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Sweets + Desserts

Pumpkin Cake with Spiced Cranberry Swirl

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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, […]

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Salads + Veggies

Beet and Raspberry Salad with Pecans and Maple Vinaigrette

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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 […]

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Entrees + Mains

Paul’s Pot Roast with Carrots and Herb Gravy

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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 […]

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Stories

Thanksgiving sans turkey

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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 […]

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Stories

A mother-in-law remembered, through za’atar

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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 […]

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Grains + Sides

Za’atar

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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 […]

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Sweets + Desserts

Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Pudding

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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 […]

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Grains + Sides

Sweet Potato Hash with Za’atar

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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 […]

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Entrees + Mains

Za’atar Roasted Chicken

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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. […]

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Stories

“Thanks mom and dad, for everything. I’m so happy.”

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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. […]

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Sweets + Desserts

Apple Cinnamon Scones

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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 […]

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Salads + Veggies

End of Summer/Early Fall Salad

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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 […]

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Appetizers + Snacks

Shrimp with Garlic Sauce

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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 […]

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The Zoe tree
Stories

The Zoe tree, a story of love and growing vegetables

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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 […]

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Caroline Barrett
Stories

A Road Trip, Eating Good Food and Loving My Kids

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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 […]

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Seared Salmon Salad
Stories

Seared Salmon Salad with crunchy and salty things

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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 […]

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Vanilla Chai Spice Pudding
Sweets + Desserts

Vanilla Chai Spice Pudding

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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. […]

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Asian Chicken Salad with Herbs and Crunchy Noodles
Entrees + Mains

Asian Chicken Salad with Herbs and Crunchy Noodles

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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 […]

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Super Green Lentil Salad
Salads + Veggies

Super Green Lentil Salad

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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 […]

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Caroline Barrett, Mother's Day story
Stories

Celebrating Mom with Food and Time Together

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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 […]

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Recipes for Crepes with Nutella and fruit
Sweets + Desserts

Stacked Crepes with Nutella and Fruit

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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 […]

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Our Favorite Salad
Salads + Veggies

Our Favorite Salad, with Homemade Croutons

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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, […]

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Greek Spinach Pizza
Entrees + Mains

Greek Spinach Pizza

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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 […]

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Hummus with Roasted Vegetables
Appetizers + Snacks

Hummus with Roasted Vegetables

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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 […]

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Cozy food for the weekend
Sweets + Desserts

Peanut Butter Bread With Salted Chocolate Ganache

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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 […]

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Appetizers + Snacks

How to Build A Better Cheese Tray

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Cheese: choose at least three. Think about a variety of milks, from goat, sheep and cow, but also flavor and texture: creamy, crumbly, sharp and stinky.  Crunchy things: nuts are a must. Choose salted, flavored nuts. Cocoa dusted almonds are a nice addition, as are macadamias, pistachios or marcona almonds. […]

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Entrees + Mains

Carbonara with Smoked Salmon 

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Serves 4 8 ounces pappardelle  3 tablespoons olive oil 8 sage leaves 4 large eggs ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano Pasta cooking water 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper 6 ounces hot smoked salmon, broken apart For serving: grated Pecorino Romano, black pepper Bring a large pot of water to boil […]

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Stories

Looking back on 2022

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This story is my Times Union column from December 2022. It goes along with How to Build a Better Cheese Tray, Pineapple Cranberry Vodka, and Smoked Salmon Carbonara. You can also see it on the TU website here. One of the really nice things about the end of the year […]

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