Album: Big Band Bossa Nova | Quincy Jones This pumpkin muffin recipe is a family secret that is too good to hide any longer. Mom obtained this recipe in high school, and it is the best pumpkin bread recipe ever. The spice-to-pumpkin ratio is perfect, the muffins are moist, tender, and the right amount of…
Album: Hard Groove | The RH Factor Tasting homemade applesauce was a formative experience for me. It is one of the dishes that showed me how home cooking could truly refine and elevate common foods. Which apple varieties should I use for applesauce? The apple variety used to make the sauce is of critical importance…
Album: Landmarks | Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band Every chef has their own version of chili to present at chili contests across the land. My vegetarian chili has a dark, deep flavor due to the presence of cocoa and cinnamon. It stands up well to cold winter nights. Make cornbread to go along with…
Album: Earfood | Roy Hargrove This kale kielbasa soup is known as “unhinged” in our house because it is over-the-top delicious every time. Mincing fresh thyme is worth the effort for this winter soup. Regarding Earfood: I’ve never seen a musician have as much fun as Roy Hargrove’s drummer, Quincy Phillips, at a live performance…
Mélusine | Cécile McLorin Salvant There was life before maple cake and life after maple cake. Every time I am about to make a cake, I think to myself, should I make maple cake instead? This cake takes all of the best things about waffles with maple syrup, converts into cake form, and adds cream…
Time Out | The Dave Brubeck Quartet I named these “Take Five Pancakes” after the immensely popular hit track “Take Five” from Time Out because everybody wants to eat at least five. After attempting more variations of pancakes than anything else, this is the result. The sourness of buttermilk is often too overpowering for me…
Go Get Ice Cream and Listen to Jazz | Kassa Overall A Dessert for Summer The Ultimate Graham-Oreo Shake is a childhood throwback summer dessert. The graham cracker and Oreo add texture to this rich chocolatey, chilled treat. It’s essential to use high-quality vanilla ice cream. All ingredients should be adjusted to your taste. Big…
Esperanza | esperanza spalding A Soup for Cool Days This Thai Cabbage Lentil Soup is packed with flavor and is the result of a happy experiment in which I tried red chili paste in place of curry paste and had extra tomatoes laying around. Nutritionally dense, vegan, and full of zing from the lime, ginger,…
