Sorghum is an interesting grain with a rich heritage and unique flavor. Plus it's something of a superhero crop because it's one of the most efficient crops in conversion of solar energy, is environmentally friendly, requires less water than other grain crops and is … Continue reading →
Best Homemade Giardiniera (Hot or Mild)
Giardiniera, pronounced "jar-din-air-ah", is one condiment you don't want to be without. And once you've tried it you'll understand why. Originating in Italy, these pickled vegetables were introduced to Chicago in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants and took … Continue reading →
Dill Pickled Green Beans (Dilly Beans)
If you've never tried Dilly Beans you don't know what you've been missing! These have been a beloved classic for generations. They're perfect for snacking and the delightfully crunchy texture of dill pickled green beans also provides the perfect contrast and pairing for … Continue reading →
German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)
Eating this cool and crunchy cucumber salad always reminds me of Germany. It's commonly included as part of any Salatteller (salad plate) in German restaurants. A Salatteller will often feature a serving of carrot salad, radish salad, lettuce greens, potato salad and this … Continue reading →
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
You just can't have too many pasta salad recipes. They're the perfect accompaniment to any BBQ, picnic or potluck so it's always nice to have a variety to choose from. I had a chunk of mozzarella and some pepperoni left over from a pizza I made the other day and needed a … Continue reading →
Pickled Asparagus
Asparagus is something I look forward to every year. Steamed and served with a Hollandaise sauce, sauteed with butter, added to stir-fries, made into a creamy soup, roasted or grilled and added to a Mediterranean salad...I love asparagus every which way. And that includes … Continue reading →
Watermelon Salad with Mint and Feta
Watermelon was my favorite fruit as a child and continues to be something I also look forward to come summer. While mediocre watermelons are pretty "meh," a really good watermelon is pure heaven. And you know what? I just learned something about watermelons that I never … Continue reading →
Sweet Pea Risotto with Basil & Pancetta
I've partnered with Aneto to bring you this post! In celebration of Spring, I want to introduce you to a risotto featuring one of early Spring's finest bounties: The garden-fresh sweet pea. Aren't they simply irresistible? We had a really nice harvest of sweet peas last … Continue reading →
Authentic Injera (Ethiopian Flatbread)
If you've ever been to an Ethiopian restaurant - certainly if you've ever set foot in Ethiopia - you will have heard of injera. It's a sourdough flatbread unlike any other sourdough. It starts out looking like a crepe but then develops a unique porous and slightly spongy … Continue reading →
Slow Cooker Chinese Fried Rice
Chinese fried rice has always been a favorite of mine, but it's a long process to get it right, to make it the way it's served in restaurants. And during the week I like to keep meals as quick and simple as possible. You too? And so I figured, why not? Practically … Continue reading →
How To Create a Cheese & Charcuterie Board
Thank you to New Seasons Market for sponsoring this post! I can't think of anything classier than a cheese & charcuterie board for entertaining or to enjoy for a couple's night in. Todd and I have a tradition where a few evenings a month, after the kids are in bed … Continue reading →
Spanish Deviled Eggs
Thank you to Lindsay® for sponsoring this post! Spaniards are masters of appetizers, which they call “tapas.” For them it's an art form and every restaurant and bar features its own carefully crafted selection of tapas. In Spain when you go out for dinner it's … Continue reading →
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Bacon & Balsamic Reduction
Few dishes spark more intense feelings at the Thanksgiving and Christmas table than Brussels sprouts. A close runner up is probably sweet potato casserole - you know, the stuff with the brown sugar and marshmallows on top? I've always hated that stuff. But my parents and … Continue reading →
Black Olive & Fig Tapenade with Roquefort
A special thank you to Lindsay® for sponsoring this post. Today's dish features one of the most influential foods in the world's history - olives - and takes us to the Provence region of southern France. Olives were first introduced to Marseilles by the Phoenicians 2500 … Continue reading →
Olive Rosemary Focaccia (How To Make Authentic Focaccia)
A special thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post! Few things smell better than the sweet aroma of yeast bread baking in the oven. Add to that the fragrance of rosemary and it's pretty much the closest thing to heaven. Focaccia. Rustic and romantic, this … Continue reading →
Pistachio Lemon Cheese Balls with Basil & Olives
Thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post and to my readers for supporting the brands that help make The Daring Gourmet possible! Have you been to California? Where did you go and what were your favorite attractions? We've been several times, covering most … Continue reading →
BEST Macaroni Salad
Thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post and to my readers for supporting the brands that help make The Daring Gourmet possible! I know I don't have to tell you this one simple truth, that not all macaroni salads are created equal. Just go to any potluck and … Continue reading →
Pickled Turnips
Pickling is a method of preservation that dates back to Neolithic times around 7000 BC. During this anaerobic fermentation process strange and wonderful things happen that transform the original product into something quite different. And very healthy with all those … Continue reading →
Burmese Yellow Split Pea Fritters (Baya Kyaw)
If yellow split peas aren't something you use very often, get ready for a fabulous way to put them to use! Crispy, spicy and flavorful, these Burmese yellow split pea fritters can be served as appetizers or the main course with your favorite dipping sauce. They can also … Continue reading →
Lemon Quinoa & Bean Salad
Quinoa is a fascinating food and it has long been lauded for its unique nutritional benefits. For example, you may have heard that it's a complete protein. What that means is that it contains all 9 essential amino acids that your body can't produce on its own but has to … Continue reading →
Southern Black-eyed Pea Salad (or Salsa)
The South has a tradition that goes back to the Civil War and says black-eyed peas bring good luck. Specifically, they bring good luck if they're eaten on New Year's Day. Now I realize I'm a few months late in the good luck game, but if the luck-bringing powers of the … Continue reading →
Ultimate Skillet Corn Pudding
Who doesn't enjoy a good corn pudding? As American as apple pie, corn pudding goes back many generations as classic down home comfort food. I'm a little picky when it comes to corn pudding, especially where texture is concerned. A good corn pudding needs to be moist but … Continue reading →
How To Make Homemade Canned Boston Baked Beans or Pork and Beans
Here's the thing, if I'm going to make the effort to can I like to make a huge batch to make my efforts worth it, because it doesn't take any longer to do so. But it does save me the time of making a second batch later. But, you need a really large stock pot. The best … Continue reading →
French Entertaining Part II: Nouvelle Cuisine (+ Alexian/Le Creuset Giveaway!)
