Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Not-So-Mysterious Mushrooms

Though mushrooms grow throughout the year, they are widely regarded as seasonally fall (except morels, which are the best part of the spring!). White button and cremini mushrooms (often called baby bellas) are the old stand-by. They are inexpensive, sturdy, and neutral in flavor. But as much as we love […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Picking Apples for Baking

Over 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States, and of those, only about 100 are grown commercially. This means that the best apple for baking in your region might be different than the best apple halfway across the country. But there are some basic guidelines you can […]

Allergen Friendly, Desserts

Raspberry Granita

Makes 2 pints Ingredients 1 1/4 cup raspberries 1 1/2 cups water 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, fresh Directions Push the raspberries through a wire-mesh sieve into a small bowl to make a purée. Stir all of the ingredients until blended and the sugar has dissolved. Pour […]

Chef's Blog

Reignite the Creative Spark in the Kitchen

As a food editor, recipe developer, and food stylist, the most frequent question I’m asked is: “So, do you cook at home, too?” And, well, as a human, the answer is yes—I eat and feed others on a daily basis in both my personal and professional lives. And while I […]

Pies and Tarts

Rhubarb Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie Rhubarb is tart, but well-balanced by the oat crumble we’ve paired it with here. Some rhubarb stalks may be tender enough, but if your rhubarb has a thick outer membrane (you can tell by peeling a bit back with your fingers), you may want to remove […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Spring is For Foodies

Welcome, spring! After a cold winter, nothing is more welcome than the first signs of the season: bright green shoots poking through the soil, buzzing bumblebees, and—my favorite, naturally—new produce! Having grown up in The Garden State and after many years in New York’s Hudson Valley, I consider myself a […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Spring Salads with Your Farmers’ Market Finds

As we look forward to our yearly Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit, which perfectly coincides with the start of spring, we naturally (and typically!) are finding ourselves hungry. Spring is a food-lover’s best season—seconded only by Thanksgiving, of course—with a seemingly endless bounty of vibrant colors and flavors at the local […]

Soups and Stews

Thai-Style Fresh Pea Soup

Makes 6 to 8 servings This delicate soup captures the essence of fresh peas. It’s a great recipe to try if you have a bumper crop of peas—either from your own garden or at your local farm stand—or if you’re looking for an easy starter course for an evening of […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Using Fresh Fava Beans

If you’ve been lucky enough to venture out to the farmers’ market, you may have found fresh fava beans—one of the most underappreciated spring veggie! Though you can buy dried fava beans all year long, if you haven’t enjoyed them fresh, well, you’ve really barely experienced them. Fresh fava beans […]

Allergen Friendly, Salads, Side Dishes

Watermelon and Cucumber Salad

Makes 4 servings To make perfect balls from the watermelon flesh, press a melon baller tool, also known as a Parisian scoop, into the watermelon and twist it to remove the ball of melon. If you do not have a melon baller, or just want to save time, cut the […]