her house this week, and of course she is making her amazing, perfectly crispy and golden brown latkes. They are one of Alex's all-time ...
Vegetable Ribbons with Garlic and Lime
Oh, Paula. Long ago we agreed to disagree about pretty much everything. I'm not ashamed to admit that I love vegging out in front of the Food Network. I'll even fess up to clogging our DVR with episodes of The Barefoot Contessa, Giada at Home, and even (gulp) The Pioneer Woman. But you and I have ...
Butternut Squash Rounds with Hazelnut-Apple Gremolata
I lived in Brooklyn for seven years, and Manhattan for three years before that. In all those 10 years, I grilled exactly one time. Alex and I borrowed our friend Sarah's tiny portable grill and set it up behind our building. It worked great, but the experience was a bit lacking. Instead of sipping ...
Green Beans with Sriracha and Orange Marmalade
If you ask anyone in my family about their Thanksgiving memories, they are sure to bring up the time my mom drained a huge pot of boiling green beans over her bare hand. Even she isn't certain exactly how it happened. The colander was in the sink, she went to pour the beans in, and... missed. She ...
Old Bay Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Tartar Sauce
What do you do when you need a laugh? I have a suggestion: pick up the latest issue of Martha Stewart Living and read Martha's monthly calendar in the front. I'm not sure if it's even meant to be funny, but it reads like something straight out of McSweeney's or Shouts & Murmurs. Here are some ...
Brussels Sprout Salad with Rice Krispies
How often do you get out for date night? Alex and I are fortunate to have grandparents nearby, but even so we are lucky if we go out once a month. Since we moved to Westchester last year, our favorite restaurant has been The Parlor in Dobbs Ferry. It's at least as good as the artisanal pizza places ...
Jalapeño Acorn Squash with Cranberry Walnut Sauce
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. (Can you tell? It's only mid-October and I'm already talking about it.) For us, it's a big multi-family affair: my mother-in-law roasts a massive turkey (and always frets that "it just won't be enough." A few years ago, she actually made a roast beef too, just in ...