Appetizers

Getting Our Acts Together with the Sacred Quartet, Squash and Greens, & Frugality

3 January 2011 by Jean Johnson
As usual, it's not what we do but how to do it. Especially when it comes to the measure free hippie kitchen. So those long lists you see in cookbooks about putting a pantry together only go so far by telling us what to buy at the store. Half the ...

Quiche for the Holidays

27 December 2010 by Jean Johnson
Quiche is reliable since it's just a custard with goodies in it that sets up no problemo. Also it's great served room temperature, so is perfect for something like a New Year's buffet. Shrimp Quiche Here's one I did for Christmas with wild prawns that I boiled first, sliced in half ...

Not Primavera But Lastavera–Harvest Bounty Lush With White Beans and Walnuts

11 October 2010 by Jean Johnson
There's one like this in Hippie Kitchen on page 75, but that was made with summer savory one sunny day in June. Now the days are more golden than sunny, but harvest is plentiful as this Lastavera shows. Broccoli, tomatillos, green chiles, leeks, tomatoes, and garlic--all from the garden--all flash ...

Corn Crescents with Avocado for Justine

6 May 2010 by Jean Johnson
Corn Crescents with Avocado for Justine These little stovetop cornbreads are quick, warm, crowd pleasers. On tours I make them round, stuffed with cheese or refried beans drawing on gorditas and empanadas as my guide. In April 2010, though, Justine, a Facebook pal from Southern California, shipped a box of avocadoes ...

Thai Slaw Rolls

30 March 2010 by Jean Johnson
When you put these on the table people think they're getting burritos. Then they take a bite and roll their eyes. That's right, soft rolled up pancakes filled with a Thai-inspired slaw is first rate--something I'd make in a heartbeat if Mark Bittman swooped in for a nib. If you ...

Cross My Heart and Hope to Love Polenta Waffles for Celeste and HH’s Engagement Pah-tay!

3 March 2010 by Jean Johnson
For those that haven't been following the romance, after Celeste appeared on the back cover of cooking Beyond Measure, friend Laura said in a rather fetching way, "I have a frog." A moment of silence. My brows arched. "Is he a boy?" That's where it started and since then it's been a few ...

Cross My Heart and Hope to Love Polenta Waffles

8 February 2010 by Jean Johnson
Polenta waffles go way beyond breakfast and become first rate Valentine's Day Engagement Pah-tay fare--or fare for most any other holiday party. If you have Cooking Beyond Measure, this do is on pages 42 and 75. Otherwise you can click around the blog for the recipes or just watch me ...

Cooking for the New Economy, Thai-Style

10 April 2009 by Jean Johnson
Who better than to take cues for economizing than the Thais. For centuries these creative southeast Asian cooks fromĀ  have used local, seasonal ingredients and a flair for building flavor right in the bowl to regale eaters far and wide. Americans, in particular, have fallen in love with Thai food ...

Homemade Starters for Dinner: Stoned Salad Rolls

18 July 2008 by Jean Johnson
When it's too hot to even think about boiling the pasta water, try a variation on homemade hummus with a little blue cheese crumbled over the top and a drizz of good oil. Here I smashed up some limas and favas I'd cooked earlier. Seasoned nicely with what have ...

Cat in the Cheese

21 March 2008 by Jean Johnson
I'm doing the photos for Cooking Beyond Measure, of course, and while I was getting my camera gear ready for this shot, my cat Iris, was quick on the draw. I won't print this one in the cookbook, but you can say you saw it here first. The dish ...