Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecan-Orange Topping

I’m in a sweet spot. New job that I love, new home in a neighborhood so mood-congruent with who I have always been, and finally two days off in a row. To the kitchen!     Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecan-Orange Topping Adapted from Penzeys 1 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch […]

Orange-Glazed Shrimp Salad Tribute to Shrimp Docs

Residency started today. I almost took a selfie of standing in the house in my white coat to match all the “first day of school” pictures Mom took of me and Dave over the years, but then I was like, you’re thirty, this is a job, and you need to get there early in case […]

Jamaican Jerk Tempeh Stew and Brno

Continuing with the Eastern European vacation recap, we go to Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. It has more of a college-town feel, more local folklore—I vaguely recall the legend of “the dragon” featured in the town’s inception story. I’m sure you will agree with both KP and myself that this dragon […]

The Graduation Speech and Mojo Pig Roast Cubanos

The Graduation Speech Delivered on May 16th, 2015 at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Graduation Ceremony in Rochester, MN. “Education doesn’t make you happy,” wrote the not yet demented Iris Murdoch, “Nor does freedom. We don’t become happy just because we’re free – if we are. Or because we’ve been educated – if we have. […]

Spicy Burgers on Tartine Brioche for Graduation BBQ

For those of you who have come to believe this is a health food blog, with this post, I burst your bubble with a slick sud of saturated fat. As a flexatarian, I readily celebrate calls for exception, calls for wild food abandon, when such calls satisfy certain theology and geometry. Graduating from medical school, […]

Curried Carrot and Apple Soup

This evening a curried carrot soup gave me déjà vu. I thought back to November when KP and I were piled high in snow and higher in carrots with our CSA looking to off-load root vegetables and cruciferous goods. This carrot soup is vividly emblazoned in my memory not because of how good it was, […]

Portuguese Baked Eggs

Karl-Peter last weekend, disguised as Quest Love, enjoyed a little bout of Egg Roulette at the Jimmy Fallon-themed Game Night party of our favorite neighbor. Egg is a multi-purpose tool, says Easter. Say the Portuguese. I have to admit I thought this recipe was going to be intolerably gross, but my track record for misjudging […]

Cajun Shrimp Chowder

Match Day celebrations went all the way to Tuesday for me—a foreshadowing of Mardi Gras’ to come… TULANE! We are going from snow to swamp in two months, which will pass in a blink as did this very special day:    And to celebrate, my palette brushes dip into Bayou flavors for color and spice. […]

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Happiness is the company of old friends in new places—the birth of new traditions— eight pairs of high heels, flamingos and cupcake ATMs. Viva Las Vegas for a collective 30th birthday. Moments like these are perfect motivation for aging. To bright lights behind us and even brighter light ahead. Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Barbecue Sauce […]