Paper Palate

“Is there any more? The rice was really good.” Coming from The Husband, this is high praise indeed.  He thinks he makes better rice than I do. He probably does, but geez, it takes him f-o-r-e-v-e-r. So I was pretty happy to be getting rice praise from him on this new recipe. It comes from the newest (May) issue of […]

When the weather starts to get nice, my husband’s grilling hand gets itchy. Actually, scratch that — the weather doesn’t even have to be that nice. However, when the weather does get nice, his urge to grill is almost overpowering. I’m not the biggest fan of grilled foods (with apologies to Paper Palate’s sister site!), but sometimes I […]

The weather here in Kansas City is finally gorgeous. We have been having sunny, mid-70-degree days. Those of you who have been with me for a while know how thrilled this makes me. I have made no secret of my detest for winter, so finally having days that are as close to perfect as I […]

I’m always a bit leery of attempts to lighten classic, heavy comfort foods. Too often these recipes replace fat calories with sugar calories, rely on processed foods to lower calorie counts, or bear little resemblance to their rich counterparts. But when America’s Test Kitchen goes light, I’m bound to pay attention. The folks behind Cook’s Illustrated […]

The Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine by chef John D. Folse is just that, and so much more.
A passion for the cuisine of his native Louisiana is evident from the moment you pick up this weighty 800+ page tome.

This comprehensive cookbook begins with an overview of the rich history of Louisiana. It explains how […]

When on the BBC’s Magazine Panel, one gets to fill up questionnaires. My latest was about Celebrity Chefs: “who do I like, who I hate” sort of thing. Gazing at the list of the 30 odd names (that is, without counting “Other”), I could not help wondering about the flash-in-the-pan factor. Who of these top-notch cooks will still be in […]

Celebrate Earth Day with Earthbound Farm’s free downloadable one-page Guide to Choosing Organics.  You’ll find handy definitions of common buzzwords, tips on which fruits and vegetables carry the most amount of pesticides and much more.
Go on … don’t waste another minute.  Download the free PDF right here and keep it on hand for the next time you ask […]

I live on an island that is fairly well populated in terms of number of people, but fairly sparsely populated in terms of restaurant variety.  If I crave Thai, Mexican, Indian, or seafood, I’m set, but what happens if I’m struck with a longing for Japanese, Italian, Ethiopian, or steakhouse steak (and creamed spinach)?  The […]

March’s issue of Food & Wine magazine is dubbed the Special Kitchen Issue and reviews a variety of small appliances, giving the top three in each category.  The appliances reviewed are blenders, convection toaster ovens, deep fryers, food processors, hand mixers, juicers, and panini presses. I feel like I’m missing out here because I only have […]

I love Coastal Living magazine. As someone who is firmly planted in the Midwest, receiving my Coastal Living magazine every month is like a miniature getaway in my mind. I can browse through the gorgeous beach homes, read the stories of life in coastal towns, and dream and wish my day away.
One thing I never […]