Kitchen Tips

Cooking with the Little Aunties

26 December 2009 by Jean Johnson
Many I met during holiday events asked about classes--both adult and kidlets. At the very least we're planning to get something rolling with the kids. The series, Cooking with the Little Aunties, is open to girls 8 to 12.

Flash Cooking = Hippie Stir Fry = Fast/Slow Food

18 December 2009 by Jean Johnson
Ah, yes, I remember my own trip to Mexico as a food writer. Here's one of my photos: So Mark Bittman's recent NYT piece on Mexican markets was a nice reminder of my own cruise-arama. Here he's talking about how Mexican women get fresh veggies on the table pronto--but he ...

Latina Peaches

6 September 2009 by Jean Johnson
These peaches are inspired by how they treat jicama in Mexico. I also do them with pineapple and melons of all stripes. Expect the fans to roll their eyes in bliss on this one because sets the sweet fruit off to a very fine angle indeed. Latina Peaches For these peaches, ...

Summer Soups, Smoothies & Strawberry Mint Ice

19 June 2009 by Jean Johnson
It started with Cucumber Melon Soup in Cooking Beyond Measure (page 105)--this business of whizzing up delicious concoctions in the blender. Historically, of course, my affair with blended things began with smoothies in the Sixties--the old faithful banana-yogurt-honey-wheat germ routine. Given such a sagacious history, it hasn't been ...

Flash Cooking & Asparagus

23 May 2009 by Jean Johnson
Flash cooking is the term I've coined for getting veggies ready pronto. Here's the way I describe the technique in Hippie Kitchen, the second in my measurefree trilogy due out this fall: Flash Cooking To flash cook vegetables, start with a puddle of water, spices if you’re in the mood, and ...

User-Friendly Kitchen Counters

25 April 2009 by Jean Johnson
This post is for one of the women at the last cooking class I did. I was talking about how much it streamlines cooking when you keep things you use a lot out handy. She wanted to know what was out on my counter. Well, here it is--at least this is ...

Soupy Soup with Cauliflower and Limas

28 March 2009 by Jean Johnson
Soupy Soup, a dish from Cooking  Beyond Measure, is named after the elderly lady doggie who used to live next door. The spring day I first pulled the soup together, the weather was warm enough to draw me and my bowl outside. Who was waiting by the daffodils but the ...

Spring Salad on a Theme of Tabouleh

16 March 2009 by Jean Johnson
Who says tabbouleh must always be made with Bulgar wheat and the requisite parsley and mint. Surely not a creative cook who understands grain salads. Ditto for Spring Salad on a Theme of Radishes and  Jicama from Cooking Beyond Measure. No need to start with spaghetti squash if there's a ...

From the Sick Room to the Signing Table, Vegan-Style

3 March 2009 by Jean Johnson
I talked to my bud Matt yesterday. His kids have both been down with the flu. It's almost the same here as I've been nursing a cold. What to do other than get the soup pot on and review my fav book, Laurel's Kitchen. Golden Noodle Soup from Laurel's ...

The Economy, Feeling Fit, and Slicing & Dicing

13 February 2009 by Jean Johnson
The economy's lurking outside our doors like the big bad wolf. We want fresh ideas on thrift, yet we hope to maintain an enjoyable quality of life. It can happen. We can eat exceedingly well and tighten our belts. All it takes is lightening up and having some fun ...