Category Archives: simple dinners

Smoky Red Enchilada Sauce

Ahh…enchilada sauce! I love enchiladas, but I  almost never make them at home. I was under the misconception that it was a lot of work (soaking dried chilies) and used ingredients not readily available to me. I’m sure this is very true for something uber-traditional, but this version is very tasty, and very fast. You can [...]

Hungarian Noodles and Cabbage

I wish I had a lovely story about my grandmother stirring up a pot of this when I was feeling sad, but alas, I don’t. This is an incredible comfort dish, it rivals grilled cheese and tomato soup. The egg noodles are soft, silky, salty, and buttery. The cabbage is sweet, nutty, and caramelized. Combined, [...]

Grilled Cheese and Pear Sandwich

All kids love grilled cheese. And let’s be honest, most adults do too. I’ve written that grilled cheese and tomato soup are my #1 comfort food on a dismal day. What’s yours? There are 101 variations on this theme, but here is a twist that my son particularly enjoyed. Apple slices, cheddar, and leftover cranberry [...]

Butternut Squash, Kale, and Barley Risotto

This was one of those dinners that started out as something to fill our bellies, and ended up as something truly delicious. Despite the glaring absence of pulled pork, I had to steal this tiny portion away from my husband in order to preserve something to photograph. It really was that good! Kid and husband [...]

Matzo Ball Soup

I went to college far away from home, and while I enjoyed almost everything about the university I chose, there were some times when I would have traded it all to be back home. Getting sick was the worst. No one to bring you 7-up, put the television by your bed, or genuinely feel bad [...]