Chicken and rice always reminds me of the wee hours of the morning after weekend nights out in Brooklyn in my early twenties. After a night of partying, we would always crave chicken and rice, and the corner bodegas always had our backs with a hot takeout container of chicken and rice and hit the …
If there are two foods that the French have mastered they would have to be cheese and bread. I know that’s totally unspecific, and there are many types of cheeses and breads – both good and bad. However, if you have had the privilege to visit France (or at least a really good French bakery …
Welcome to 2023, zesters! I don’t know about you, but by the end of last year I was ready for a hard reset. 2022 was one of the best years I’ve had so far, with tons of traveling, lots of friend and family time, and my wedding in France in October. While it was a …
One thing I absolutely love about this season are all the beautiful, colorful fall vegetables that fill the farmer’s market tables. I get so excited when I see freshly dug beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, turnips, etc. and can’t wait to cook up some delicious and cozy recipes. This crispy galette, brimming with root vegetables and …
Chickpeas are some of those versatile ingredients that are great by themselves but can also be used in various different recipes. They’re filling and nutritious, and if you adhere to a vegetarian lifestyle, their high protein content makes them an awesome meat replacement. I know chickpeas. what is falafel? Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern …
One of my favorite breakfast dishes features some of my favorite flavors. Tomato! Garlic! Paprika! Shakshuka is a dish common in Israel, other parts of the Middle East, and increasingly trendy brunch restaurants, but it’s surprisingly very easy to make right at home. And I highly recommend it, given the medley of delicious flavors and …
Memorial Day Weekend is coming up, so it’s time to start planning your menu! If you live in the Northeast like me (or a similar climate), it’s always hard to plan food for MDW. There’s a chance it will be hot, summery weather, but it might also be 50 degrees and raining. So do you …
When I was younger, one of my favorite comfort meals was broccoli cheddar soup from Panera in a big bread bowl. Yummmm! It always hit the spot on a cold winter’s day. Not to knock Panera, but when I got older and started to pay attention to the ingredients in my favorite foods, I realized …
This sesame pickled cucumbers recipe is super easy and produces a flavorful brine and crunchy pickles that you can refrigerate for weeks. It’s truly a gift that keeps on giving. The brine is super simple to make–just boil some sugar, salt, and vinegar with lemon slices, jalapeño, and sesame seeds. After pouring the cooled brine …
I know I’ve been kind of on a butternut squash kick lately, but it’s just such a great fall/winter veggie! And when paired with one of my favorite Italian dishes–risotto–it’s even better. This recipe is pretty easy to make; the most important things are roasting the squash and getting the risotto to the right consistency …