the arugula files

I have so many apples from apple picking, even though I didn't really pick any. It's true, we drove to the orchard, walked around, then decided that the apples on the trees weren't so great, so we bought some from the orchard store instead. ...

I made these for the Spooktacular bake sale. Want one? Come buy. Details are here. Ingredients 11 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled 1 pound light brown sugar 3 eggs 2 3/4 cups flour 2 1/2 teaspoons ...

I'm lovin it (the it being kale, my new favorite vegetable). After last week's success with this nutritional powerhouse, I decided to make another kale dish. I promised a dish by Dan Barber, the chef at ...

Today Marcus and I went apple picking at Stribling Orchard in Markham, Virginia. When we arrived at the farm, a very interesting character greeted us: This bull! My guess is that he must weigh like 1500 pounds. ...

Barton Seaver, the Chef at the helm of Blue Ridge restaurant, says "if you can turn on your stove, you can cook fish." He's right. Cooking fish is easy. And, more importantly, it's TASTY. I would happily give up meat if I could eat fresh, sustainable fish every night for dinner. ...

Last night, right before I fell into a deep sleep – around 11:40 pm – I whipped up some habenero cactus jelly. What? Let me explain. When I can't fall asleep, I pretend I'm a cheftestant on Top Chef. Absurd, I know. ...

Last night was the first time I tried kale. Ever. And, holy shit, I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I have one person to thank for my new found appreciation for kale: Molly Wizenberg. This past week, while I was traveling from Spokane to Seattle, I picked up a copy of bon appettit in the airport. ...

Never cooked squash? Acorn squash is a good place to start. It's simple to prepare, ultra cheap, and its subtle sweetness marries well with butter and salt. Add some fresh nutmeg and you have discovered the art of simple food. ...

Julie Child is certainly getting her due. Her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, is finally topping the best seller list ⎯ 48 years after it was originally published. My friend Joe, a master cook ...

I've been testing some quinoa recipes lately. Before my Aunty Franny calls me tonight to say, "Mary, What the heck is quinoa? It sounds weird." Let me say, yes, it is. Quinoa (keen-wah) is a ...

Notes from my kitchen and tables around DC

"Buy a toaster oven. The best brand is Cuisinart...you know you need it. You know you want it." That is what Eric Ripert was saying to me - telepathically - as he cooked these figs in a toaster oven for his series "Get Toasted." It almost worked. ...

Baked Shrimp Scampi is one of Jeffrey's favorite dinners. Who the heck is Jeffrey? Well, Ina Garten's husband, of course. You know, "here comes Jeffrey," he's just in time for supper. Barefoot Contessa is my favorite show on the Food Network. ...

The Times’s restaurant critic could always eat (and eat and eat). Which meant a childhood of diets and disorders.