Easier Recipes for the Novice Chefs

Julia, Mallory (kinda), Robin, Melissa, C-Anne: we're talking to you.


Everyone else: Hi!  Here's the situation.  Kate and I spend a significant amount of time on the phone with our sisters advising them on easy things to make (because we all have a starting point in the kitchen- our sisters are at their starting points right now).  Also, we get questions from our friends who are fairly new in the kitchen so this blog is dedicated to you guys.  Kate and I were on the phone yesterday and Kate made an excellent observation: we don't really make easy stuff.  And the stuff we make sometimes sounds funky to people who are new to cooking.  None of this is to say we are just the most experienced, knowledgeable, exotic cooks, but let's face it: none of us have a direct line to the Barefoot Contessa to ask our food questions so our friends and family have to settle with us- ha!  So, this blog is simply to reference a few easy recipes that we HAVE cooked that are delicious and simple.  We are also going to make a concerted effort to make more simple recipes- but never fear- our love of exotic foods remain and we hope we continue to inspire you to make dishes like Mughlai Chicken and Mango Dal!

Here's a list of some easy, go-to dinners that are DELICIOUS and novice-friendly:

-the infamous Sweet Potato-Black Bean Chili.  I feel the need to say something here: we realize that this chili can either sound 1) boring or 2) weird.  Well put those thoughts right outside of your head.  Everyone- and I mean EVERYONE- who has tried this chili has raved about it and have gone on to make it.  (Kate's sister, Robin, has literally made it once a week since she discovered the recipe).  Here is the recipe.

-Brocolli and Peanut Stir Fry. The recipe is here.  This is one of my sister's favs (that's you, Mal).  Easy to make and super healthy.  Note to Robin: You can make this with something OTHER THAN brocolli!

-Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup.  Here is the recipe.  My girl, Melissa, loved this recipe.  She is fairly new in the kitchen and didn't have trouble making this soup- in fact, she's made it more than once!

Ok, we hope these have provided a good start for those of you new to the kitchen.  We'll send more your way! (In fact, I'm working on a post about a YUMMY and fairly simple Pear and Cranberry Cobbler with a delicious streusel topping.)