Stories, recipes, class schedules and more from Caroline Barrett
Makes one 9-inch cake For the topping: 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries, chopped 1 cup granulated sugar Pinch salt Peeled zest from ½ orange (about 6 strips) 2 tablespoons dark rum ⅛ teaspoon cloves For the cake: ½ cup olive oil 2 eggs ½ cup applesauce 1 cup granulated sugar, […]
Serves 6 8 medium-sized golden beets 4 ounces mixed salad greens 6 ounces raspberries 1 cup whole toasted pecans ½ cup grated Romano cheese Fresh thyme leaves For the vinaigrette: ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ⅓ cup white balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons maple syrup ½ […]
Serves 4 Kosher salt 3 ½ pound chuck roast Olive oil 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 4 cups beef broth (unsalted, if store-bought) 1 cup red wine 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 bay leaf 1 sprig fresh rosemary 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 teaspoon kosher […]
It was kind of a disaster, our Thanksgiving two years ago, but really, who didn’t have a disastrous holiday in 2020? We planned for an intimate affair, just the five of us and one boyfriend, but then Zoe and that boyfriend were exposed to COVID and so instead of coming […]
There’s a jar in my kitchen, a small Mason jar filled with a Middle Eastern spice mixture called za’atar. There’s a story behind that jar, and I cherish its contents. It was a gift from my mother-in-law, brought home from a trip to Israel. Joan was many things, among them […]
Makes ½ cup ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds 2 tablespoons dried sumac (see note) 1 tablespoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon each marjoram and oregano Stir together the ingredients and keep tightly closed in a glass jar. Keeps for 3 months. Note: Sumac is a dried ground berry with a tart […]
Serves 6 ½ cup sugar ⅓ cup brown sugar ¼ cup cornstarch 1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon clove ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 3 cups whole milk (almond or soy milk works too) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup pumpkin puree Whipped cream, for serving In a […]
Serves 4 Olive oil 1 small red onion, peeled and chopped 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes Kosher salt 2 tablespoons water 2 slices pastrami, cut ½-inch thick (ask a deli clerk to help with this) 1 tablespoon za’atar 4 fried eggs In a large skillet, heat […]
Serves 4 One 2.5 pound chicken, quartered Olive oil 1 rounded teaspoon kosher salt One lemon, sliced into thin rounds 2 heads garlic, tops sliced 2 tablespoons za’atar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (see note about cooking temperatures and times.) Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. […]
It is done. The third child, our last child, has gone to college. It was all done in the typical way: Paul and I packed him into a car filled with bins, a fan, new towels and a comforter. We drove down the bumpy 88 interstate in a quiet car. […]
Makes 8 scones 2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 tablespoon cinnamon ½ cup raw or golden sugar (see note) 6 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter ½ medium tart apple, peeled ½ cup milk For topping: ¼ cup raw sugar Butter, for serving […]
Makes four servings Olive oil 1 delicata squash, seeds removed and sliced 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 4 shallots, peeled and sliced 4 cups salad greens 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved Kernels cut from two ears of steamed corn 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted […]
4 appetizer servings 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 10 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 1 heaping teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 heaping teaspoon sweet Spanish paprika 1 lb. large wild caught shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on Juice of one lemon 1 small handful fresh flat leaf parsley Sea […]
Here’s my Times Union story from August. See it on their site here, or see below. This story goes along with Make Your Own Quinoa Bowls, Tomato Salad with Pickled Onions and Herbs, and Fresh Peach Milkshakes. There’s a tree in our backyard. It isn’t big by tree standards, but […]
Hi Everyone, here is my Times Union story from June 2022. You can see it on their site here, or read below. As always, thanks for reading. xoxoxox When my oldest child graduated with a master’s degree and decided to set out for the West Coast, he asked if I […]
Here’s a salad for the in-between time, the sad, kind of grey time, when winter is over, and before there’s anything really growing in your garden. It’s right now that you just can’t stand the sight of another winter stew. Early spring cooking can be either depressing (there’s not much […]
This recipe is part of my April Times Union story. Read it all here. My mother taught me how to love and appreciate all tea. I have sweet memories of barely warm chamomile tea made the way I liked it: with plenty of milk and sugar, served by my mom. […]
This recipe is part of my April Times Union story. Read the whole thing here. Asian chicken salad is a throwback to a similar dish from the ‘90s, one we sought out and ordered often in restaurants. Make this salad with any chicken: Poached breasts, leftover roasted chicken or thighs […]
This recipe is part of my April TU story. Read the whole thing here. I particularly love how one vegetable can be the spokesperson for an entire season and asparagus is certainly the one who speaks for spring. The stalks, sauteed briefly in a bit of hot oil, turn bright […]
Here’s my Times Union story for April. It goes along with recipes for Super Green Lentil Salad, Asian Chicken Salad with Herbs and Crunchy Noodles and Chai Spice Vanilla Pudding. ‘Tis the season, isn’t it, for all things Mother? Mother’s Day is soon upon us and in the spirit of […]
This is part of my March 2022 TU story. Read it all here. Would it be strange to pack a crepe pan among the twin sheets and towels bound for the dorm? I have never known a child or adult to not adore crepes, and knowing how to make them […]
This recipe goes along with my March 2022 TU story. Read it here. This salad is super simple and there’s no better way to name it than simply Our Favorite Salad, because that’s what it is. I’ve made this salad hundreds of times over the years, for quick weeknight dinners, […]
Part of my March 2022 Times Union story, about Elliot choosing a college. We have a deep and lasting love for spanakopita in our house, especially Elliot. If you aren’t familiar, it’s a Mediterranean dish packed with spinach, cheese and herbs. Creating the filling isn’t hard: Sautéed onions and garlic […]
Part of my February 2022 Times Union story. Read the whole thing here. If you’re going to laze around for a day or so, you need decent snack foods. You’re going to want sustenance, something to get you from the Netflix binge through the afternoon nap. In our house, we […]
Part of my Tines Union story, February 2022. See it here, or read below. Weekends call for a pan filled with a homemade something, a well-deserved treat for the week, a job well done. Enter the peanut butter loaf cake. Easy to make, filled with simple ingredients and flavors that […]
Welcome. I hope you find some recipes to share with the people you love, and stories that resonate.