Sushi Begins with Cucumber Rolls

By Marilyn Hunter

When I was little and hesitant to try something new for the first time, my Dad would always say, “start with what you know.” It’s no surprise that I’ve adopted this same approach with my boys when it comes to trying new things, especially food.

If your kids have never tried sushi, they may not want to begin with raw fish. Our boys started cucumber rolls (Kappa Maki). Most kids like cucumbers and rice so it’s hard to go wrong. Our boys also love edamame, spinach gomae (steamed spinach in a sweet sesame sauce), mixed green salad with miso dressing, agedashi (fried) tofu and udon because they started with what they know…veggies, tofu and noodles.

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Celebrate Tomato Season

By Lori Powell

Finally… since it is a bit cooler up here in the Hudson Valley, tomato season has just arrived and with a flourish. Last year all of my carefully planted and tended plants turned black and were subject to the tomato blight. Sadly, no tomatoes. But this year is making up for it.

Every day I have a basketful of new shapes and colors. And every day there is the struggle to get out there and pick them before the rest of the animal population does.

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It’s a Grilled Pizza Party!

By Katie Barreira

One of the great injustices of apartment living is not having a grill. I’ve tried a few questionable substitutions, including a tailgating-esque fiasco on the fire escape. Beyond the obvious safety concerns, it’s just not fun to negotiate a window entrance with a platter of juicy burgers.

It simply is not summer without a real backyard ‘cue, so this past weekend I ventured to Jersey, usurped a friend’s grill and threw a make-your-own grilled pizza party.

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How to Make Great Food Fast? Try an Ethnic Market!

By Sandy Hu

When I worked on a national campaign to promote potatoes years ago, we did extensive research to learn how moms felt about the dinner hour. In focus groups, one woman drew a time bomb about to explode. Another sketched a stick figure of herself backed into a corner with the dog barking and kids clamoring…you get the picture.

So I started to pay attention to people in the supermarket. They were pushing their carts aimlessly past the meat counter, obviously in a dilemma about what to cook. Then I happened to be in a Japanese grocery store and overheard an older woman wheeling her cart, muttering under her breath in Japanese, “What to cook…what to cook.…”

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Quick and Easy Granola

By David Hu

Granola is one of those great foods to have around the house. It does double duty for me as either breakfast (with milk or yogurt) or as a healthy snack. Most people buy readymade granola but it’s really simple to prepare it yourself, and you’ll save money, too.

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