African Chicken in Peanut Sauce by John Spottiswood

I first had this in graduate school when a classmate from Ghana cooked it for an International progressive dinner. I fell in love with the combination of sweet peanuts and pungent spices. This is not a flavor you will easily forget, and it will keep you coming back for more!

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta With A Kick by Allison Loesch

Whether you’re alone for the holidays and missing that home cooked meal or looking for a new stand out dish to bring this is the perfect recipe. The flavors of fall mixed in with the sweetness of the pumpkin pie mix equal a new twist on ordinary pasta. Hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!

Italian Spinach Soup by John Spottiswood

Suprise, surprise. Another amazing recipe adapted from Marcella Hazan's Essential's of Italian Cooking. This is one of my bibles. Not only did I love this spinach soup, but all four of my kids did too! Everyone had mutiple servings. We served it with simple sourdough toast, though Crostini (Italian croutons) is what Marcella…

Alton Brown Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

I adapted this recipe from one by Alton Brown. I added spinach, potatoes, and scallions and removed grains of paradise. Our whole family really enjoyed this recipe. I made it alongside an Indian curried lentil soup recipe, and while both were good, this was the hands down winner. If you're looking for a tasty, hearty, and healthy…

Hearty Red Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a wonderfully flavored soup that our whole family really enjoyed. I'm a huge fan of traditional Turkish Red Lentil soup which has more exotic flavors, but I was impressed by the down home goodness of this soup. I had three medium sized helpings, and even then I nibbled a bit more as I was putting the remainder into the…

Killer Shrimp by John Spottiswood

Nancy and I loved eating at this hole in the wall restaurant in Marina Del Ray called Killer Shrimp. It was in a strip mall and didn't have much character, but their "killer" shrimp drew a loyal crowd. I recently heard that it had closed, so I've tried to recreate it with help from a few others who have tried. I think what most the…

Curried Lentil Stew with rice by Nancy Miyasaki

This curried lentil stew is an awesome winter dish. It will warm you and sooth you with its soft texture and rich flavor. Vegetarians can leave out the bacon and ham. Those who relish Indian flavors can double the tumeric, cumin, ginger, and cloves.

Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Mary Joseph

Awesome Split Pea Soup by John Spottiswood

We made this soup by combining the best of two recipes...one from America's Test Kitchen and one from Cook's Illustrated's the Best New Recipe. I think this is a split pea soup that can't be beat!

Creamy Lentil and Broccoli Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a creamy, flavorful, and incredibly healthy soup. The next time you're in the mood for split pea soup (also very healthy), try this instead. It has a wonderful body and a great hearty flavor. If you haven't had sumac before as a seasoning, this is a great dish to try it with. Sumac is commonly used in the middle east to…

Blueberries with Lime Sugar & Citrus Confit by Amos Miller

This is one of my absolute favorite berry desserts and comes from Tony Bourdain and Les Halles Restaurant in NYC. I have had the audacity to make just one minor modification to the recipe, but I have no regrets, and neither will you. We grow blueberries all season long at Walnut Ridge Farm, so there are always opportunities to try…

Tomato Soup by Anna

I love tomato soup and this one is easy (I don't cook anything that's hard!)! I serve it for the kids as a weeknight dinner with cheese quesadillas.

Lentil Soup by Nancy Miyasaki

This is my super easy, staple Lentil soup that everyone eats and enjoys. It's healthy and mild, good for everyone.

Old-Fashioned, Homemade Lemonade by Elena Jimenez

During those hot summer days, this drink will quench your thirst!

Simple Clam Chowder by Nancy Miyasaki

We brought this last weekend to a cracked crab party. Everyone thought it was wonderful. It's hard to compete with fresh cracked crab, but this easy and delicious clam chowder was the perfect accompaniment. My husband added heavy cream to most of the chowder, but reserved some without the cream. It definitely tastes richer and…