main dishes

Neapolitan Eggplant Parmesan

Unlike many eggplant Parmesan recipes, ours uses a simple flour-and-egg coating rather than breadcrumbs, allowing the delicate flavor of the eggplant to come through.

A popular Thai-Chinese dish often served at Thailand’s curry-and-rice stalls, makheua yao pad tao jiao combines tender eggplant with ground pork, garlic, fresh chiles, and fermented yellow soybean paste.

Traditional Greek Moussaka

Moussaka is one of Greece’s best-loved comfort foods, a hearty casserole of tender eggplant, potatoes, richly seasoned ground lamb, and a thick, creamy béchamel topping.

Beyond the Purple Globe: The Remarkable World of Eggplant.

There are hundreds of cultivated eggplant varieties,
differing in size, shape, color, texture, and flavor. And
although we cook eggplant as a vegetable, botanically it
is a fruit—specifically, a berry.

Wabanaki-Style Steamed Mussels

While traditional accounts describe shellfish being cooked over fire beneath seaweed. This modern stovetop preparation uses the same fundamental technique—steam and little else—allowing the mussels themselves to provide most of the flavor.

John’s Tomato Pie

This recipe was given to me by my dear friend during a visit to his South Carolina home. I have since baked this version of tomato pie several times and was quite taken back by how delicious it is. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy it as well.

Southern Farmhouse Tomato Pie

This recipe was adapted from one credited to James Beard, chef and culinary icon in the world of American cuisine. This version utilizes biscuit dough to absorb the juices, and is baked in a casserole dish for a more rustic, homey, cobbler-like feel.

From Tomato Sandwiches to Tomato Pie

Whether the tomato sandwich truly inspired tomato pie may never be fully proven. Like many regional dishes passed from one generation to another, its origins have become blurred over time.

Old-Fashioned American Goulash

Goulash, a simple, one-pot supper much like the one that showed up on our table—hearty, familiar, and made from what was on hand.

Classic American Goulash

Somewhere between Old World stew and Italian-style baked pasta, American goulash found its permanent home on the American supper table. This casserole-style version, crowned with melted cheese and baked until bubbling around the edges, is the kind of meal that fed countless families after long workdays and school nights.

American Goulash: From Old World Kettle to Mid-Century Supper Table

American goulash, sometimes referred to as slumgullion, likely owes its origin to Hungarian goulash. About the only thing the two dishes have in common is that they both contain meat and paprika.

Chicken and Dumplings: Comfort Food with Deep Roots

Chicken and dumplings carries a history as rich as the broth it’s cooked in. From European kitchens to Southern farm tables, this humble yet celebratory dish has been simmering in American culture for generations.

My Meatloaf Recipe

My meatloaf recipe uses both beef and pork to provide wonderful flavor and moisture. Enjoy!

Chicago Style Hot Dog

Often described as “dragged through the garden” (reference to all of the vegetable toppings) this hot dog is a joy to eat in honor of the Windy City.

Carolina Slaw Dog

Delicious Carolina style slaw dogs topped with a creamy tangy coleslaw.

New York Pushcart Hot Dog

The recipe for onion sauce was given to me by a former co-worker and friend who sold his pushcart after 14 years selling hot dogs in New York City’s Central Park.