20 Questions with Katie

Katie McKenna makes me laugh. Sometimes I make her cry. We met literally by accident, our paths crossing in the post-trauma arena. Her book, How to Get Run Over By A Truck, which she reads on Audible, is a MUST. Somehow, the softcover edition landed in my daughter’s ICU room in Manhattan last May. I could only glance at the book’s colorful cover and imposing title and slide it back into my tote bag for later. 

By late January, a mutual friend implored us to meet Katie, “a woman who got run over by a truck wrote a book about it. You should read it.” In the throes of trauma timeout, I finally screwed up the courage to give the Audible version a listen and here is where the laughter comes in. Katie’s story as she reads it grips you like a nightmare then shifts you into knee slapping. She has a rare gift.

We started with a phone call in February when the world was mostly right. My daughter Sara met Katie for coffee in New York and then...Quarantine. Or as Katie calls it: Quaran-TINE (like Valentine). She’s been married for a year and a half and says “yep, half of our marriage we’ve been living with my parents, our Quaran-Team!” 

She’s a fifth generation New Yorker and when she’s talking tough, calls herself McKenna. Her friends call her Katie Mac and her dad describes her as “this is my daughter Katie. She will bust your balls like a Wall Street Trader in the 80’s, but she will hug you so hard you can feel her heart beat.”

Thriving as a trauma survivor, Katie is a life coach and professional speaker who can cheerlead anyone away from the blues.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? My favorite thing to make is a pasta dish with julienne carrots, red onion and red bell pepper sautéed with garlic and olive oil, s&p. Turn it all into the pasta pot with some soft goat cheese and some of the pasta water. Minimal dishes is my goal in life. My older brother’s girlfriend introduced this to us. It’s a fridge cleaner and the goat cheese makes a nice silky sauce.

What’s your favorite city? Ummmmmm is it bad to say New York? I guess I’ll say Dublin. It’s a real sweet city.

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? My comfort restaurant is Il Pasatore, a northern italian restaurant in Williamsburg. They have a shaved Brussels sprouts salad with apples, walnuts and parmesan with a lemon vinaigrette that I just love. I love their carbonara with the egg, pancetta and cheese with beautiful homemade spaghetti. 

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? You mean if I found something and was just over the moon?! Some of my mom’s homemade pesto. 

Who taught you to cook? Is it bad to say myself? My mom taught me the beauty of chop a bunch of things up and put it in balsamic vinegar and everything will be fine. 

What’s your go-to dish for company? It is Allison Roman’s garlic braised short ribs with red wine.

What’s on your cooking playlist? I’m a podcast person! I love This American Life while I’m cooking. I listen to Brene Brown’s Unlocking Us, and Hidden Brain or How I Built This

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? I like to make myself every morning: Coffee, 2 scoops of Bulletproof collagen, unflavored, I put in a glurp/ about ¼ cup coconut eggnog and then i put in a dash of ginger, turmeric cinnamon and ground clove and some oat milk. Yeah, there’s only a little bit of room for coffee. Then I froth it and we are good to go.

Date night--at home? or out? If things are normal, date night out

Most stained cookbook? The New York Times cooking app.

Surf? or Turf? If it’s lobster, SURF!

Indispensable kitchen tool? I do use my frother every single day. 

Staple childhood comfort food? Probably truthfully whole wheat toast with butter and jam. I do bake the no-knead bread from the New York Times.

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? Right now I would love to share a meal with Elizabeth Gilbert. 

Ideal grilled cheese? Oohhhhh heavily buttered white toast, it would have to be cooked open face so the cheese melts fully, then you put them together. I want straight gooey and this way It’s done faster, I’m a fast kid! I’m a bit of a grilled cheese connoisseur. My brother says I’m the best at grilled cheese, flattery will get you everywhere! White cheddar, Cabot sharp and bacon if I’m allowed.

Favorite pizza topping? Sausage, red peppers and onions is my favorite, I mean if I’m gonna do it. I’d get it at Williamsburg Pizza in Williamsburg. With a side of garlic knots because I’m not an idiot!

Where would you want to take a cooking class? I have actually taken a really great cooking class at Brooklyn Kitchen, they do really great classes. 

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Everything will taste good if you chop it up really small. Think of an area of the world, say Mexico: chop up tomatoes, jalapeños, onion, squeeze of lime. Same same, pick a region...all that stuff. Add the appropriate acid.

Three things next to your stove? Olive oil, kosher salt, crushed red pepper and probably like a head of garlic 

Favorite Sports Team? New York Giants. 

Continuing with the sunshine theme, Katie’s pasta dish is so much sunshine in a bowl!

Katie’s (Game Changer) Goat Cheese Pasta

A few ingredients from your produce drawer do a delightful dance with goat cheese and pasta. Prep the veggies while the pasta pot comes to a boil. Sauté them while the pasta cooks. Toss them all together and you have delicious kitchen heroics in honestly 20 minutes.

Get a big pot of salty water going for pasta. I cooked a pound of thin spaghetti and kept about one quarter of the cooked noodles plain to make buttered noodles in case there was a request (and yes of course there was!) While the water comes to a boil (hello turbo burner!), julienne/matchstick cut a big peeled carrot, a red bell pepper and a red onion. Mince or crush a couple cloves of garlic. Take a 4 ounce log of goat cheese out of its wrapper. Timing is kind of key here…My thin spaghetti said ‘al dente in 7 minutes’ and al dente is a good time to drain it since it will cook a bit longer back in the pot with the veg, goat cheese and pasta water.

As you drop your pasta with a good stir into the boiling water, heat a large skillet over medium/almost medium-high heat and drizzle in a tablespoon or two of olive oil. Add the julienned carrot, bell pepper and onion, season well with s&p. Stir your pasta and if you’re feeling cheffy, give the skillet a nice toss with a flick of your strong wrist or stir. When the veg are just softening, add the garlic. When the pasta is done, use a large mug or Pyrex measuring cup to scoop up at least a cup of the hot pasta water (I like to set the heatproof cup in my colander, that way I won’t forget!). Drain the pasta and return it to the pot over the still hot but turned off burner. Add the veg and use about a half cup of the pasta water to ‘deglaze’ the skillet. Swirl the skillet and add this flavorful liquid to the pasta. Crumble in the goat cheese, scattering it around, and stir. Add more pasta water to make a silky sauce that just coats the noodles. Lift into warmed bowls (stack them on the back of the stovetop while you’re cooking = warm:) ) and serve after taking a bow. Happy Cooking!

20 Questions with Chuck

My husband Charles Hamilton is my number one cooking companion and can follow almost any kitchen command. He calls it ‘cooking by remote control’: I can sit back and give instructions and he will get it done. Mostly, though, we cook together. Pizza night is a favorite that we started as newlyweds almost 30 years ago. If I ask, he will put a mean edge on our knives and then puts those sharp blades to work on a board full of vegetables. He also makes a great DJ.

