Smoked Gouda and Thyme Soda Bread

I decided a while back that I loved soda bread way too much to wait for St. Patrick's Day to make it. Because it has no yeast and requires no kneading or rising time, it's as fast and easy to make as a sweet quick bread.

Cheesy Broccoli and Cheddar Stew with Cornbread

I was torn between calling this a soup or a stew because the consistency is somewhere in between. If you're a Rachael Ray fan, you know she calls this type of dish a stoup and that's probably a fair description for my recipe.

Ramp Biscuits and Gravy with Maple Bacon

When I was growing up in New York, biscuits and gravy was not a dish I encountered. My mother didn't make them at home and none of the local restaurants served them. So it wasn't until my early 20's, having lunch with some co-workers in a new southern cuisine restaurant, that I had my first taste.

Pumpkin Boule Bread

Have I ever mentioned how much I love pumpkin? For some reason, I've been obsessed with how pumpkins and other winter squash look since I was a kid but I didn't actually love the taste. But, as an adult, my obsession is complete.

Cheddar Soda Bread

Every year I bake some kind of soda bread around St. Patrick's Day and every year I ask myself why I don't bake it more often. It's easy to make and so completely delicious. And it lends itself to lots of variations.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Pretzel Bagel Balls

Being a native New Yorker, I'm used to a bagel with a schmear (of cream cheese) as a given. Every deli has it as the morning special with coffee, as do the street vending carts that offer breakfast options in midtown. It's our thing. Our delicious thing. The only question, really, is what kind of bagel you want with your schmear.

Pulled BBQ Brisket with Honey Cornmeal Biscuits

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before that there are certain food words that make me happy. Words like dumpling and biscuit, for example, make me stop to look. Cornmeal does that for me, too. I do love traditional cornbread but I'm also intrigued with adding cornmeal into non traditional foods, like cake. Today though, I'm going to combine two of my favorite words into these cornmeal biscuits.

Cheesy Tomato Quick Bread

 Thank you to Hunt's tomatoes for sponsoring this recipe.

I was having another one of those "what's for dinner" days. I ran through a bunch of options in my head and either they didn't really appeal to me or they required too many ingredients I didn't currently have in the house. Most of the time, when that happens, I end up with a breakfast for dinner kind of plan.

Cheesy Skillet Irish Soda Breads

March is almost here and that means St. Patrick's Day is almost here and that means it's my annual excuse to make Irish soda bread. So what if I'm not Irish, I LOVE soda bread! Yes, I could make it year round, of course, but...um...maybe I love it a little too much to do that.

Buttermilk Cornbread and Pot Roast Sandwich

Last weekend I decided to make a big pot roast with the intention of having enough leftovers for the week. I stocked up on vegetables and potatoes and looked forward to a week of easy and delicious dinners. And I will say that potatoes, in roast gravy, probably top my list of all time comfort foods. But after a couple of days, I was getting a little tired of it. Polenta the next night, egg noodles the following day and rice after. Finally I was down to my last serving of meat and no idea what to eat with it.

Cheesy Ramp Biscuits

I am one of those ramp obsessed New Yorkers who flock to the farmer's market in spring when the first crop of ramps appear. I buy a ton of them and put them in virtually everything I cook. And yet I realized that I haven't shared a single one of those recipes with you and it's because I was too busy eating and savoring to photograph and write. And by the time I finally came out of my hypnotic ramp state last year, they were almost gone. Maybe it's because their season is so short that we're so obsessed. But I'm getting an earlier start this year.

Buttery Breakfast Quick Bread

Lately I've been thinking a lot about breakfast. And that's pretty unusual for me since it's never been a meal I gave much thought to. It always seems like, no matter how early I get up, I have so much to do before the day "officially" starts and I'm always running behind. So breakfast ends up being a bowl of cold cereal. And I'll admit that I've been known to skip the milk and just eat the cereal bits like little snack bites in between other morning chores. So not inspiring.

Homemade Za'atar Pita Chips and Quick Labneh Dip

If you follow me on Instagram (and if you're not, why aren't you??) then you know that my tag line says "currently sprinkling za'atar on everything."  I'm obsessed with it and with labneh (strained Greek yogurt cheese) too.

Pumpkin Soda Bread

I was trying to hold off on the pumpkin recipes until October, I really was! But I was walking past my favorite gourmet food and produce store and there they were. Not all markets have them yet but this place did. A big display of pumpkins and squash and those little gourds that I love so much. Oh, all right, I give in. I really do love pumpkin.

Savory Tomato Cobbler with Gorgonzola Biscuits

We've been going a little tomato crazy around here this summer.  I realize that sounds normal to most of you but...um...I used to hate tomatoes.  Yes.  Hate.  And I know you're thinking that I probably still ate things like ketchup and tomato pasta sauce but you'd be wrong.  Hate is hate.  Happily, tastes can change.

Herbed Salted Pretzel Bread Salad Bowls

Today I'm going to talk with you about salt.  And we'll also talk about pretzels.  And about homemade breads and bread bowls and stand mixers.  OK, we've got a lot to talk about.  Maybe you should sit down for a while and have a pretzel roll.  I love salty pretzels.  Growing up in Manhattan, my mother and I would go to the park and we'd get a big salty pretzel from one of the vendors and split it.  She sometimes flicked some of the salt off her piece but I thought it was the best part.  Nobody needs a naked pretzel!

Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Skillet Soda Bread

Lately I've been thinking about soda bread.  Sure, St. Patrick's Day is coming up in a couple of months but that really wasn't why.  I've just been finding myself in the mood to make some or, more specifically, to eat some.  I really like my recipe for Simple and Sweet Irish Soda Bread but I'd never tried any variations other than the typical addition of raisins or currants.  But why couldn't it be more savory?

Cheddar and Thyme Cornbread Loaf

 

We're polar vortexing again!  Or maybe it's just January in New York.  Piles of snow and single digit temperatures means we're staying inside.  I put a pot of soup on the stove and this cornbread in the oven.  I'm sure the supermarket was packed with "panic shoppers" buying all the bread and milk.  But we're not exactly in the sticks here in Manhattan and I know the market will get a new supply truck within a day or two.  I'm pretty sure we have enough supplies to maintain us for a couple of days without having to eat the dog.  Actually, I'm pretty sure we have enough supplies to keep us, and the dog, fed till spring.

Honey Beer Bread

I have a lot of business to discuss with you all today in this very special group post.  I have a great recipe and yes, we have a fantastic giveaway.  Today's event is being hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen of Juanita's Cocina. They teamed up with their blogger friends to help raise awareness and support for Cancer and Hospice today in memory of Kim's dad. We encourage everyone to read the posts and share their own experiences with cancer. We also would like to encourage everyone to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society and also to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. Hospice was a key element during Kim's father's battle with cancer. They made it possible for Kim to care for him at home. So please show your support and donate if you can. You can also contact your local Hospice and donate directly to them if you wish. A little goes a long way!

Sweet Irish Soda Bread Biscuits

Last year, an Irish-born colleague introduced me to my favorite version of soda bread. Simple and sweet, almost like scones but baked into a loaf. It was delicious! I said I wouldn't wait until next St. Patrick's Day to make it again but, somehow the time got away from me. Oh, well. I baked up a loaf last weekend and the delicate aroma made me fall in love with it all over again.