Pickles and Relish

Photo by Judith Hausman The new pickles at farmers’ markets are making a real comeback from the traditional dill and bread ‘n’ butter. I also like to add eclectic flair to my preserved produce by making relish. Everything old is, as they say, new again. This weekend, in a traditional Russian deli in Brookline, Mass., I saw pickled […]

Sandwich Inspiration

Photo by Judith Hausman Try this sandwhich: squash on rye—hold the mayo. This month, as life turns toward the interior and food gets comfier and cozier, I’ve run into a few terrific vegetarian winter sandwiches at local restaurants to tell you about. None will be hard to replicate at home. Is there any better accompaniment […]

All Herbs, All the Time

It’s time to pull out, tidy up and harvest thoroughly for the last time. In the suburbs, our landscape is all soft greys and browns now. From my herb garden, I had sage and parsley for the Thanksgiving turkey stuffing and some rosemary for the carrots, but of course, the basil has already been frosted.

Local Latkes

Photo by Judith Hausman Around my house, we heap our latkes high with horseradish, sour cream and homemade applesauce. I argued with my kids for years about our latkes, the potato pancakes traditionally served during the Jewish winter holiday of Hannukah, because I tried to make them a) healthier and b) less labor-intensive. Latkes are […]

Leftovers

Don’t let the joys of turkey end on Thanksgiving. Take cues from The Lefovers Queen (aka me), there are a lot more delicious meals ahead. There’s nothing The Leftovers Queen likes better than Thanksgiving. The secret is to think of those bowls, containers and wrapped bundles in the fridge as inspiration and to recombine them with […]

Winter Squash

Photo by Judith Hausman Got some butternut squash in the pantry? Whip up a barley risotto using chicken stock, barley, sage and, of course, butternut squash. Here’s my theory: The writers of Invasion of the Body Snatchers used a Hubbard squash as the model for the pod from which the characters’ “doubles” emerged. Have you […]

The Big Soup

Photo by Judith Hausman Need a way to use up those garden veggies? Throw them in the soup pot. The air is cooler, the garden is straggling and our tastes are turning. It’s time to throw everything into the soup pot, trusting our palates and our instincts, flying without a recipe, seasoning at will. Minestrone […]

A Lesson, a Ritual, Gifts

Photo by Judith Hausman I canned my foraged “parking lot” pears in rum with plums and ground cherries. It’s a rainy, rainy day, and a rain we sorely need here in the Hudson Valley. Despite the rain, I had to go get the quince today, or else I’d have been too late for them. About […]

Nashville and Corn Bread

Photo by Judith Hausman Nashville introduced me to many corn bread variations, including corn light bread, which is a sweet, loaf version. I got around this summer! Lucky me, within 10 days I was in a covered market hall in Montreal and another in Nashville, Tenn. At the start of the autumn harvest season, the two […]