This mystery man is an inimitable girl dad and has roughly zero social media presence. He loves to surf, cycle and get into some fun carpentry projects from whittling chopsticks to creating our work of art front entry bench. For Mother’s Day 20-something years ago, he gave me my first of many Rick Bayless cookbooks and that’s where we discovered and he perfected the recipes for salsa negra and poblano rajas.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? Poblano rajas. I think poblanos are a superfood.  Blister ‘em thoroughly under the broiler or on a grill. Then let them steam in a covered bowl until just cool enough to handle. There are some more steps, I’ll let you give the recipe. Usually the spice level is manageable for most.  Sizzle the rajas in the butter before adding the scrambled eggs to the pan and add the cheese at the end. Fantastic on a pizza with salsa, pepper jack, black beans and chorizo maybe.  Reilly just eats them in a bowl with a flurry of salt.

What’s your favorite city? Barcelona, it’s on the water, near the mountains, the food is great and everybody wants to be outside. 

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city?  Cocha.  The owners are our friends and neighbors and serve super fresh Venezuelan inspired food.  The new dog-friendly sidewalk patio is a game changer!  

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? Black magic.  Salsa Negra is the real name but your brother Johnny took a late night first taste and declared “Black Magic”. 50 chipotle peppers are quick fried and reconstituted in molasses water with garlic and then cooked down down down.  It looks like tar, spreads like tar, with a heat profile that comes on slow and then lasts with smokey sweet heat.   

Who taught you to cook? You did!

What’s your go-to dish for company? I really like that chicken florentine that YOU make for company.  Pounded chicken breast rolled with spinach and fontina cheese covered in a luscious beurre blanc sauce.  Rice or orzo with it.  So good.

What’s on your cooking playlist? Cooking with music is the best.  It’s fun to pair the music with to the cuisine sometimes. It's crazy that we have access to almost any song ever recorded at our fingertips.

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? Strong black coffee in the morning. After eggs.

Date night--at home? or out? I’m a homebody.  Love, love, love, date night at home.

Most stained cookbook? I take good care of your books...

Surf? or Turf? Surf.  I like those red snapper fingers served with black magic tartar sauce.  I’m more of a Surf & Chirp guy.  Chicken thighs are the best.  Salt & pepper and grilled.  

Indispensable kitchen tool? It’s a toss up between a sharp knife and a bottle opener.

Staple childhood comfort food? My mom Claire’s mac and cheese. Made with Velveeta and I think margarine was a factor. You have to serve this with an iceberg lettuce salad dressed with Good Seasons dressing, with little bits of celery on a good night.

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? I would have breakfast with my two grandfathers, at a local diner in Philadelphia or Chicago. I wouldn’t even say who I was, we’d just have breakfast, sip coffee and talk about the day ahead. Family, sports, work and then walk out in different directions. 

Ideal grilled cheese? Ruth Reichl’s. The one with as many varieties of alliums (white onions, red onions, yellow onions, garlic, shallots, green onions, leeks? ramps?) as you can find in the house. Dice ‘em small and mix with your cheese. Raw. Yes I was skeptical... thinking it would be too raw oniony. The ciabatta bread is prepped with butter on the inside! A spread of mayo on the outside and smashed with bit of cheese/onion mixture. Grill in an iron skillet low/med for awhile. Decadent.  

Favorite pizza topping? Caramelized onions. Don’t believe those recipes that say you can caramelize onions in 20 minutes or less. Settle in and don’t rush it. Go for the deep sweet mahogany. 

Where would you want to take a cooking class? I’d go back to Oaxaca and get a masters in mole.  Grab a paper cone of spicy chapulinas (fried grasshoppers) at the zocalo while shopping for ingredients.

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Learn Julia Child’s technique for mincing garlic. Crushed/smashed is right for some dishes but minced cooks way differently. Peel the cloves without crushing it, keep the stem intact, and cut through the cloves horizontally to form three or four layers, then slice vertically, then chop. The stem keeps it together.

Three things next to your stove? April, a glass of red wine and Gus.

Favorite Sports Team? Florida Gators and Kelly Slater.

Chuck’s poblano rajas make an excellent quesadilla filling.

Poblano Rajas

These are a staple in our kitchen. You can get a small batch done in 20-something minutes, but we usually make a huge skillet full as an all hands on deck affair. They keep well in the fridge for up to a week and add a festive note to everything they touch. Scrambled eggs, pizzas, blended with a little cream for pasta. Let your imagination soar! Poblanos are deep emerald green cone-shaped chile peppers, best known as the star of chiles rellenos.

Recipe from Rick Bayless’s Mexican Kitchen cookbook.

• 1 pound (6 medium/large) fresh poblano chiles

• 1 large (8-ounce) white onion

• 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil

• 3 large garlic cloves, peeled and freshly chopped

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

• Salt, about ½ teaspoon

Heat your broiler to high. Lay the chiles on a baking sheet and roast them about 4 inches beneath the broiler until blistered on all sides, turning occasionally.

Place the blistered chiles in a large bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel and let them steam for 5 minutes. Carefully peel off the charred skin, then use a paring knife to cut out the cores and scrape out and discard the seeds. Cut them into ¼-inch wide slices.

Cut the onion in half through the root end. Cut off the ends and remove the skin, then slice along the grain into ¼-inch slices. Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until nicely golden but still slightly crunchy, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and herbs and stir for one minute. Mix in the chiles and stir to heat through, about 1 minute. Taste and season with salt. 

20 Questions with Grant

Grant Guidroz and his wife Allison are the power farming couple behind Fullness Farm, a bustling one acre plot that they carefully tend for great yield and delicious harvest. They make it so easy to eat with the seasons! I first met Grant at the Red Stick Farmer’s Market and got hooked on the salad greens which are popular in some of Baton Rouge’s finest restaurants as well as home kitchens across the city. I was so intrigued I had to see the farm for myself and have visited in all seasons. 

Knowing the salad you’re enjoying tonight was harvested and washed just days before it reaches the kitchen is a huge win! The greens are a rainbow of flavor and for me it was love at first taste. Ditto for the sweet baby carrots, the fresh herbs, the eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. And the broccoli! The broccoli is prettier than a bridal bouquet.

Going with the adage ‘start ‘em young’ Grant and Allison are raising their two young children on the farm and it won’t be long before their preschooler is filling cartons with eggs from their chicken coop.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? Roasted vegetables. When I was a kid, all the vegetables were steamed. I really love roasting them. We try to eat something that we grow with every meal. I chop up some slices of frozen cooked bacon and whole cloves of garlic and it really elevates it! I can get the rest of the meal going on the stove while the vegetables are in the oven.

What’s your favorite city? It’s Baton Rouge, man! We go visit places but we always want to come back home. 

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? Definitely Nino’s, that’s where we go! We have a lot of history there. They have our invoice number one. The chef Elton and his wife Randee Hyndman are family friends and it was a no brainer when we started selling. We did a farm to table dinner at Inglewood Farm when we were interning up there. He says “The more I’ve gone farm to table the more I’ve been rewarded” It took his restaurant to the next level. They are really cool. 

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? Probably some really good hot peppers in vinegar. Put the peppers in the jar raw and pour hot vinegar over them. We take off the stems and put them in. We’re experimenting now with different vinegars. We put a little salt and some peppercorns and that’s about it. You can add more vinegar to make a second batch.

