Cucumbers are in season and it’s the perfect time to experiment with recipes for pickling. These pickles are inspired by flavors from around the globe, from India to New England, Poland to Africa.
Author: Lauren McConnell
I'm a foodie, writer, and artist who's happiest when I'm in the kitchen trying out a new recipe or cuddled up with my Devon Rex and a good book. For me, cooking is about so much more than sustenance. It's a creative act, an expression of oneself. It's about showing your love--for oneself, for others, for the ingredients and traditions you're engaging with.
Melting Pot I: The Diverse Dish that Is Gumbo, and a Recipe for Seafood Gumbo
There are three key elements to the best gumbo–an excellent seafood stock, a solid brick roux, and quality ingredients to go into it–fresh seafood when possible, okra in season, and so on. While you may sometimes have to make due with frozen or out-of-season ingredients, the stock, roux, and giving the gumbo the time it needs to develop flavor will still always give you incredible results.
Stir-Fried Beef with Oyster Sauce and Zucchini Noodles
This is a simple stir fry but is full of flavor, with salty and umami-rich sauce lightly coating tender steak and zucchini. I highly recommend this easy, satisfying weeknight dinner.
Smoky Seafood Chowder
This rich, briny, creamy, slightly smoky seafood chowder is also easy to put together, and is a sure-fire way to impress dinner guests.
Gras Double (Tripe Lyonnaise)
Gras double, or tripe lyonnaise, is a staple in the bouchons of Lyon, France. The name gras double describes the method of cooking it in two helpings of fat, which not only makes the tripe tender while still slightly chewy (about the same texture as really good calamari) but also gives it a subtle richness.
Wafu Pork Belly Skewers
The pork belly on these skewers is succulently tender, coated in a sweet and salty sauce. This a simple but memorable meal that makes my fiancé nostalgic for good times in Japanese yakiniku restaurants.
A Pie By Any Other Name? Shepherd’s Versus Cottage Pie, and a Recipe to Make Yours
This is an easy, versatile, and satisfying recipe for cottage pie: ground beef and vegetables in rich gravy topped with a crust of mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese.
A Wholesome Marriage I: A Recipe for Red Beans and Rice
Served over white rice, the rich, savory Andouille sausage and smoky, salty ham play off of the red kidney beans to produce a harmonious whole in this traditional Creole red beans and rice dish.
Spicy Sweet-and-Sour Lime Pickle Chicken Wings
Sweet, sour, and salty, these grilled chicken wings have zing both from the spices and the lime. Topped with scallions and fried garlic, they’re little pieces of tangy heaven.
Tentacular Spectacular: A Recipe for Grilled Octopus
Want to serve up some citrus kissed, grilled seafood that’ll really wow your bbq guests? With this recipe for octopus, do some prep ahead of time and you can just whip these tentacled beauties out when you’re ready to grill. Presto! Tentacular spectacular!
