Hello, Tartlets! We interrupt our regularly scheduled book review and book-inspired recipe posts to bring you this specially curated list of Pantry Staples Recipes, designed to help you figure out what the heck to cook each day while you're spending 24/7 with those you love...with, um, rather limited resources. My grandmother always kept a well-stocked pantry and freezer in her basement. Whenever I would visit her, we would go downstairs and...
Cauliflower and White Cheddar Soup is your go-to staple for classic comfort food in a bowl. Even though it's a mystery, Aunt Dimity and The King’s Ransom really hits the spot when it comes to foodie fiction. The inn's shifty chef, Steve, is a culinary genius, and his meals at The King's Ransom are paid a lot of attention throughout the book, much to this food blogger's delight. Two dishes in particular are repeatedly mentioned: Steve's apple...
We only have a few more days until it's officially fall, so I'm squeezing in one last summery recipe with this Chickpea Shepherd's Salad.
Why is Chickpea Shepherd's Salad the book-inspired recipe for Beautiful Bad? Although Beautiful Bad was a DNF for me, it definitely delivered in one aspect: FOOD. Main characters Maddie and Joanna often met up to share a meal, even though they lived in different countries. Each time, they made sure...
As I was making this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad, I realized something: for someone who doesn't really like mint, I sure am making a lot of recipes with mint these days. Mint is just so fresh tasting. It brightens up any savory dish with an unexpected zip, and it imparts a refreshing coolness to sweet desserts. Can you really blame me for over-using it this summer? Nope. I didn't think so. Spoiler alert: this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad contains...
One of the reasons that Tranquillum House in Nine Perfect Strangers seems so ideal for transforming your life is that guests are encouraged (forced?) to eat healthy and clean. Although I love my carbs and cream sauces, there definitely comes a point (usually right after Christmas) when I simply crave lighter meals filled with fresh, green ingredients. Tranquillum House guests have a limited diet: they aren’t allowed sugar, carbs, alcohol, or...
One of the things I love about Emily Giffin’s novels is that she really captures the soul of whatever city or town she sets her story in. I was excited to see that All We Ever Wanted is set in Nashville, which I became more interested in since my close friends moved down there a few years ago. We’ve yet to visit them, but we hope to adventure with them in their new city soon. Honestly, given how much the food scene in Nashville has grown...
Gyro. Jy-roh? Guy-ro? Year-roh? I’ve been to Greece, and I still don’t know how to pronounce this word correctly. (To be fair, I didn't see gyros on any menus there, so I didn't have the opportunity to inquire about its pronunciation). I think it’s the last one (year-roh), but please do NOT quote me on that. I have not a drop of Greek blood in me. But, you know who does? Calliope Stephanides, from Middlesex. This title ended up in my last...
In my last post, I recommended some perfect books for summer reading. I'm now pairing that list with the perfect summer salad. Does anyone else barely cook on the stove during summer? Because that’s me. While I love firing up the oven or having a bubbling pot on the stove during the cooler months, I loath being cooped up in the kitchen during warm weather. For one thing, our Cottage kitchen is adorable but poorly ventilated, so even with the...