Who taught you to cook? My dad did most of the cooking growing up. He’s from the Westbank of New Orleans and has a lot of Louisiana food traditions. He really knows how to cook all the classic dishes without a recipe. Etouffee, red beans and rice. My mom is from Jonesboro, LA, up north. The food is very different from south Louisiana. My aunt always had a summer garden and made a really great salsa. I spent time up there in the summer, having those experiences influenced me to go into farming. Looking back, having been exposed to it, yeah it definitely had a big influence. City kid going to the country. It was awesome having more space 

What’s your go-to dish for company? Probably grilling. That’s what we do the most when we have people over. The vegetables are always the biggest hit! When we go over to friends’ houses, we always bring vegetables to put on the grill. They are always a surprise hit! Any vegetable is great on the grill! Eggplants, peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes. Okra is the surprise thing, it is so great on the grill! 

What’s on your cooking playlist? Lately I’ve been listening to musicians on YouTube. There’s a guy who does piano mash ups. He’s a combo of Beethoven and Pink Floyd. I’ve got an affinity for Beethoven especially when I’m working

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? Coffee!! I do love all those! Coffee is my mainstay. Super strong, as much coffee grounds as the thing will hold. It is black!! I like to add a little cream from Feliciana’s Best. We put the extras in a mason jar with a little honey and put it in the fridge so it’s hot brewed iced coffee. I pretty much drink it all day long. I also love hibiscus tea with honey.

Date night--at home? or out? If we really want to do a date night we go out. We’re also a big fan of the staycation. We can make a fire and pick up a nice meal and enjoy it at home. It’s hard to get out with young kids. El Tio and margaritas from Superior. 

Most stained cookbook? I don’t even have a cookbook. I google recipes. I’m part of the new generation. Allison does these zucchini fritters from a recipe from 225 Magazine. 

Surf? or Turf? Turf!

Indispensable kitchen tool? Cast iron, the 10 or 12 inch skillet. So easy to clean and when it’s dry I rub it with a little avocado oil so it keeps its sheen.

Staple childhood comfort food? Pot roast. 

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? Jesus for sure! All the questions.

Ideal grilled cheese? Oh wow. On Dave’s Killer Bread with Kerrygold butter, butter both sides of the toast, extra sharp white cheddar cheese. And I take one of the kids’ organic mozzarella cheese sticks and slice it lengthwise and lay it on there, you get that nice pull when you tear it apart. We like it with tomato soup.

Favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni with fresh arugula on top after the pizza is done. Secret ingredient is quail egg. We’ll  put 5 or 6 on a pizza. I really don’t like a lot of toppings. I love pizza, it’s such a great meal. 

Where would you want to take a cooking class? Probably Red Stick Spice. I would want to do a fermenting class. I’d love to learn to make a fermented hot sauce. 

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Roasting things in the oven changed the game. It turned turnips into, you know, like the value of a rock into something as good as gold! 

Three things next to your stove? Spoon rest, cast iron and avocado oil. Some pink Himalayan salt. The cast iron is technically on the stove.

Favorite Sports Team? Lately none of them. It’s so crazy, I grew up loving sports! But I don’t know it seems like season 33 of Lost. If I had to pick one, it’s LSU football. I really just want them to win because it makes everyone else happy! It seems like everyone’s life is better here when LSU is winning! 

In Grant style I fired up my cast iron skillet to roast the broccoli. A rimmed baking sheet also works well. Make sure you have it in a single layer for best crisping.

Roasted Broccoli

Start your oven! Grant shares his praise for roasting all vegetables and his treatment for broccoli is a game changer. He also has a fun tip for adding quick flavor--he keeps cooked bacon in the freezer so it’s ready to add to any dish. The whole bouquet of broccoli from Fullness Farm is a work of edible art. It can all be roasted--stalks, leaves, florets--for a delicious and nutritious side dish.

HEAT a rimmed baking sheet or large cast iron pan in a hot oven (425) while you prep your broccoli. Roughly chop a whole head of broccoli into chunky stems, large leaves and bite-sized florets. Peel some whole garlic cloves and cut them in halves or quarters. Tear a slice or three of cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces. When the oven is HOT, carefully remove the heated pan and slide all the broccoli onto the pan. Toss with the garlic and bacon and drizzle with a tablespoon or so of avocado oil or olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt. Roast until leaves are crisp like kale chips and florets are sizzling and starting to brown, about 15 minutes.

20 Questions with Tracey

Tracey Scalia has worn a lot of hats since we first met at the beach in Florida when we were teens in bikinis. She went to college for respiratory therapy, worked through the medical field for a bit and traded her Mercedes for a Subaru and left the beach for Boulder. She channeled her love of cheesecake and went to pastry school. Now with two college age kids, she has turned her pastry degree into hospitality management, helping run the family business, The Burns Pub & Restaurant in Broomfield.

Back in the day when our pre-married names were so similar people thought we were sisters, we would hop out of the ocean and race up the steps to her parents’ kitchen for lunch, doctoring up ramen and boxed mac and cheese as teens will do. We were in each others’ weddings in the early 90’s and though we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like, our shared love of the Florida Gators and our hometown beach finds us reuniting in Florida from time to time. Hoping we can savor her fabulous coffee cake together soon!

What’s your 20 minute recipe? That’s a tough one! Coffee cake, I have one you can whip together really quick. Breakfast is my favorite meal, this one is really easy and it makes the house smell really good.

What’s your favorite city? Rome because of everything it has to offer! I love Rome, I love Italy! I would move there if I could!

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? I eat a ton of Mexican food. I usually go with independent and family-owned restaurants. Tres Margaritas. I go there a lot, they have great Tex-Mex. My go-to is always enchiladas. I just love enchiladas! They have a fish dish I love with mangos and avocados so it’s a little healthier. 

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? I always have a few ziploc bags of homemade sauce. I learned to make Chuck’s grandmother’s sauce, Nana’s sauce. My kids love it. Her secret was making the sauce with some fatty pork shortribs in it. If I can’t find those I use Italian sausage. You get the flavor from the meat and take it out for a smooth sauce. It’s funny because after I was divorced, Chuck called me to ask how to make his own grandmother’s sauce! He said the kids said his didn’t taste right. They still say mine is better.

Who taught you to cook? Mom, my mom was a great cook! I wish I had paid more attention. Because she was European, she knew how to cook a little bit of everything. Then I went to school for pastry and learned baking. Lots of trial and error. 

What’s your go-to dish for company? Typically a dessert, I would say cheesecake. People love my cheesecake! I went to culinary school because people loved my rum cake. I’ve had a lot of people ask me for the rum cake recipe and I haven’t given it out.

What’s on your cooking playlist? Oh you’re gonna laugh at this! I actually listen to country music. Modern country like Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. It’s kind of soothing. I like to concentrate so I don’t like anything too distracting.

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? KOMBUCHA! I drink Kombucha every day, I believe in its health benefits. I love it, I think it’s great! Some are better than others. I really don’t drink much caffeine because I have terrible insomnia. 

Date night--at home? or out? I’m a single empty nester. I’m married to my work! If I do date, I like to go out and I like to travel just FYI for all those bachelors reading your blog. How are you going to date in COVID anyway?

