Dana Jacobi

Dip into Beans and Mole

Most Americans are unfamiliar with authentic Mexican mole sauce. While some may recognize it as “that sauce with chocolate in it,” only aficionados of true Mexican cooking know the subtleties of a great mole.

A Brief History of Meatloaf

Food history is full of surprises. The history of an American staple, for example – meatloaf – offers more than a trip down culinary lane. I was intrigued to discover that my grandmother’s hand-cranked grinder, the kind that attaches to the edge of a table, was key to meatloaf becoming an everyday dish.

Give Vegetable Soup a Spanish Accent

Traditionally cooked in an iron or heavy earthenware pot called an olla, there are many versions of this dish. While many include some form of pork, others are meatless, like this one.

Celebrate Another New Year

This year, look to the rat to make the dragon dance as we welcome in the Chinese New Year on February 7th. While you’re at it, try this recipe for Fish with Ginger Scallion Sauce.

A Surprising Spinach Salad

This makeover of the traditional French salad, Frisee au lardons, is the perfect introduction to lesser-known members of the lettuce family.

Salmon Chowder Beats the Chill

If you enjoyed an abundance of decadent dishes during the holiday season, getting back to sensible choices is likely to be on your to-do list. Soup is the perfect one-dish meal; it is simple to make and can be prepared quickly.

Comfort Food for the Holidays

A roast chicken dinner is one of life’s true pleasures. Depending on how the bird is presented (and what accompanies it), the meal can take on many different characteristics – from romance to comfort to festiveness.

The Accidental Soup

As a trained chef, it’s easy to forget how intimidating cooking can be to the novice. Teaching cooking classes reminds me, however, just how uncomfortable many people feel in the kitchen. Trying new recipes is a chief source of discomfort for many of my cooking students. To ease their anxiety, I often start beginners out making soup.

A Fresh Way With Fish

When you first hear the words en papillote, the French term sounds refined, even pretentious. Yet this simple method of preparing fish roasted in foil is actually quite modest.

Get Creative With Gazpacho Dip

Try this recipe for “Gazpacho Dip with Garlic Pita Chips” and you may be surprised to find how easy and inexpensive it is to make something refreshing and delicious.

Making a Great Quesadilla

Friends in Los Angeles insisted I try the corn and spinach quesadilla at a now defunct eatery in Santa Monica. The chef was utterly devoted to making his Mexican offerings deliciously interesting as well as sensible. The result was a light quesadilla with a satisfying succession of warm crunch, rich cheese and tender vegetables.