Good Things by David

The latest publication to come from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living is a beautifully photographed, well-organized and practical cookbook dedicated to newlywed couples.  One should look at Martha's 'Newlywed Kitchen' as a sensible, attainable and delicious compilation of recipes for anyone starting a home. In this book you will get tips on how to stock a pantry, what essential kitchenwares to buy for your home, choosing the right china and linens for the table, and of course, a good amount of recipes for weekday meals, weekend brunches, desserts and even holiday get-togethers.     Personally, I think it's rather genius to have a cookbook with recipes that make two servings, instead of the usual four and over.  Martha's book will not only be useful for the newlywed couple, but it will be exceptionally helpful for any couple who wants to cook fresh, delicious meals, without having to waste time, energy and resources making large quantities of food.  ...

Delicious baked ziti doesn't require a lot of effort to make.  It's a hearty dish that is always a crowd pleaser, and if you make a large amount of it, you may even find yourself with great leftovers.  Whenever I have a craving for it I turn to my mother-in-law's recipe because it's most tasty.  Our baked ziti doesn't include any type of ground meat or sausages like other recipes, so it's perfect for the vegetarians in your home. A few weeks ago I found myself wanting to make some baked ziti for a get together at home, but rather than make the standard one I've been baking all of these years, I decided to try a slightly different recipe.  For that, I turned to a friend's family recipe that he kindly agreed to share here on the blog.   Michael is such a great cook, baker and recipe archivist, especially when it comes to Italian cooking.  It never ceases to amaze me the amount of energy he puts behind every single dish he makes, even if it'...

Melissa Clark's recipes make you want to get into the kitchen and start cooking all sorts of savories and sweets.  Whether through her New York Times column 'A Good Appetite' or the corresponding video series, and her previous cookbooks, Melissa Clark is one of those chefs who understands how to perfectly combine ingredients.  She is a boss when it comes to creating delicious recipes for home cooks. Melissa's latest cookbook, 'Dinner', is due to be released on March 7th, and let me assure you when I say that you're going to want to add this publication to your culinary library, because it has everything you want from a cookbook. New recipes using flavorful ingredients and easy how-to techniques found at the beginning of every chapter, are just some of the things to anticipate from Clark's latest culinary triumph. I absolutely love the way the main ingredient chapters are organized: chicken, meat (pork, beef, veal, lamb, duck & turkey...

Homemade jams are one of life's little luxuries.  An abundance of raspberries, can be found at farmers markets right now which can be enjoyed as is, but if you want to extend the pleasure of these summer berries, I suggest making a bit of jam so that you can stir some into a bowl of yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast, or to have on buttered toast with your tea.  Because it is homemade, you don't have to worry about preservatives, corn syrups or other unpleasant ingredients that are often found in supermarket jams and jellies. Here at home we've been having a bumper crop of raspberries, and now it appears as if we'll have an abundance of blackberries in the near future.  We picked a few blackberries a couple of days ago, but there are many more waiting to be plucked.   Can you blame us for being tempted just to eat these raspberries in their natural state? Small, dark red and very juicy, the wild raspberries that grow on the property are always anticipat...

Summer is a great time to entertain.  Everyone likes to have company over at least once or twice during the season, so that one can share good food, lots of laughs and the best of the best.  I'm all for going to the farmers market every single week to pick up the most colorful, juiciest and flavorful fruits & vegetables for us to feast on here at home, but if I happen to be harvesting summer berries or other fruits from the property, even better.  Should I have company over for an afternoon luncheon or dinner, then I make an extra effort to bake a pie or a cake and pick the most flavorful meat for burgers or perhaps some Maryland blue crab for savory crab cakes, if I'm in the mood for them (this is most often the case during summertime).  After I choose a main course and at least one dessert, then everything else falls into place.  The dinnerware, flatware and glassware can be dressed up or down depending on the ambience I want to create. Here ...

It's not a coincidence that I ardently began to collect jadeite several years ago. The color green has always been my favorite color since I can remember, and the tones of my vintage jadeite, along with the variations found in the Martha by Mail  jadeite, fit in nicely with my color of choice.  Collectors will probably agree with me when I say that the cool, opaque-green nature of jadeite soothes as well as brightens any kitchen, cabinet or table top. Like those collector friends of mine whom I keep in close contact with whenever I have a jadeite question (they know who they are!), this glass gets used periodically in my home.  It's never far out of reach or tucked away in the attic where it's inaccessible.  The glassware is proudly displayed somewhere when it's not in use, and when it is being utilized for a particular task, then it's on the counter.  On any given day, I may use one of my restaurant ware cups by Fire King for my afternoon tea, and...