Most stained cookbook? Sort of my cookbook folder, the collection of recipes that I’ve collected and perfected. My mom gave me my first cookbook in high school The Joy of Cooking and I used it until it fell apart.

Surf? or Turf? Surf of course! Actually I hardly eat any meat outside of seafood. I run a kitchen where I have to taste meat but I almost never cook any meat. I’ve thought about making my sauce vegetarian but I don’t think it would be the same.

Indispensable kitchen tool? Rubber spatula. I can’t imagine a kitchen without one. I have every color shape and size. Even the little teeny baby ones. They are so great!

Staple childhood comfort food? Probably anything custard. That’s why I love cheesecake. My mom made everything with custard. It makes me think of her a lot when I eat custard.

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? This is kind of random. Because I love Italy and Italian food so much I think It would be Pavarotti! I think he would be really fun to have a meal with. I picture him being boisterous and fun, someone who knows how to enjoy food and drink!

Ideal grilled cheese? Sourdough bread with slices of tomato, I like a really good cheddar. We do Irish cheddar here on our Shepherd’s Pie but it doesn’t really melt well. 

Favorite pizza topping? Sundried tomatoes and anchovies. I love it! I love thin crust pizzas like they make in Italy.

Where would you want to take a cooking class? Oh gee I wonder! I’ve actually looked into taking a cooking class over there. There are cookie shops on every corner in Italy. My daughter is minor-ing in Italian so I’m hoping to go over and visit her if she gets to study abroad. 

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Overbeating anything with flour in it is a huge pet peeve. Don’t overbeat a cake! People don’t understand how tough a cake will be if it’s overbeaten. Also make sure you get your ingredients to room temperature when you’re baking. The butter, eggs and milk should all be close to the same temperature when you’re mixing your batter.

Three things next to your stove? My utensils, my Vitamix and my stand mixer. I use them constantly. A Vitamix is awesome! I got it in the divorce. 

Favorite Sports Team? Florida Gators. I bleed orange and blue!! 

Writer’s delight! Tracey’s coffee cake is perfect any time of day

You’ve gotta love a good old fashioned handwritten recipe! Use Tracey’s tip of ‘tempering’ the butter, sour cream and eggs to cool room temp before mixing. I used butter instead of shortening and pecans in the topping. One of my tasters wished it had four times as much apple…Play around and enjoy! Happy Cooking!

20 Questions with Michelle

Dr. Michelle Foster, a native of Guyana, started her career as a chemical engineer which led her to West Virginia where she worked for Union Carbide in the 90’s. She volunteered with Kanawha Institute for Social Research & Action, Inc. (KISRA), a community-based, non-profit that strengthens West Virginia families through health, employment, asset development, and learning initiatives, where she found her true passion for community development. 

Michelle got her PhD in community economic development and became the CEO of KISRA. That’s where we met! I was volunteering with AmeriCorps Farm to School and discovered a treasure of local food in KISRA’s farm and greenhouses. What a feast for the senses and great fresh produce to nourish the families in the area. (A highlight of my Farm to School service was touring the KISRA farm with my fellow Farm to Schoolers and hauling the harvest to an all local cooking event).

Michelle expanded her reach of serving the community when she became the president and CEO of The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation in 2016. She is a champion for equity and her education credentials are impressive, as are the accolades recognizing her achievements. I imagine she will always continue learning and growing, working to make West Virginia better and better.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? I’m pescaterian. I eat lots of seafood and I love spicy, Salmon is my favorite fish. I do a jerk salmon in the oven with Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican jerk seasoning, hot and spicy version. I used to get it at the International Grocery and now they sell it at Kroger. Growing up we ate a LOT of rice. My cousin turned me onto quinoa. She taught me how to do a fried rice with vegetables and quinoa instead of rice. Lots of colorful bell peppers, scallions, carrots. One of my favorite greens is Swiss chard and I actually get it at KISRA! I have a Szechuan sauce that I love. Once you use that you don’t need a lot of seasonings. I do love Tony Chachere’s!

What’s your favorite city? New York, of course!! My family is there.

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? I like Tidewater.

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? I recently moved, so my fridge is very clean. There’s a delicacy from Guyana, air dried shrimp. It adds so much flavor to foods. Guyanese style dried shrimp

Who taught you to cook? My mom and both my grandmas.

What’s your go-to dish for company? Some kind of fish dish. I ran across this recipe for Tuscan Butter Salmon. It has greens, sliced cherry tomatoes, butter and cream. It’s very very rich. Lots of flavor!

What’s on your cooking playlist? I stream WBLS radio station from New York. I like having that music in the background when I’m cooking. Old and new school R&B.

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? Tea, I love tea!

Date night--at home? or out? Lately at home. she’s laughing

Most stained cookbook? I’ve been using a lot of Pinterest for new things that I want to try. They even have Guyanese cooks who share things on Pinterest.

Surf? or Turf? Surf surf surf!

Indispensable kitchen tool? Very sharp knife. It’s so annoying when you have a dull knife.

Staple childhood comfort food? Something from my native Guyana, peanut butter fudge.

I remember eating fudge growing up. When I eat it I feel so nostalgic. 

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? President Obama AND Michelle! 

Favorite pizza topping? Veggies! Bell peppers and hot peppers with extra cheese and lots of veggies.

Where would you want to take a cooking class? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cooking class in France?! when they ever open things up again!

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? The spicier the better! Spice it up!

Three things next to your stove? A fruit bowl, i leave out my smoothie blender and a plant.

Favorite Sports Team? I’m not a big sports fan, I like LeBron James.

Favrote thing about Charleston? The people. I think we have the best people who really care! It's great collaborating with Mayor Goodwin, she is so passionate! Now I live in the city limits of Charleston and get to work to help make our city more attractive.

Bathed in Jamaican jerk seasoning and cloaked with lemon slices, Michelle’s salmon is a 20 minute wonder! Served here with a fresh Swiss chard salad with a kick of jalapeño.

Michelle’s Jerk Salmon

There’s a new condiment on my refrigerator door, thanks to Michelle’s recommendation! Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning has the same ingredients I use when I make it myself. It is so delicious and ready the moment you’re craving a getaway to Jamaica! No peppers to puree, it’s all there in the jar. The recipe is super quick, too. For the best flavor, plan a day ahead and marinate your salmon overnight.

Spritz each salmon filet with fresh lemon juice or a little vinegar, then coat the fish with a generous layer of the jerk seasoning paste, maybe a teaspoon or three. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Heat your oven to 400. While the oven heats, place a cast iron skillet* over medium-high heat and when it’s hot, lay in the salmon, skin side down so it quick sears the skin. Place the skillet in the oven and cook the salmon until your desired degree of doneness, about 7 minutes for medium. Serve with lemon wedges and your favorite greens or a nice batch of quinoa ‘fried rice.’

*if you don’t have a cast iron or oven-proof skillet, salmon can be cooked in a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet. Add a few minutes to the cooking time since it will not be pre-seared on the stovetop.

