Robin: Let’s talk for a minute about gelatin desserts. No, no, stay with me on this – it might get interesting. You might even get inspired to make one! Please note that I will use the terms gelatin and jello interchangeably throughout this post; if I need to refer to the specific brand name, I’ll…
Snacks
Creamy Jicama and Carrot Slaw
Robin: Coleslaw comes in many varieties and everyone has their favorite: creamy vs vinegary, rough shred vs fine, etc. The name itself belies its main ingredient, for cole comes from Latin colis, meaning cabbage. Which raises the question: if one were to make the very same salad, only without cabbage, could we still call it…
Everything You Never Realized You Need to Know About Jicama
Robin: If you are not familiar with jicama—a root vegetable that is often eaten like a fruit—you are totally missing out. Jicama (occasionally called yam bean) may be the tastiest, most healthful ingredient that you are not using—yet. I first encountered jicama while as a high school exchange student in the northern Mexican state of…
Zucchini Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Robin: These cookies are seriously delicious. Personally, I like them even more than I like “regular” (Toll House-style) chocolate chip cookies, and that’s saying a lot. Soft, chocolatey cookies in general are waaaay up there on the happiness scale for me. Just sayin’. The cookies made with this recipe have somewhat of a zucchini nut…
Basic Chunky Guacamole
Robin: Is guacamole it a dip, a condiment, or a side? The word itself translates loosely as “avocado concoction,” and the dish is used successfully in all those capacities. Try this recipe as a dip for tortilla chips, a spread for a sandwich, or an accompaniment to Cheese Cracklings or a grilled or roasted meat.
Turtles on a Raft
Robin: These sweet-salty treats are so addictive that when I took them in to share at work, my colleagues complained for weeks that I had given them crack. (I suspect that their complaints were a thinly-veiled, desperate attempt to get me to bring in some more.) The combination of chocolate with smooth caramel, crunchy pretzel…