Cover Photo from “Ripe Figs” Credit: Matt Russell We’ve just returned from Greece with some great new recipes In case you don’t follow us on Instagram* or have wondered when our next post was coming, we’re back from one of the most wonderful trips we’ve…

Cooking a complete Plant-based entrée has never been easier. Plant-based eating is a major goal for Andrew and me.  We’re dedicated to trying to find ways to make our meals healthier for both ourselves and the planet.  That doesn’t mean you won’t continue to find…

Pizza, need I tell you, has taken over the world. And Turkey is no exception.  Spicy, crispy Turkish Pizza is called ‘Lahmacun‘. It’s Turkey’s most famous street food. And it’s a snap to make at home.  Picture it as a flavor-packed crispy flatbread topped with…

This wonderful pasta dish is a great weeknight find.  A hack makes it even better.                       I like to make pasta at least once a week. It is our go-to comfort food. This week, I…

Today, March 9th, the gods of whoever invents National Fill-In-the-Blank Days has declared in favor of the Meatball.  Who could think of a better day for Chewing The Fat to present our most popular meatballs ever?  In the past ten years, meatballs have been a…

Stanley Tucci’s 6-part series for CNN is an Italophile’s dream. For one hour a week, its viewers are immersed in the food of a single region of Italy.  For lovers of the Italian language, there’s a surprising amount of it spoken here. Subtitles are provided…

This bowl of cold-weather comfort revealed quite a secret. This hearty Tuscan bean soup is a perfect combination of smooth, silky soup topped with crispy, crunchy croutons.  It also fulfills our promise to put more plant-based meals together this year. And we’re not alone.  Americans…

What’s in a name?  Plenty! Drunken Pork Stew Proves it. I have to admit, it was its picture in Fine Cooking–and not its name– that made me want to cook this extraordinarily easy-to-make stew.  Tony Rosenfeld, who wrote “Savory Pork Stews”, says it’s “a quick…

Ina Garten’s Winter Minestrone is remarkably simple to make.  Trust Ina Garten to give us a recipe so dead easy, that you could decide to make it an hour before dinner.  It’s from Ina’s 2012 cookbook “Foolproof” (Clarkson-Potter). I looked at the ingredient list and…

Two countries create a dinner dish worthy of at least two stars. I love a great meatball which is really what Kofte are.  I am always on the lookout for new flavors to try.  This recipe is from two different sources: A Turkish recipe from…

Chicken Cacciatore, that Italian classic Chicken Stew, seems an odd choice for a summer meal. However, not too long ago, I was craving it and having just loaded up on Chicken thighs and with 8 people coming to dinner, I went with my craving and…

Ah, Ribollita…the Tuscan soup that’s a perfect antidote to winter.  Hearty and robust, it’s packed with vegetables and day-old bread making it far more a stew than a soup.  Its origins are precise.  Its roots are in the peasant foods of Tuscany particularly in the…

Yotan Ottolenghi is arguably one of the most influential chefs in the world.  His latest cookbook “Ottolenghi Simple” (Ten Speed Press 2108) was just released in this country last week. Chef Ottolenghi has been a frequent presence on these pages and links to his other…

I am mad for Lasagna.  Those layers and layers of pasta and cheese and luscious fillings with hints of rich tomato sauce are some of my favorite things to eat.  That explains why there are  no less than four recipes on the subject, links which…