20 Questions with Laura

Laura Securro is a principal at a school in South Florida. Lucky them! She smiles wide at all times and we met when she was a first year teacher in Charleston, West Virginia. I was a volunteer with AmeriCorps Farm to School and she welcomed me into her classroom to do cooking demonstrations and tastings with her students any time, even sharing her cell number. She was new to the classroom and I was just getting started, too. Our passions for kids and food collided and we had the best time catching up recently.

Laura shared her devotion to cooking, a lifelong love her parents cultivated. Cooking is her hobby and a release when she gets home from a busy day at school. First things first, she gets into her comfy clothes, puts on some music and cooks up some fun! Tacos aren’t just for Tuesday, they are a staple for any night of the week when a quick meal is in order.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? Tacos! I use that very broadly. I can literally do anything with that theme! I usually keep everything on hand for it. While you’re  browning your meat whether its beef, chicken, fish or shrimp, you get the rest going. Refried beans, slaw with crema. Taco seasoning goes a long way! If you don’t have a big thing of taco seasoning, I don't know why. Guacamole! I always have ripe avocados. My secret is a little olive oil and a LOT of lime juice! Salt and I’ll add in some chili powder, taco seasoning for a kick and chopped up red onions. I cook a batch of dried black beans for the week and use them. 

What’s your favorite city? My favorite place to go is a place I’ve never been. I love new experiences. Really, I would say Grand Rapids, Michigan where I went to college. They have Art Prize every fall. The whole city gets decorated by art by all the local artists. Great food, great night life. There’s a river that runs through. It gets rated as one of the top cities for young professionals.

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? Oh that’s a really loaded question. We live in Delray Beach. I’ll say Death or Glory, I have to give them a shout out! They go all out for Halloween and have some healthier spins on food. They do Cheeto dusted chickpeas. Fun drinks and good food. I love the Bear Shack, too. When you go out to a restaurant, you’re looking for good atmosphere, good food and drinks and a good time!

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? I’m the lemon queen! My father had this love of lemons. I start to get panicked if I’m down to one or two. I drink my water with lemon and I really think it enhances everything! Carrots are great with lemon.

Who taught you to cook? Both my parents. Not one more than the other. I’m 100% Lebanese. My mom made the best food, even fried chicken! My father made more of the everyday food. He could make even an average meal amazing! I watched them, loved being in the kitchen. I think when your parents enjoy it, it’s automatic for the kids.

What’s your go-to dish for company? A really good charcuterie board! There’s so many good things you can do with that for an appetizer. For the main dish I’ll do a big salad with garlic bread and chicken parmesan. I start with a good jarred sauce that I doctor up. I love mushrooms in my sauce. Lots of fresh parm on top. Makes a really good party night!

What’s on your cooking playlist? My top one is Laid Back Beach Music Radio on Pandora! I literally tell Alexa. Tied with Bob Marley. Makes you feel like you’re on vacation. 

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? That’s a hard one! I would probably pick kombucha over everything. I love kombucha! You feel healthy after you drink it. 

Date night--at home? or out? Date night in for sure. If my husband takes over he will make tuna tartare and some scallops. If I’m cooking, I make his favorite meal, a turkey meatloaf with cauliflower mashed potatoes. Really the best date night in is homemade pizza! You can go any direction with this, I try to encourage my friends to do this with their kids. 

Most stained cookbook? Probably my Lebanese cookbook. Or Hungry Girl. I used that all through college. Really easy recipes.

Surf? or Turf? Oh you’re killing me! I’ll say surf. I’ll always pick the scallops or crabcakes on the menu. We had a house on Cape Cod and grew up eating a ton of seafood

Indispensable kitchen tool? My lemon juicer, that old school one. Tied with a baking pan, I mean what would you do without a baking pan?!

Staple childhood comfort food? Macaroni and cheese. A good mac and cheese is...and I love making it homemade! I love a good homemade mac and cheese. 

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? I’m embarrassed to tell you.I watch the Housewives shows to unwind.  Bethany Frankel from the Housewives, she’s the Skinny Girl. She does a lot of giving back and she is really entertaining! 

Ideal grilled cheese? There would be no cheese I would leave out! I would put every cheese in the universe on it, including feta and havarti! Gouda, brie, everything. I would throw in some slices of bacon, too.

Favorite pizza topping? Mushrooms for sure.

Where would you want to take a cooking class? I know this sounds so cliche, I mean Rome, Italy! With a grandma who will show us how it’s done! We had a trip to Italy planned, we’ll have to get there one day. 

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Is this my secret power kind of thing? I can make anything out of anything! Give me something random, throw me ingredients and I’m confident I will make something awesome! 

Three things next to your stove? Four things. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and pepper. 

Favorite Sports Team? I would say anything Michigan. Detroit Redwings. I do love going to hockey games! 

What do you miss most about Charleston? The seasons and the leaves changing. Wearing those fall clothes and being outside and enjoying the beautiful mountains! I miss my family and friends, the West Virginia people and PEPPERONI ROLLS! 

What’s the secret to perfect guacamole? Read ahead and cook along! (PS it’s red onion, tons of fresh lime juice, good salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Ohhhhh and of course the best ripe avocados)

Laura’s Guacamole

Laura is on autopilot when it comes to taco night. She varies the fillings but one thing is a constant: homemade guacamole. Keeping avocados on hand makes it an any time staple! As I made a batch per Laura’s instruction, I was reminded of the BEST guacamole ($19! And worth every penny) I’ve ever tasted. It, too, was finished with olive oil and had the dreamy consistency of velvety with perfectly ripe melt in your mouth chunks. The homemade version matches the $19 batch!

For one and a half ripe avocados, you’ll need half of a small red onion, finely chopped, the juice of a lime, more if the lime isn’t super juicy or you like it extra lime-y, about a half teaspoon coarse sea salt and a drizzle of good olive oil. Mash the whole avocado with the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the remaining half avocado and cut it in leaving soft chunks. Scoop into a serving bowl and drizzle with another splash of olive oil. Serve with your favorite tacos or chips, or straight from a spoon.

20 Questions with Emily

Emily Capece has the voice of an angel. She has graced stages and classrooms around the world with her gift of singing. Couple this with her acting talent and she is a one woman entertainer. We met in Charleston, West Virginia, where everybody knows everybody. As newcomers in our homes away from Charleston, Emily and I muse about our relative anonymity and our adoration of the place we called home for 20-something years. 

Emily’s song has quieted recently while she navigates a stage she never imagined: her now teenage son’s ultra ultra ultra rare cancer diagnosis and treatment. From her home near Cleveland, she praises a patient advocate in Los Angeles for guiding her and her family through this unrivaled trial. As we spoke last week, I could imagine her with sword and cape and a warrior’s shield, ready for battle. Woven through this heavy discussion, Emily’s gift of entertaining had me laughing out loud. It really is the best medicine.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? Should I be pretentious or should I be real? Unfortunately I'm a slow cooker, so I don’t do many recipes in 20 minutes. My first job out of college, I taught music at an American elementary school on a base in Okinawa. I was so excited about being in a different culture! I learned this noodle dish, Otsu. It’s somen (skinny soba) with cucumbers, snow peas and tofu with a great dressing. I really like it room temp or even cold. It’s just delicious! I used to make it all the time when I lived alone. It’s so yummy and comforting, I can whip this up any time!

