Springtime is the time to start to entertain in that “extra room” of the house: Your backyard. Eating al fresco, relaxing with friends and enjoying a fresh breeze, soft music and easy conversation is so appealing — especially with my simple, make-ahead menu at hand. And if spring never comes, it works just as well in your dining room.  Chive-sprinkled potato leek soup can be served either hot or cold — it’s a great start to a casual party. Buy fresh ingredients at Stop & Shop or Wilson Farm. A simple but elegant salade niçoise serves as the main course. It’s colorful and light, and since the …

There is nothing that signals springtime more than gorgeous stalks of fresh asparagus. One of our most underused vegetables, asparagus is healthy, low calorie and, most of all, super-delicious. There are many types of asparagus; some are pencil-thin and extremely tender, with almost no waste; others have thicker stems which require removing at least two inches from the end of the stalk. If you buy really thick asparagus you may wish to trim them and then peel the remaining two inches at the bottom with a vegetable peeler. While most asparagus is green, if you are lucky you might find at Stop…

Spring is on its way, and with it comes plans for bridal and baby showers, graduation and anniversary parties. One way to have a really lovely and inexpensive party is to have a formal tea party in your home. You can serve up to 30 people a memorable meal for less than $8 each. How To Do It 1. Determine how many guests you can comfortably fit seated in your home. Move furniture out of your living room and rent café tables from a rental company (Arlington has Taylor Rental, right near the Lexington line). Tables cost about $7 per day each, delivered; chairs are $5. 2. Plan your menu and keep …

February vacation week can be a tough week for parents; by now you are probably already hearing the refrain “I’m bored!” But whether you want to get your kids in on the act, or you want an escape of your own, nothing fits the bill like making easy (but amazingly delicious) breads from scratch. My favorite to make as a family is my Cranberry-Apricot Challah, which makes a beautiful “beehive” loaf and is a great project for beginners; it’s fullproof! For a rich sandwich loaf that will last you a few days, try my Pain de Mie, a classic buttery French square loaf. Either makes a perfect breakfast…

As a student in Paris, I ate dozens of France’s famous hot ham and cheese sandwiches, called a croque monsieur… and I have never found a great one since. But on a recent trip to New York City’s Smyth Hotel and its Plein Sud restaurant, I discovered that ham and cheese perfection is alive and well in trendy Tribeca. Plein Sud’s Executive Chef Ed Cotton (a finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef and a Waltham native to boot), takes the croque madame (a croque monsieur with a fried egg on top) to a stellar level. Rich brioche bread (you can often find brioche at La Riviera Gourmet, Wilson Farm or Neillio’s…

How many times have you watched TV chefs toss bits of parsley, meat, bones, onion skins and more into a bowl, saying, “Save it for stock?" I always wondered where you would keep those little bits. I even went through a phase when I tried freezing those tidbits in zipper bags for future use. I would end up throwing them all away, covered with ice crystals, months later. For me, making good stock is more than cleaning out your refrigerator and throwing wilted vegetables into a pot. It is an event, an occasion unto itself, especially now during these frigid days. I make a special trip to Wilson …

Thinking about having friends over for brunch next weekend? Try this amazing strata, a savory bread pudding layered with creamy cheese and sautéed vegetables. This version uses large portabella mushrooms and mild shallots, which I can always find at Wilson Farm or Stop & Shop, as well as nutty Swiss cheese or creamy fontina, which you can find at Tutto Italiano. You’ll discover your favorite combination of vegetables as you make this dish over and over again. One of the most important components of the strata is the bread. I love to use a rich challah (Stop & Shop makes a great one, but you …

Winter is a great time to entertain at home, and paella is a meal that will make everyone happy. You can tailor the ingredients to suit everyone’s palate and still have time to visit with your guests. Best of all, the ingredients can easily be found right here in Lexington.  Paella is a fabulous one-dish meal. There are many varieties, but they all start with a ”sofrito” of garlic, onions, peppers and tomatoes slow cooked in olive oil and added to a fat, short-grain rice, such as Arborio. Toppings can be luscious seafood, juicy chicken or spicy sausage. I buy my shellfish at Stop & Shop on …