Cheesy, Garlicky Potato Soup with a Tiny Chile Kick

Cheesy, Garlicky Potato Soup with a Tiny Chile Kick

On days when a comfort dinner is needed or simply desired, soup often fits the bill. It warms us when we're cold, soothes us when we're sick. It just feels good going down. I've been on a potato tear lately, craving them all the time and in every which way: mashed, roasted...you get my drift. Next step: soup!

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Cauliflower Casserole

Cauliflower Casserole

When the weather shifts towards a decidedly fall-into-winter temperature range, my cooking shifts too in an almost subconscious way. I like the way this makes me feel connected to the natural patterns of the world around me. The produce at the farmers market has been glorious of late: the deep greens of the lettuces, kales and their kin and the rich sunset-like hues of the tree fruits, winter squash and cruciferous clan. You almost can't avoid making a casserole or two and such was the impetus for this simple, satisfying bake.

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Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

Cheesy Mashed Potato Puffs

One day, I bought some russets and boiled them up, planning to make mashed potatoes. But I realized I wasn't much in the mood for plain old mashed spuds so took a left turn. Into the mash went grated Gruyere, crumbled bacon, scallions and some buttermilk. The idea of puffs was running through my mind, so I mashed (heh!) the potato mixture into a ziploc, cut off the corner and played around with griddling these as well as baking-then-broiling them. 

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