I had a lot of fun. I was there for 2 years, I met my husband Christian there my second year. He moved back to Washington and I decided he was worth following. 

What’s your favorite city? Vienna. I haven’t been there since way too long. I studied abroad there. It was amazing! I saw all the operas! I wandered around, I just loved it! Ten years later I got a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to go back for a summer program and study Mozart operas, a course for teachers. I’m a voice and music history major. I’m always talking about it! It’s a really special, beautiful artsy, musical place. It has all the things! I really love Cleveland, too! I grew up here, I needed to leave for 22 years to appreciate it. 

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? Oh yeah, I have a lot! I love a Oaxacan mole! I could eat mole with a spoon every day. Momocho on the west side of Cleveland. They have the BEST mole! And they make these flautas with butternut squash and goat cheese, with some frizzled brussels sprouts. I think about this daily.

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? I always have a jar of Korean marmalade that I make into tea! It’s ginger and citrus and I really love it in cold and flu season. I’m always super happy to find that. 

Who taught you to cook? My mom for sure. She worked full time at Kent State University and came home every night and cooked dinner. In the 80’s in northeast Ohio you didn’t go out to eat. I didn’t know that having family dinners was unique or special. My grandmother was the cookie queen! I have all her recipe boxes. She had all this commentary on every recipe card. Every card has these opinions attached to it. Cooking is so great for those of us who want to be more creative in our lives

What’s your go-to dish for company? The roast chicken from Zuni Cafe, I just love that bread soaked up with all the chicken fat. You don’t have to have company for that! It’s just sooo good. It’s so easy. There are a lot of steps but it really is so easy! Christian and I found ourselves at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco eating this dish. I’m happy that it turns out at home. Was Yelp a thing back then? 

What’s on your cooking playlist? These days I’m listening to Brandi Carlisle. I just love a rock and roll female singer. Folk women who rock! 

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? COFFEE. She sings! 

With oat milk! You have to use a loooooot of oat milk to make it turn any color but black.

Date night--at home? or out? How can you have a date night at home with children? OUT obviously!

Most stained cookbook? Splendid Table How to Eat Supper by Lynn Rosetto Kasper and Sally Swift.

Surf? or Turf? Definitely fish, definitely surf.

Indispensable kitchen tool? I’ve been carrying this around. It's a Tovolo. It’s like a little plastic scraper thing, one side is oval shaped and the other side is square. It’s the BEST thing to get peanut butter out of the bottom of the jar. It’s the bomb!

Staple childhood comfort food? My mom made these things called walking salads. We used to hike all the time as kids. You take a piece of cabbage spread with peanut butter, roll it up and shove a toothpick in it and you have a walking salad! It would show up in my lunchbox. It’s like celery with peanut butter. 

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? A lot of people. I have always loved Mary Oliver. Especially during this time, going out into nature. I would want to have a picnic under a tree and talk to her about what she observes! I need that grounding comfort in the things that are super simple. Right now I need somebody quiet. 

Ideal grilled cheese? I love sourdough or baguette, super toasted up, with brie, super thinly sliced granny smith apples and honey mustard.

Favorite pizza topping? Fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil. Straight up. Simple is best!

Where would you want to take a cooking class? I love Thai food and Indian food and every time I try to replicate either of those, it never turns out. I’d say Thailand for sure. Send me to the experts!

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? If you cook with your child in the kitchen, they will eat what they make. If you just cook and present it at the dinner table, it’s hit or miss whether they will eat it. It can take a lot longer when they’re in there but it’s worth it.

Three things next to your stove? Olive oil, Dickinson salt, cat hair! We have 2 new kittens, Covid kittens! Every time I’m cooking she’s everywhere she’s not supposed to be. There is always a cat next to me. 

What do you miss most about Charleston? I miss the people. I miss seeing the little ones growing up, and I miss the Healthy Life Market. I love that place! 

Break out your chopsticks and add Emily’s Otsu to your 20 minute meal rotation! it’s as delicious as it is quick.

Emily’s Otsu

Emily walked me through her comforting japanese noodle dish and I’m adding it into instant rotation in my kitchen! Riff away! I went with a balanced blend of all her sauce suggestions, plus sesame seeds. Note about the somen: some brands can be soaked and some quick boiled. My brand didn’t do so well with soaking...so I boiled one of the bundles for about a minute without taking my stirring fork out of the pot and voila! 

Fry up a bunch of extra firm tofu, bite sized cubes, then throw some random oil in the pan, black pepper and soy sauce or tamari. Take it out of the pan. In the same pan, briefly stir fry snow peas and green onion, add cucumbers and cilantro at the end. Soak (or boil, see note above) the somen, top with the vegetables and tofu and drizzle with sauce. 

Emily says: the sauce  is what makes it! I riff on it, tamari, olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, a little honey, lemon, grated ginger, chopped garlic if i’m feeling it. Chili flakes. I really like it room temp or even cold. It’s just delicious!

20 Questions with Mayor Amy

Amy Goodwin is the mayor of Charleston, West Virginia, a lucky city to be in her capable hands! She’s the most energetic visionary and is as funny as she is smart. My face still hurts a bit from laughing when we chatted for this interview. She might claim here that she’s not much of a cook -- and anyone familiar with the Goodwin family knows Amy’s husband Booth is the mayor of their home kitchen. However, her 20-ish minute coconut rice recipe is a show stopper, game changer, life saver. All the things! Stop what you’re doing and make this rice, and maybe the peanut sauce, too, to quell your hunger.

Amy and I met at Holz Elementary where our kids were enough years apart that they didn’t even overlap in the lunchroom. As moms do, we collaborated on some PTA projects and all the while Amy excelled in her impressive day jobs. She translated her journalism degree into an exciting political career. Before she became the city’s first female mayor, she was the commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Tourism and the state’s number one cheerleader. Almost heaven, indeed!

What’s your 20 minute recipe? I was going to try to find one, I thought about lying to you about it, but I can’t do that. If I’m anything I’m honest. I’m the eater of the family, not the chef. My favorite thing to eat that I cook all the time is sweet and salty jasmine rice. Boil it in coconut milk, add some sugar and salt. It’s like a side and it’s also like dessert.  I make a triple recipe, my 16 year old and 18 year old love it! It’s great with peanut sauce with ginger (lots of garlic and ginger) 

What’s your favorite city? That’s silly. The city that I serve! Obviously I have lots of favorite cities, but this one is my favorite favorite favorite. I’m a rivers, lakes, creeks and streams girl. If I’m gonna get out of town I’ll go by a lake. I love the Eastern Panhandle and the Potomac.

What’s your favorite restaurant in your current city? You can’t do this to me! This is the problem, I’m an eater. When my husband travels, my boys know we are ordering out. What the question should be is what’s your favorite place to eat breakfast? To get a snack? I’m the girl who can make a meal out of getting an extra thick raspberry chocolate chip milkshake at Ellen’s! Barkadas is my ‘I’m sad cuz it’s bad weather’ restaurant and I get the crispy spam burrito and it’s pure comfort food. We have Food Truck Wednesday on Slack Plaza. My favorite is Bite Mi. Rock City has my favorite pastries. Favorite pie is Sarah’s Bakery. Have you had her pies?! Favorite brunch is Sam’s Uptown. That’s where we eat brunch! Chicken and waffles. So good! Best burger in town is Joe’s. Cheeseburger with everything except onions.

