We had a gorgeous 75 degrees sunny, Carolina blue sky day in Charlotte today. That alone begged me to get outside rather than spending time in my favorite place, the kitchen, But the reality is that it is December and a time of year during which more people than ever are sick, overwhelmingly busy, and [...]

Preparing and eating various types of ethnic cuisine is a love of mine. Perhaps it is my automatic exclusion from animal products or my Indian background that has trained my palate to explore what others may regard as exotic flavors. Here is a quick Mexican meal where a little flair of lime and spice makes for [...]

(Polenta cakes served with goat cheese, roasted veggies and hot sauce.) Polenta, which originated in Europe, is similar to grits as both are made from stoneground corn. The type of corn for each varies as does the coarser texture of the cornmeal used to make polenta. I consider polenta to be a great vessel for [...]