In Good Taste

Mardi Gras Recipe: Jambalaya with Red Beans & Andouille Sausage

 

Since I grew up in New Jersey, it wouldn't be fair to say that Mardi Gras,which begins tomorrow, was ever a big part of my life. It would be fair to say that in college, Mardi Gras was an excuse to go out celebrate. And by celebrate, I mean drink alcohol on a school night.

Well, now that I am older I have a deeper understanding of Mardi Gras (and an inability to drink alcohol on a school night with the expectations of functioning the next day). Sometimes referred to as Carnival, it is a a period of celebration that has roots in pagan end-of-winter and beginning-of-spring rituals reaching back thousands of years.

Worknight Dinner Recipe: Beef & Pinto Bean Chili

January presents somewhat of a conundrum. On one hand, it's cold out and the weather lends to hibernation, dim light and fireplaces. The holiday season and abundance of cookies and calorie-laden treats seems long-ago but they've left a lasting presence on your jeans. It's sluggishness versus the gym; comfort food versus healthy food.

Luckily, things aren't always black and white. In life there are gray areas and things that might seem to be one way are actually another. Things that seem bad or scary can work out for the best and dreams that seem highly unlikely sometimes wind up happening. There is no cryptic analogy here, but it's late at night and I'm feeling particularly contemplative.

And also, there's chili.

Worknight Dinner Recipe: Simple Meat Sauce

No matter how well-stocked your pantry is, you will eventually, inevitably begin to cook a dish before you realize that you're missing one of the key ingredients. If you're lucky, you'll be able to find a viable substitute.

Some of my favorite ingredient substitutions include:

• 1 cup yogurt instead of
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 7/8 cup vegetable oil instead of 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons flour instead of 1 cup cake flour
• 1 cup plain yogurt instead of one cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs instead of 1 tablespoon fresh herbs
• 1 cup butter instead of 1 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup cocoa instead of 1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate

Two Beliefs and a Chile Corn Chowder Recipe

There are two things that I really believe in: six degrees of separation and self-fulfilling prophecies. Six degrees of separation is pretty simple. My college best friend Sarah's now-boyfriend Mike went to college with my high school best friend Jen. All three of them live in different states. We only know it because Jen saw that Mike was a mutual Facebook friend and put two and two together.

There's one example and that's even fewer than six degrees. With social networking, I think it's amazing how small this world is and how many common friends and acquaintances most of us actually have.

Worknight Dinner Recipe: Warm Spinach Salad with Brown Rice & Feta

Earlier this week, I decided that I would start eating healthier. It isn't a "New Year's Resolution"  and I'm not "on a diet" but when possible, I'm making a commitment to myself to eat fresh whole foods, fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water.

To help inspire you, I posted six recipes that anyone can cook (which for the most part are all figure-friendly). Then what do you know? But the next day all I can talk about is chocolate chip biscotti.