Bean Soups Make the World Go ‘Round

Call it a reverse treasure hunt: go out and search all the cuisines on earth and bring back one that doesn’t love bean soup. It’s hard to picture you having much luck. Bean soup combines what has to be the world’s least expensive protein for nourishment with what has to be the world’s least challenging cooking…

SUMMERTIME RETRO ROAD TRIP

At this time of year, millions of American families hit the highway on vacation. And if some of us resemble the Griswalds in this seemingly timeless endeavor, that’s okay – because the Griswalds were invented to resemble us. Still, in our driving toward that one big destination where FUN can be had with a capital…

SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR FRIDGE

A fun (and useful) game we play in the kitchen every day is unofficially called “connect the dots,” an effort to see the unrelated foods we have in the refrigerator when we have “nothing to cook” – then creating a satisfying meal from those things. In fact, doing so against all odds is a major…

Make Ahead Meals

One of the telltale signs of school starting again is the way days suddenly don’t have enough hours anymore. And sadly, some families respond by existing entirely on fast food (a good idea for neither taste buds nor waistline) or on less-than-wonderful frozen dinners from the supermarket. We are not about prohibition around here: we…

Making Meals into Family Memories

With the natural change in rhythms that comes with the start of another school year, yet another change might be good for your family. It might be time to involve your kids, whatever their ages, in the process that produces dinner. The idea of “kids in the kitchen,” is not so much new as old…

Butternut Spiral Noodles with Shrimp

INGREDIENTS ½ lb Texas Gulf Shrimp 1-10 oz box of Butternut Squash Spirals 1-24 oz jar Mom’s Garlic and Basil Spaghetti Sauce INSTRUCTIONS In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté your shrimp on both sides until pink. In a new pan, sauté noodles and add in ½ jar (or more if desired) of Mom’s Garlic…