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? Something that doesn’t have mold on it? My boys eat constantly. There’s usually not much in there! Can it be in the freezer?

OK, then it’s ice cream that people have forgotten about. Those little vanilla mochis. 

Who taught you to cook? OK ok, listen. One thing you know about me is I’m honest! This is how I think people learn how to cook, they learn from their parents. My parents worked constantly so we ate out of a crockpot or we went out to eat. The person who actually taught me the most is Hello Fresh, the meal kit that gets delivered with clear how-to instructions. I really do have a lot of good skill sets, but cooking is not one of them.

What’s your go-to dish for company? Booth cooking on the Green Egg is always a crowd pleaser. I can whip up a low country boil if people who are coming don’t have food allergies. Homemade pizzas on the Big Green Egg are always a big hit! I keep beating up on myself. I’ll tell you I make the best homemade chocolate chip cookies. I make them for the fire department, the police department. If they see me coming with a box in my hand they know what's in there.

What’s on your cooking playlist? I love alternative music, punk rock!

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? OMG coffee 24/7. Coffee, coffee, coffee all day long! Like my old newsroom days. I like it to be khaki color. Not sweet, though I might have a cookie with it. 

Date night--at home? or out?  I just did a story on our city finances. That was easier than this interview! It’s always a split. When I pick, it’s out, when he picks, it’s in. He likes kitchen gadgets and always wants to try out the new ones.

Most stained cookbook? I have hundreds of cookbooks, I like to read them like a magazine. Before I was in public office when I had more time, it was Chrissy Teigen, her first book. Also stuff my sister texts me. If this interview was about cleaning the home I would crush this. I was the cleaner growing up. My sister did all the cooking. 

Surf? or Turf? Both? 

Indispensable kitchen tool? I would say my really heavy marble rolling pin! I like to bake. 

Staple childhood comfort food? Anything out of the crockpot. I grew up in the northern panhandle, lots of Italian food. I love a good red sauce with bread to dip in it.

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she is so wicked smart, fabulous, wonderful. I just really love her. I love her! Just to be in her presence.

Ideal grilled cheese? OOHHH! Three different types of cheeses on my father in law’s homemade bread. Oh and that bread is great for french toast, too.

Favorite pizza topping? Mushrooms! Lola’s mushroom pizza is crazy good!

Where would you want to take a cooking class? In Jennifer Garner’s kitchen. I’m not being funny about it. I think she would be really nice, she wouldn’t tell me I’m using the wrong knife.

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Be prepared for company. Always have good cheese, crackers, nuts and olives, oh and some wine, and people will think you’ve been planning on their arrival.

Three things next to your stove? I have a big planter filled with fresh herbs, my salt pig, four different types of olive oil. Lots of different pepper mills that Booth buys. Lots of hot sauces, I think I have more hot sauces than anyone in Charleston.

Favorite Sports Team? Now what does this have to do with cooking? You know I’m a hockey mom! Pittsburgh penguins.

Sweet and salty coconut rice ready for topping your way. I went with roasted peanuts, lime, red pepper flakes, toasted coconut and fresh cilantro.

Mayor Amy’s Sweet and Salty Coconut Rice

I asked Amy if she makes this recipe in a rice cooker and she replied that’s not one of the zillions of kitchen gadgets in the Goodwin home. So I challenged her that I would try making it in the rice cooker* (talk about game changer! Mine is new this year and I am in love!) and that if it worked, I owe her a rice cooker. Order pending!

1 ½ cups jasmine rice, a can of FULL FAT coconut milk, fill the can with water, ¼ cup sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons. JQ Dickinson salt

COMBINE all ingredients in a medium saucepan (with a tight fitting lid). Bring to a low boil, stir, then reduce heat to low and simmer with the lid on until rice is done, about 20 minutes.

*works splendidly in my rice cooker! when it was ‘done’ I gave it a stir and pressed the cook button again to give it a few extra minutes of full heat. The bottom got a little golden but didn’t stick.

Bonus recipe for Mayor Amy’s peanut sauce in her words:

½ c. peanut butter, all natural is best, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger. (I use ginger on almost everything, I even put it on my toothbrush!’ she said) 1 tablespoon sriracha if you want to kick it up! 5 cloves of garlic, minced or grated. Mix it all up. This recipe saves me! I stole it from Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook Cravings.

20 Questions with Kim

Kim Dolan is a pastry chef and instructor, a home cook who loves feeding family and friends, a food writer and photographer, and an accomplished triathlete who could boast a long list of accolades but she’s much too humble to brag on herself. She unexpectedly became a vocal advocate for organ donation not quite four years ago. (Dear Reader, if you aren’t yet registered to be an organ donor, please do it now. THANK YOU!)

Instead of hitting the slopes with her kids as she had planned at Christmastime 2016, she went to the hospital to find out why she wasn’t feeling right. Fast forward eleven very long months, Kim’s failing heart was replaced at age 57 with one donated by Leanne, a younger woman whose life was cut short. Kim’s focus shifted from teaching to surviving and now volunteers with Donate Life America. She’s a walking talking testimony to the urgency of organ donation. 

We met at Molly O’Neill’s Food Media Bootcamp six years ago and again at Molly’s Longhouse Food Revival. Kim arrived with a windowed bakery box filled with too pretty to eat pastries she had made with her students at Johnson and Wales University. I was lucky to be her roommate! Her pretty pastries tasted even better than they looked.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? Oh blueberry muffins for sure! Easy easy! No mix! 

What’s your favorite city? San Francisco, I just love the views, it’s so beautiful! I just love it there.

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? It’s so hard to say because we haven’t been out! I live in Barrington, Rhode Island, close to Warren. In Warren it would be Eli’s. He actually won Chopped. We used to go there every Friday night. My go-to restaurant for special occasions is Nick’s on Broadway in the west end of Providence.

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? Strawberry rhubarb jam that I make. There’s always a jar of that!

Who taught you to cook? I’d say I had influences with my mom and grandmother, but I pretty much taught myself to cook. When i was a sophomore in high school I wanted to become a vegetarian (lasted 2 years until I craved a sausage sandwich!) and my mom said ok but you need to do the cooking. The Moosewood Cookbook got me through that.

What’s your go-to dish for company? I take bone-in chicken and braise it in the oven with a North Carolina barbecue sauce with cider vinegar and brown sugar, a little ketchup. Cook it until it’s falling off the bone and serve it with coleslaw and mashed potatoes. It’s so easy! Cook it 325 for about 3 hours. 

What’s on your cooking playlist? I listen to Pandora, the playlist is Hipster Cocktail Party

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? Coffee, lots of milk, no sugar.

Date night--at home? or out? Out. When the bans are lifted we will go to Nick’s on Broadway.

