January 2010

What is a Joe Frogger? They are famous molasses cookies made long ago by old Uncle Joe of Marblehead, Mass. The giant molasses cookie was born in this North Shore community more than 200 years ago, and while some may think of Joe Froggers as relics from dusty Yankee cookbooks and Colonial timepieces, they are still cherished in their hometown. This is especially true when the spicy treat helps to take the chill off icy weather.

Savory pancetta, cream, and garlic mingle with sweet butternut squash in this baked pasta dish. Cook the squash in the sauce to boost the flavor and cut down on pots. Salt and pepper, to taste 1 pound rigatoni 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 pound pancetta, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups heavy cream Pinch ground nutmeg 1 whole butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces Butter (for the dish) 1 cup grated Parmesan

Chuck roast is a tough cut that needs a long, slow simmer (a low oven works well). Add 1 cup of red wine to the pot and let the meat cook for 2 hours. Halfway through braising, add turnips and carrots. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Fish moolie or fish molee (meen molee) is a spicy fish and coconut dish of possible Portuguese and/or Indian origin. It is common in India and Malaysia. During the times of the British Empire is was spread into other places of South-East Asia, such as Singapore.

There’s enough filling to make 8 rolls. If you don’t need that many for dinner, pop a few in the freezer or wrap them in parchment paper (instead of foil) and tote them to work. A quick pop in the microwave and lunch is hot. So, before you head for the couch, assemble, roll, and wrap the burritos.

Sunday supper becomes doubly satisfying when your favorite sports team is winning and you’re passing bowls of hearty chili. If chili doesn’t seem to be a dish you can reconcile with your resolution to slim down, rest assured that this version is healthy (and happens to be thrifty too). It’s a vegetarian bowl with a spicy kick, so it will stand up to the meatiest opponents. Begin with dried beans, which need an overnight soak to soften. Saute onions with poblano and jalapeno peppers, adding the spices to the oil to release their aromas.

Toss these easy homemade croutons in salads, sprinkle over soups and stews or fold into hot scrambled eggs and omelets.

A classic dish perfected. Ask your butcher to cut the meat from the shank into 3/4-inch cubes.

Many of us regularly season food with a sprinkling of black pepper, but rarely do we use it as a bold flavor stroke. Black pepper, when it’s more than a background note, can engage the senses with a warming bite and an aroma that reminds me, to varying degrees, of chili, cloves, and citrus. In this recipe, buttery cashews get a hearty coating of black pepper to become a sweet-savory, and distinctly warming, nibble.