Pizza Dough

This is my basic pizza dough recipe.  I use this to make pizzas, calzones and as a bread shell for other baked dishes like my pie of mixed greens.  It is quick and easy to put together first thing in the morning.  Let it rise all day and you are ready to make pizza when … Continue reading →

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Shrimp Tortillitas – quick Sunday lunch

Mark Bittman’s post, Simplicity from Spain – Tiny Seafood Pancakes, was where I first learned about tortillitas – a small Spanish pancake made with chickpea flour.  These are one of our favorite Sunday lunches.  We end up eating them, sitting at the island in the middle of our kitchen, warm from the pan. This recipe … Continue reading →

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Cannellini Beans – a staple for all seasons

While I wait for the market season to start, I’m filling in some basic recipes that I will build on as the year passes. Dried beans are a great staple to keep in the house.  I discovered that I could mail order many varieties (like cannellini beans) for much cheaper than I found them in town. … Continue reading →

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The 3-fold nature of “mise en place”

“Mise en place” is a cooking term that I learned in formal French cooking. To me, there are three reasons to follow those teachings. I have come to believe that there are also three meanings to “mise en place”.

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Ice Bath and Cooking Ahead

The ice bath is a simple but versatile tool in the kitchen. If you haven’t discovered the ice bath, then let me introduce you to two reasons why it is great to have a sink full of ice water during the peak of the market.

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Slideshow – Grilled Tomato Salsa on Salmon

Hated to see such an empty blog so I thought I would post some photos from the past year’s cooking. [nggallery id=2] Enjoy, Jim

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First of Spring

Today is the first day of Spring and we have an inch of new snow on the ground.  That doesn’t stop me thinking of the year ahead.  The soon-to-come fresh asparagus and frost-sweetened spinach are waiting for warm soil and Spring rain.  The Dane County Farmers’ Market will move outside in four more weeks and … Continue reading →

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