Most stained cookbook? That is a really hard one! I still go back to the Silver Palate cookbooks. I find those really great to get ideas from that one and take off from there. I also like Ina Garten’s books. These have simple recipes that can be adjusted to what we like. I love my French Laundry cookbook from Thomas Keller, but it stays on my coffee table.

Surf? or Turf? Turf. I love a filet! Just with olive oil, salt, and LOTS of cracked pepper, grilled medium rare. Makes my mouth water just talking about it.

Indispensable kitchen tool? Rubber spatula. I have about 4.

Staple childhood comfort food? Campbell’s tomato soup with shell pasta. Cook the shells separately and put them in the tomato soup.

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? Julia Child.

Ideal grilled cheese? White Wonder bread with American cheese. That’s why I don’t eat them very often. Sautéed in butter. I first melt the butter and brush it on the bread and cook it with another skillet on top.

Favorite pizza topping? I like just plain ol’ cheese and pepperoni. 

Where would you want to take a cooking class? Tuscany. Mark and I were supposed to go to Italy and then this happened. That’s ok, we’ll get there.

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? Always use butter! In your icing, puff pastry, pie dough, cookies. It has to be butter.

Go to butter? I use Land O Lakes and I prefer the salted butter, even for buttercream.

Three things next to your stove? KitchenAid mixer, Kinfolk Table Cookbook and a Pennsylvania Dutch crock filled with my utensils. My cucumbers are on deck because I’m making pickles tomorrow. I also have my jars of tomato sauce and raspberry jam that I just made. 

Favorite Sports Team? The Patriots. My husband’s a real good football fan!

Kim’s blueberry muffins, always featured at girlfriends’ weekends. Kim awakes just a little earlier than everyone else so there are warm muffins ready. Photo credit Kim Dolan

Kim’s Blueberry Muffins

No weekend getaway is complete without a batch of warm muffins! Kim’s version is adapted from the New York Cookbook by Molly O’Neill.

WHISK all together in a large mixing bowl:

• 4 ounces melted butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup plain yogurt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

COMBINE in a medium bowl and add to the butter-sugar-egg mixture:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

FOLD IN:

• 1 cup blueberries

LINE a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners and divide batter among the cups.

BAKE at 350 until muffins are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out with moist crumbs, about 18-20 minutes. Let cool briefly on a wire rack before removing from the pan. Enjoy warm. Happy Cooking!

20 Questions with Lisa

The Red Stick Farmer’s Market hums with activity every Saturday, rain or shine, in downtown Baton Rouge. I discovered this unique farmer’s market on a pre-move visit and was captivated by the brass band and strawberry perfume. After the big move I met Lisa Gray, the manager of Red Stick Mobile Farmers Market and coordinator of school garden projects. 

At the market, seasonal selections and friendly farmers lure locavores from nearby parishes. Behind the scenes, Lisa hauls local produce in a jazzed up trailer to sell in the far reaches of the community. She also plants and tends school gardens where the students learn the essentials from seeds and soil to flowers and harvest. I’ve had the honor of working alongside her and it’s incredible to witness the joy the kids get in their outdoor classroom.

Lisa has called Baton Rouge home for all but one year of her life. During her year away, she worked with the CDC in Atlanta. In her words, “the experience was great but I wanted to get back home to farm life. I gotta get back home and work with farm animals.” She took a job with the Ag Center at Southern University as a research associate before her now seven year tenure with Red Stick Market.

What’s your 20 minute recipe? Shrimp fried rice. I get the shrimp peeled and deveined from Anna Marie’s and use brown rice that’s leftover from another meal. I get as much from Red Stick Market as I can. Carrots from Fekete Farms, onions and green onions, orange or red bell pepper, pasture raised farm eggs and frozen peas that I buy. I use sesame oil and soy sauce while I’m cooking. I use the whole pound of shrimp! I call it the Real Shrimp Fried Rice. 

What’s your favorite city? I would love to travel to Washington, DC now. I’ve been there a lot in the past, it’s one of my favorites. People are really nice there.

What’s your Favorite restaurant in your current city? I like Pimanyoli’s on Airline. They specialize in smoked meats and classic American dishes, and they have hot tamales, a recipe from their family that’s like 100 years old. The owner’s father was a sergeant on the police force at Southern University.

Treasured find in the back of your fridge? Maybe some pickled okra

Who taught you to cook? My grandmother. She raised me, I was always in the kitchen with her. One of her specialties, my favorite, was her peach cobbler. My uncles always request it. 

What’s your go-to dish for company? I would do some beef and shrimp kabobs or an okra, shrimp, tomato and smoked sausage stew served over rice.

What’s on your cooking playlist? Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu.

Coffee, tea, or Kombucha? Tea. 

Date night--at home? or out? Right now?! At home.

Most stained cookbook? River Road. My grandmother used to use it. I still have hers and just got a new one from the Junior League. My uncle in Texas is holding on to my grandmother’s.

Surf? or Turf? Surf.

Indispensable kitchen tool? My whisk.

Staple childhood comfort food? Chicken and dumplings. That was easy!

Who would you most like to share a meal with? past, present or fictional? My grandmother.

Ideal grilled cheese? I’m pretty plain when it comes to grilled cheese. I like it with cheddar.

Favorite pizza topping? One of my favorites is pickled banana pepper

Where would you want to take a cooking class? Italy and learn how to make a classic red sauce, the type that takes hours.

What’s your Counter Intelligence cooking tip? I don’t like to overcomplicate with a lot of ingredients. I like to keep it simple. If I can wing it without a lot of ingredients, that’s what I prefer.

Three things next to your stove? A trivet, canisters with flour and sugar, tool caddy.

Favorite Sports Team? Of course The Saints!! 

A trip to the Red Stick Farmer’s Market transforms yesterday’s extra rice into a gourmet meal in minutes!

Lisa’s Real Shrimp Fried Rice

A trip to the Red Stick Market will elevate your next batch of fried rice to the next level of delicious! Gather your ingredients and your fried rice masterpiece is ready in minutes.

• 1 pound medium sized peeled and deveined shrimp, drained and patted dry

• Salt and pepper

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided use

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1 sweet bell pepper, chopped

• 1 large carrot, grated

• 2 eggs, whisked to blend in a small bowl

• 3 cups cooked rice

• ½ cup frozen peas

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil

• 3 green onions, thinly sliced

TOSS the shrimp with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

HEAT 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat. 

ADD the shrimp and cook, turning once, just until they turn opaque, about a minute or two per side. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate.

ADD the onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook until just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the grated carrot, toss to combine, then push the vegetables to the perimeter of the skillet to make room for cooking the ‘egg pancake.’

POUR the remaining 1 tablespoon oil into the bottom of the skillet and add the whisked egg. Let it sizzle and cook in one layer, just until it is cooked through, about 2 minutes. Chop the cooked egg into small pieces in the skillet with a spatula and push it out to the perimeter with the vegetables.

ADD the rice to the center of the skillet and cook a minute or two to heat the rice through. Stir in the peas, soy sauce and sesame oil and toss it all together in the skillet incorporating the vegetables and egg from the perimeter. Stir in the cooked shrimp and green onions and serve. Happy Cooking!