Perfect New York Style Pizza Dough by John Spottiswood

I have a friend, Pete Miller, who has become a pizza guru. He attended classes held by Tony Gemignani (pizza god), and has tried endless recipes at home. So I asked him for his ultimate pizza dough recipe and he gave me this. It's adapted from the book PIZZA by Diane Morgan and Tony Gemignani. The recipe in the book calls for…

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…

macaroni and cheese by Carol Teng

A delicious, easy to cook meal.

Simple Cuban Black Beans & Rice in a Rice Cooker by John Spottiswood

I've loved cuban black beans and rice ever since I lived in Weehawken, New Jersey and ate at the Unica Cafe. This recipe takes some short cuts and uses a rice cooker, but I still think the results are delicious. Try this under any caribbean grilled meat, fish or stew and you won't be disappointed!

Homemade Manicotti by Nancy Miyasaki

This recipe is simple and absolutely delicious. It is a reasonable amount of work, so good to cook for a large party or family gathering. It is fun to prepare with a friend or relative, perhaps with a glass of wine in hand! I adapted this from a recipe cookoff I saw on the Food Network.

Pasta with Sauteed Vegetables, Olive Oil & Tomato Sauce by John Spottiswood

Simple and truly delicious. If you like tasty, fresh, and healthy food, this is likely to become a staple for you.

Tomato and Avocado Salad by John Spottiswood

This is a wonderful salad. Steeping the avocado in the lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper for an hour before serving is a real key to the flavor. We served this with small but flavorful tomatoes, so instead of the presentation recommended below, we just tossed everything together and served it. If I had big slices of heirloom…

Buttermilk Banana Bread by Nancy Miyasaki

I've made dozens of different types of banana bread, and this is one of my favorites. Our kids devoured it! My oldest told me "this is the best banana bread you've ever made, Mom." That's high praise from a 9th grader!

Eggplant Donburi by Nancy Miyasaki

As a Japanese american, I have a soft spot for donburi (Japanese term for just about anything served over rice). Our kids love it too. We mix up a warm bowl of brown and white rice and cover it with something warm, salty, sweet, and occasionally a bit spicy. This is rib sticking good, and best served in fall, winter or the early…

Zucchini and Tomato Pizza for Two....(or more!) by Salad Foodie

I’d run out of inspiration for how to use up summer’s end of zucchini, tomatoes and basil, until I came across a recipe in Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone (Deborah Madison). After finishing off a single piece of this divine pizza, I am moving this recipe to my "Favorite Meals Before I Die" list, it’s that good! This makes a 10" pizza…

Aunt Violet's Swedish Rye Bread by Amos Miller

Swedes have always made hearty, highly flavored breads and rye always seems to play a part, the foundation for many avenues of baking exploration. Aunt Violet was one of my paternal grandfather's sisters. This is her recipe 'from home'. It seems each of the 7 Moller children brought fragments of family recipes with them through…

Naan by Kelsey Martin

I love naan.

Moroccan Bread by Amos Miller

It is interesting to me that one of my grandfathers, a West Virginian who lived at the end of Horsemill Hollow, always referred to bread as 'the staff of life'. As anyone who has traveled to North Africa knows, bread is a special food, treated with the utmost respect and central to every meal. My Mountaineer gramps would have much…

Eggplant Parmesan by Jennifer Bass

Eggplant Parmesan (Slow Cooker or Crockpot version) by Salad Foodie

This recipe based on one from Allrecipes.com served 8 and was cooked in a 5-quart slow cooker. I cut the recipe in half for 4 servings (which is the recipe below.) It cooks well in a 2 1/2 to 3-quart slow cooker. Whichever size you make, I think you’ll like this easy-does it version of yummy Eggplant Parmesan! (Note:…