I've teamed up with Alexian to bring you this post. Welcome back to Part II of French Entertaining! In our last post French guest cook Sandrine Vannson enlightened us on French entertaining "country style" with Duck Rillette and Pheasant & Rosemary … Continue reading →
Salmon Risotto with Preserved Lemon
This dish is perfect for a family meal, a couple's night at home, or a dinner party. Risotto uses a special rice, most commonly arborio, and it cooks up into a deliciously creamy texture with the the perfect touch of chewiness. Risotto has a bit of an upscale image … Continue reading →
French Entertaining “Country Style” + Alexian/Le Creuset Giveaway!
I've teamed up with Alexian to bring you this delicious post! I recently had the opportunity to try some amazing products from ALEXIAN. Let me tell you a little about them. Alexian is America's premier producer of the finest pâtés and mousses all made with the … Continue reading →
Peter Piper’s Pickled Peppers
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers that Peter Piper picked? (*scratching my head*) Have you ever stopped to really think … Continue reading →
Homemade Pickled Beets
I've always been a fan of pickled beets. I'm not sure how or when this love affair started, but even as a little girl I remember eagerly diving into these, whether at the dinner table or as a quick snack. Beets are healthy and superbly high in a variety of vitamins. I … Continue reading →
Italian Zucchini Fritters
This is just one of several ways I've been trying to use up our plentiful harvest of zucchini. And by plentiful I mean the first crop was 20 pounds!! Second crop was 14 pounds and I haven't even picked the third round yet! We had a little extra room left in our garden … Continue reading →
German Tomato Salad (Tomatensalat)
This is a fresh and vibrantly flavorful Summer tomato salad that is typical of the ones I know and love from Germany. Simple, quick and as easy as 1, 2, 3, all you have to do is cut up the tomatoes, onions, and herbs, prepare the vinaigrette, and pour the vinaigrette over … Continue reading →
Goat Cheese, Spinach and Bacon Wontons
If you don't like goat cheese, no problem - use cream cheese instead. Either way, these crispy bundles of goodness are simply irresistible! They are dangerous though, I have to warn you. These are one of those foods that are hard to stop eating. You pop one in your … Continue reading →
Havarti Dill Corn Cakes
Thank you to Castello for sponsoring this post! If you enjoy traditional cornbread or corn cakes these are a "must try." The combination of a high class European cheese with all the goodness of down-to-earth, traditional home-style Southern cooking makes these Havarti … Continue reading →
Roasted Tomato Risotto
Risotto is a culinary art of its own. In fact, you can find cookbooks dedicated exclusively to risotto recipes. Risotto uses a special rice, most commonly arborio, and it cooks up into a deliciously creamy texture with the the perfect touch of chewiness. Risotto has a bit … Continue reading →
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction
If you're a Brussels sprouts lover, then this recipe is a must-try. A simple, elegant, delicious side dish. If you're a Brussels sprouts hater...sorry, it's a hopeless cause and there's no converting you. Why? It's genetic. Yes, there's actually a gene that explains … Continue reading →
Perfectly Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes
One of the cardinal rules of good potato au gratin is it cannot be dry. The cheesy cream sauce needs to ooze out. Not "run" out all over the plate in a big wet mess, but just slowly oooooze out. Here is the classic Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin at its best. … Continue reading →
Gourmet Marinated Olives
Thank you to Lindsay for sponsoring this post! A special thanks to Lindsay Olives for sponsoring this post! These homemade marinated olives are a real show-stopper. Plump, juicy, and packed full of flavor, they're perfect for entertaining, snacking, including at the … Continue reading →
Easy Green Bean Casserole From Scratch
Thank you to Del Monte and POPSUGAR SELECT for sponsoring this post! I don't know when or how or by whom the classic green bean casserole was invented, but whoever did should have a holiday named after them. Or at least a postage stamp, don't you think? I mean, the … Continue reading →
Baked Endives with Ham & Bechamel
If you've never had endives before, let this be your first experience. And if you have had them before, be prepared to fall head over heels. … Continue reading →
Darn Good Cornbread
A tender and moist crumb with lots of flavor. Make it. … Continue reading →
Crunchy Broccoli Salad
This Crunchy Broccoli Salad combines a variety of crunchy vegetables along with sweet raisins, dried cranberries, salty sunflower seeds, and a delicious creamy cider coleslaw dressing. Whether enjoying as a side dish for dinner or a healthy lunch, this salad's a winner! … Continue reading →
