A little heat adds a lot of flavor to milkshake

By J.M. Hirsch | May 22, 2012 - 4:57pm

A hot skillet might seem out of place in a recipe for an icy, creamy milkshake.

Don’t toss the pineapple skin; use it on the grill

By J.M. Hirsch | May 15, 2012 - 6:47pm

As I stood at the cutting board slicing slabs of thick skin off a fresh pineapple, a thought occurred to me: The strips of skin were an awful lot like the cedar planks some people use to add flavor to food on the grill.

Vegetable dish offers Mideast flavor

By J.M. Hirsch | May 8, 2012 - 5:12pm

To enjoy authentic koshary, you’ll need to travel to Egypt. Or spend a couple hours in your kitchen.

Shortcuts make chicken enchiladas easy

By J.M. Hirsch | May 1, 2012 - 5:56pm

The goal was simple: Create a recipe for mole chicken enchiladas that tastes authentic but doesn’t take an authentic amount of time to prepare.

Awaken Mom with homemade pastry on Mother's Day

By J.M. Hirsch | April 24, 2012 - 4:00pm

No matter how much she would appreciate it – and no matter how much you love your mom or the mother of your children – you aren’t likely to make her croissants from scratch.

‘Steak’ and eggs come from garden

By J.m. Hirsch | April 17, 2012 - 5:00pm

Much as I love a big, beefy steak, sometimes I need something on the lighter side.

Cooking dinner is time to go nuts

By J.M. Hirsch | April 10, 2012 - 8:17pm

Ground seeds and nuts are a weeknight cook’s dream ingredients.

Simple, speedy dessert is right for spring

By J.M. Hirsch | April 3, 2012 - 5:00pm

Dessert is an uncommon offering in my house, though not due to a we’re-too-healthy-for-that ethic.

Pea soup signals spring's arrival

By J.M. Hirsch | March 27, 2012 - 6:51pm

The inspiration for this rich, creamy pea soup came from an unlikely source – lime marshmallows.

Veggie-adverse kids like mashed carrots

By J.M. Hirsch | March 20, 2012 - 5:04pm

Not sure why this recipe never occurred to me before.

No tortillas needed for east wraps

By J.M. Hirsch | March 13, 2012 - 6:46pm

Gluten-free and lower-carb wasn’t the goal, but that’s what I got.

Shepherd's pie takes unusual turn

By J.M. Hirsch | March 6, 2012 - 8:14pm

Some folks are as adamant about their shepherd’s pie as others are their chili.

Quick entree makes you feel like a star

By J.M. Hirsch | February 28, 2012 - 6:02pm

If you’re like me, the only red carpet you likely saw on Oscar night was shag.

Slow cooker offers set-it, forget-it ease

By J.M. Hirsch | February 21, 2012 - 6:50pm

When it comes to weeknight dinners, sometimes the shortest route is the long way around.

Caesar rules even in winter

February 14, 2012 - 7:26pm

No matter how delicious a Caesar salad is, chilly temperatures tend to be a turnoff for all things leafy green.

Handmade chocolates come together quickly

By J.M. Hirsch | February 7, 2012 - 9:02pm

Attempting to make chocolate bonbons from scratch is enough to test anyone’s love. But I was convinced there had to be an easy way.

Watching the game — not cooking — is what counts

By J.M. Hirsch | January 31, 2012 - 6:37pm

When it comes to making pulled chicken, it’s hard to beat the two-ingredient simplicity of simmering chicken breasts in a bottle of barbecue sauce.

Simple ingredients create tasty pasta

By J.M. Hirsch | January 24, 2012 - 5:51pm

When you select the right ingredients, it doesn’t take many of them to create a fantastic dinner. Nor much time.

Mission possible: A fast, easy low-carb angel food

By J.M. Hirsch | January 17, 2012 - 5:31pm

It seemed impossible. I wanted to make a zero-sugar, low-carb version of a cake that is made from almost nothing but sugar and carbs.

Chili proves pumpkin is for more than Halloween

By J.M. Hirsch | January 10, 2012 - 6:25pm

Pumpkin chili? Sounds like some sort of cultural confusion, right?

Fast dip is fit to serve guests

By J.M. Hirsch | January 3, 2012 - 8:08pm

My goal was simple – a company-worthy dip that didn’t involve a heart-stopping volume of sour cream.

Throw a roll-your-own-sushi New Year’s party

By J.M. Hirsch | December 27, 2011 - 8:25pm

Not a New Year’s Eve partier? Me either. My ideal Dec. 31 is pretty basic.

Chicken pot pie reimagined as a party appetizer

By J.M. Hirsch | December 20, 2011 - 9:03pm

It’s chicken pot pie, only smaller, easier, faster and more party-friendly.

Cinnamon bun pudding satisfies sweets lover

By J.M. Hirsch | December 13, 2011 - 9:18pm

As though the candy canes on the tree and the presents under it aren’t enough, here’s an excuse to have an even sweeter start to Christmas.

Chili dog reworked for chilly season

By J.M. Hirsch | December 6, 2011 - 6:54pm

Chili dogs generally are considered summer food. That makes sense.