Many years ago, I asked my Ireland-born mother-in-law why she didn’t make an Irish beef stew. Her answer was that beef wasn’t plentiful in County Kerry, where she grew up. They had pigs and sheep and lots of fish (which, ironically, Mary Clifford Quinn did not like.) But beef, and therefore roasts and steaks, were […]
Tag Archives: healthy recipes
17
Nov
Nov
I love this time of year, when Halloween is over but before we really start thinking about the big three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Although these are festive occasions, they can also be downright hectic because they hit us in a row. But the holidays are simply the best time of year to […]
30
Jun
Jun
The last recorded song by John Prine is a beautiful ballad called “I Remember Everything,” and it says a lot to me. John Prine, a man of simple words but extreme talent, reached into the hearts of so many. At the very least, I should say that I don’t remember everything, but I do remember […]
26
May
May
Sauces define French cuisine. Although there is some debate, most sources credit Auguste Escoffier as the creator of the five French “mother” sauces: béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. From this original list, a plethora of secondary sauces were also created. For example, tomato sauce is one of the five sauces, but its secondary daughter […]
06
Apr
Apr
I married an Irishman whose mother was from County Kerry and whose father was from Thurles, Tipperary. (Now that’s a county you’ve heard of.) I was married to my husband Bill for nearly 56 years—almost as many times as I made corned beef and cabbage for our St. Patrick’s Day tradition. Each year, I would […]
11
Feb
Feb
The ultimate comfort food, soup is in the news! Whether it’s an old favorite that’s been around for years, a familiar soup with a new twist, or a beloved classic from grandmother’s kitchen, we love them all. On the home front, as we’ve been overusing our kitchens for the last ten months, soup has enjoyed […]
03
Feb
Feb
If you’re craving salad and want a truly healthy option, look to seafood. A major source of protein, nutrients, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, fish is a healthy choice for most people. Not to mention, it’s a great way to add a little pizzazz to your salad. I recently moved to an area that’s close […]
16
Dec
Dec
Many years ago, at a Christmas party, the hostess served a dish called Shrimp Dijon. It was delicious. I live in Chicago, and this dish is a favorite served in many restaurants, but none are as good as the first time I tried it. Not only that, but the restaurant versions had no Dijon mustard […]
10
Dec
Dec
Dealing with kids’ food, especially pre-schoolers, can be overwhelming. Whatever you think is healthy is not necessarily what their taste buds want. As a stay at home dad, I have lots of questions about parenting. So I started my own blog! Parental Questions is a great resource for parents. But my biggest worry is whether […]
24
Nov
Nov
Ask Chef Phyllis I have this problem every year so I decided to call the turkey hotline for answers. They were helpful with the cooking of the bird, but with the leftovers not so much. I like leftover turkey with dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise on a sandwich. Most often, I slice the turkey […]
21
Oct
Oct
I never could have guessed that one day I’d be writing a post while taking refuge from a wildfire at a friend’s home during a mandatory evacuation. Life has a mind of its own, it seems. But on second thought, I have made—with and without fate interfering—many of my own choices. I chose to reside […]
23
Sep
Sep
Tomatoes love the heat, and right now it seems like hundreds of small, homegrown cherry tomatoes, bursting with flavor and aroma, are growing before our eyes each day. (At least it seems like hundreds when you’re the kid picking them!) Who doesn’t love layering a thick slice of beefsteak tomato, dripping with its seeds and […]
17
Sep
Sep
I’m old school in that I believe Sundays are very special and we should observe them as such. Not only does the Old Testament command that we observe a day of rest (Exodus 20:8), but it is also a scientific fact that resting one day out of the week is essential. In a blog post […]
19
Aug
Aug
Ask Chef Phyllis While traveling in Germany and France many years ago, we had the good fortune to eat in a small town near the French border. Their specialty was a steak, so tender and succulent, with onions and potatoes. I’m not sure if you ever answer questions like this, but can you shed some […]
13
Aug
Aug
When I cowrote Men in Kitchens: A Good Day to Dine Hard, I deliberately steered far away from poached eggs. For years, I believed that the wonderfully gooey and dynamic delights of poached eggs were out of reach. Whenever I tried, the eggs became a sticky soup of yolk and whites stuck to whatever duct-taped […]
21
Jul
Jul
When I receive more than three emails from readers on the same subject—especially when they’re requesting recipes that go beyond mac and cheese or beans and rice and want more exotic fare—my interest is piqued. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of interest in vegetarian casseroles. It crossed my mind recently that casseroles have lost […]
25
Jun
Jun
When it comes to leftovers, it often seems that the husbands rather than the children don’t want to eat yesterday’s meal. (But as I’m fond of saying, this is the meat and potatoes of another post.) My dear readers, perhaps you’re old enough to remember that ladies’ luncheons in the 1960s always served chicken divan. […]
03
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis My family loves a good chicken dish. They demand chicken breasts, although my mother always bought whole chicken and used every part. I usually make chicken breasts in the slow cooker, and though it’s good, the breasts get too dry and lack flavor after six hours in the pot. I have a […]
27
May
May
Here’s a novel idea: a sumptuous dessert from your already depleted pantry. And it’s easier than you ever imagined. Did your mom ever make fruit cobblers? Or perhaps a baked apple with cinnamon and raisins in the middle? Nothing is easier than a baked apple, and in my opinion, nothing appeals to the senses quite […]
Ask Chef Phyllis
Food in a Troubled World:
New England Clam or Fish Chowder from the Pantry or Freezer
20
May
May
Practice is “the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it.” What can you put into practice? If you are of Italian, French, or Greek ancestry, perhaps you were raised as I was, with your conversations revolving around food—good food, fresh from the garden, and the […]