recipe ideas

The annual Best of issue of Woodbury Magazine is always one of my favorites. I spend a lot of time searching for “bests”—the best local products, the best of Minnesota Grown, the best natural and organic meats and produce and so on. And of course, I also deal in recipes—lots and lots of recipes. Read more about Simply the Best

Start teaching your kids to cook early and slow with safe, confidence-boosting challenges before progressing to more complicated or hazardous undertakings. You know your child best; use your comfort level and their confidence and ability levels as guides. Here are some suggested kitchen tasks by age group for your up-and-coming chef. Read more about Kids in the Kitchen

If there is one thing social media has shown us, it’s that food is a very visual medium. Unlike other types of art, however, food plays to all of the senses—it has sound, texture, aroma and, most uniquely, flavor. Read more about The Art and Style of Supper

With a mere 150 square feet, I only grow what I know I’ll eat, and only the easy stuff—tomatoes, peas, zucchini herbs and lots of lettuces, for the most part. I humbly admit I am a below-average, somewhat lazy gardener. By September I am truly sick of weeding and harvesting, yet somehow, each April, I’m eager to dig in again.

While gardening may not be in my wheelhouse, it does present me with the chance to practice one of my favorite skills: salad dressing. Creamy dressings are usually my first choice, but garden veggies really shine best with a truly great vinaigrette. Read more about Garden Goodies

There’s no place like home. Of course, for most of last year it seemed like there was no place but home. Like so many others, I eventually grew bored of life within the same four walls. I called my malaise “The New Homesickness.” To combat my illness, I reorganized closets, cabinets and drawers. I installed new faucets. At one point I even swapped the furniture in my dining room with the furniture in my living room (even moving a baby grand piano!) just to switch things up. Read more about Happy Home Cooking

By now, even the most fervent cooks have grown a bit weary as the holidays and high entertaining season begin to fade into the distance.

As with nature, cooking has its own seasons—enter the time for comfort cooking. Soup tops the list, providing warmth against winter’s chill and soothing what ails us—one glorious spoonful at a time. Our editors from across the Twin Cities celebrate soup’s restorative qualities by sharing some of their favorite recipes. Read more about Soup’s On

Warm, creamy, endlessly versatile and impressive enough for guests—it’s a comfort dish that ticks all the boxes.

One of my favorite dishes to eat, risotto is also one of my favorite dishes to prepare. Some think it fussy, but I find making it to be quite therapeutic. There’s something about the stirring. Tending carefully to a pan of simmering risotto gives me time to think about where and how I learned to make it (in Figline Valdarno in Tuscany). Read more about Relaxing with Risotto

My New Year’s resolution last year was, “Never touch something twice when touching it once will do.” As much as 2020 gave me loads of time to get things done, I gained great satisfaction in learning culinary shortcuts and kitchen time savers. I became better at meal planning and super-fast at grocery shopping; I figured out how to maximize freezer storage and realized I could make something out of leftover anything. Read more about Resolute and Ready

By now, even the most fervent cooks have grown a bit weary as the holidays and heavy-food season begin to fade into the distance.

As with nature, cooking has its own seasons—enter the time for comfort cooking. Soup tops the list, providing warmth against winter’s chill and soothing what ails us—one glorious spoonful at a time. Our editors from across the Twin Cities celebrate soup’s restorative qualities by sharing some of their favorite recipes. Read more about Soup’s On!