Lunch | Raisin Questions

Browsing All Posts filed under »Lunch«

What do Fish Cakes have to do with mental health?

May 16, 2012

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing goes right and you can’t even imagine opening the refrigerator door to start preparing dinner? Have you ever gorged on frozen carboard pizza, cut into a greasy fast food burger, or finished off every last cookie in the house while brooding over a bad day? Have you ever […]

Is it time for Pasta Primavera?

April 20, 2012

I think it is time! I am still working on being more mindful in the daily celebration of my meals, and what better way than to pay more attention to the seasons and the bounty of produce the one upon us now signals. Positive psychologists have identified mindfulness as one of the ways by which we […]

Want to celebrate with Fruited Jam Grilled Cheese?

April 12, 2012

Happy National Grilled Cheese Day! Yes, there is a holiday day for grilled cheese. Some people think the mindless ascription of special commemorations to random days of the year is silly. Certainly it is silly, but I think aside from just being fun, the sentiment behind the celebration makes up for some of the useless wackiness. […]

In search of an authentic Caldo Verde?

February 23, 2012

What defines authentic cuisine? Why is an authentic recipe always the most sought after? Who verifies whether a dish is authentic or not? I continue to make an effort to prepare authentic Ghanaian food for my husband. I know what the authentic food tastes like. I use all the same ingredients that go into the authentic […]

Would you wait for a Fig and Date Salad?

September 20, 2011

I waited and waited all Summer long for that tree in our backyard to yield some sweet, plump little figs. They are finally here, just as Fall starts to set in. Today is gray and rainy, with an electrifying chill in the air. It feels dramatic, this change of the seasons. Experiencing such a shift […]

Does basil only make this Tomato Tart look prettier?

September 13, 2011

Don’t you think the basil adds a nice touch to this tomato tart? These could be before and after pictures for Extreme Makeover: Pastry Edition. Perception is important when preparing foods. The thing has to look edible, after all. Herbs and spices are perfect tools for making food look pretty. I think rosemary is nice, lemon […]

Why eat road trip food when there’s Creamy Polenta waiting at home?

August 9, 2011

I took a quick roadtrip this past weekend to Washington D.C. to attend the American Psychological Association (APA) Convention. My husband and I left at 3:00 am Saturday morning and were back by 6:00 pm Sunday evening. As I was roadtripping (and tripping over bad food habits on the road) a group of activists also started out […]

Can we feed Africa the Sunday Special?

August 1, 2011

On nearly every sunny Sunday afternoon, Ghanaians flock to “chop bars” and restaurants and kitchen tables to enjoy a meal of omotuo, or groundnut (i.e. peanut) soup with balls of mashed rice. It’s just the food you want to eat on a lazy Sunday, and it is direly missed when not enjoyed on such a day. It’s […]

Why am I not tap dancing my way into the kitchen to make this Olive Tapenade?

July 16, 2011

Instead of tap dancing, I have been dragging my feet to the kitchen lately. I get home from work, and I just balk at the idea of starting in on kitchen work right away. Then I thought to myself the other day, why do I think of it as work, a chore, a job? It’s a poor […]

Why do I love making Parmesan Chive Scones?

June 24, 2011

Because I can! I love making all scones of all flavors — blueberry, oatmeal raisin, orange cranberry, chocolate chip, cheddar herb — and everytime, I seem to get it right! Butter is such a delight to work with! Every time I make scones (which is, oh, maybe once a month or so), I use the same technique gleaned […]