Turkish Red Pepper & Walnut Dip by John Spottiswood

I've had this appetizer numerous times at my favorite nearby Turkish restaurant, New Kapadokia. I finally made it myself for a number of guests and it was a big hit. Slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and very flavorful. I served it with high quality hummus and babaganoush, and the red pepper dip was the most popular. Give it a try!

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…

Creole Style Butter Beans by John Spottiswood

Butter beans (another name for Lima beans) are super healthy and flavorful. I've been looking for a simple and flavorful way to cook these, and after a lot of research I found and adapted this delicious recipe. This is flavorful and hearty enough to make a full meal out of, probably accompanied by a salad or green vegetable and some…

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…

Basmati Rice with Herbs by Nancy Miyasaki

This is an excellent, flavorful side dish that goes really well with fish, shrimp, or chicken. It's like a mild version of a Briyani...easy to make and full of healthy ingredients. I thought the Parmesan cheese was weird addition, but the flavor blends nicely and it isn't over powering. Enjoy!

Brussels by John Spottiswood

No not the country famous for Beer, Diamonds and Waffles, but a rather a tested method to make anyone eat Brussel Sprouts. Serve as a side to steak, chicken piccata, or just over steamed rice. Provided and tested by my good friend Brian Bedrosian.

Easy Pan Fried Tomatoes by Nancy Miyasaki

This recipe is incredibly easy and really tasty. We're healthy eaters, so frying tomatoes isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But you have got to taste these. Amazing! Disclosure: we used fresh tomatoes from our garden that were really flavorful. You may not get the same results with less flavorful tomatoes. We served with…

Spaetzle by John Spottiswood

This is a simple and delicious recipe for Spaetzle. My friend Helmut normally does not add oil to his Spaetzle, but we did last night because it said to on the recipe on our Spaetzle maker. I think it helped make the dough slightly easier to work with and less sticky. Feel free to do without if you prefer.

Potatoes With Parsley and Garlic - Pommes Parsillade by John Spottiswood

These are the fantastic potatoes you've probably had in a french bistro...the ones that weren't pommes frites (french fries). They are best served immediately when the crisp exterior contrasts so nicely with the warm, soft interior. We served these with a lentils and sausage recipe that I will post shortly. The combination was…

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…

Pasta with Spinach, Ricotta, Ham by John Spottiswood

This is one of our family staples. It is healthy and delicious! Two of our kids say it is their favorite dish. We've adapted it from Marcella Hazan. It's easy to throw together and great the next day too.

Irish Apple Cake with Whisky Cream by Nancy Miyasaki

Most Irish have a sweet tooth, and this tasty dessert will satisfy it. Legendary Irish cook Myrtle Allen says "Homemade Apple Cakes are the most popular sweet in Ireland." Try this one and you will understand why!

Bananarama Smoothie by erin de martini

Simple French Bread Pizza by John Spottiswood

This is an easy recipe that I've been making since I was about 14. I made it last night because I was pressed for time, and all of my kids said they liked it better than regular pizza. Simple can still be delicious!

Green Beans with Basil and Tomato by John Spottiswood

This is an attractive and tasty side dish. The butter, basil and tomato adds a nice flavor boost to the green beans. I've made them with garlic salt and regular kosher salt, both are delicious. If you want to spice it up, add more black pepper or substitute crushed red pepper for the black pepper.