I am a lover of sloppy joes but have long been a hater of bolognese. This has perplexed my counterpart for most of the 25 years he's known me. After all, they are both ground meat in a tomato-based sauce served over starch. So what's the big deal? To be honest., I'm not entirely sure. But, rather than belabor the whimsical nature of my palate, I'd like to share his favorite take on the classic Italian meat sauce - spaghetti and meatballs.
Read MoreCandlemas
Candlemas is quiet midwinter day. Boisterous Beltane is about fertility and new life. Halloween by contrast is about death and the departed. Candlemas is about everything in between: family, hearth, home. It is Brigid's Day. Before she became a saint in the Catholic pantheon, Brigid was the goddess of domestic arts. In her time, my ancestors birthed the first of the new lambs around this time of the year and started preparing to break ground for the year's planting.
Read MoreNew Year's Cassoulet, a Crowning Acheivement
Cassoulet is a slow-cooked dish of beans and fatty meats with a rich sauce originating in southern France. There are many variations on this dish, depending on the neighborhood and the year. The traditional cassoulet contains white beans and a variety of meats that include pork, sausage, mutton, and duck or goose confit, cooked in a casserole dish with a hearty sauce.
Read MoreAutumn Equinox
The day was a perfect balance of summer's warmth and fall's dry, crisp air. While my counterpart put a pot of chicken thighs on to stock, I paid a visit to my local pumpkin patch. I found one of those rare, perfectly round pumpkins that seemed to call out to me, whispering "Hey, hey, over here" as I wandered through. And it turned out to be a real beauty.
Read MoreIf You Get Your Spices Cheap You Can Use Them Like They're Free
Kheema is an Indian dish made of spicy ground meat, potatoes, and peas. This afternoon my counter part made a very successful variation. He created a flavorful layered dish that, while not necessarily traditional, was certainly very satisfying.
Read More30-Minute Lamb for a Monday Night
It's Monday. And, oh, what a Monday! You get home late from work. You want dinner in 30 minutes or less. The only thing defrosted is a leg of lamb. What do you do?
You do this:
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