Bay leaf rice
Bay leaves usually play a supporting role, lending complexity to more complex dishes. In this rice, though, they step into the spotlight, infusing plain white rice with a heady perfume.
Author Archives: Mike Bierschenk
Masa harina biscuits with spicy chorizo topping
Sweet, flaky biscuits with the flavor of corn tortillas. Salty, spicy chorizo. It’s a breakfast worth getting up for, even for a night owl like me.
Garlicky oat and broccoli salad
Filling, flavorful oats, sweet-tart cranberries, nutty pepitas, and crisp-tender broccoli the bright green of springtime. I mean.
Street-cart seitan with garlic sauce
Inspired by memories of some amazing chicken from a food truck in Midtown Manhattan, this street-cart seitan is quick and easy, reheats beautifully, and is a complete vegetarian meal, especially if you throw some salad and bread at it.
Ginger beer, pure and simple
Most recipes for ginger beer involve long simmers or fermentation times, but you can have amazing ginger beer in 10 minutes. Yes, really.
Rum & coffee banana nut bread
This isn’t a light, delicate banana bread: it’s dense with molasses and coffee, packed full of nuts, and redolent of deep, dark rum. A nice broad wedge with a mug of black coffee will keep me going all morning.
Glass noodles with bacon and broccoli
Chewy, bouncy noodles with a salty-sweet-spicy flavor, dotted with slivers of broccoli and bacon: what’s not to love?
Smothered mushrooms and spinach
Plump meaty mushrooms swim in a velvety gravy studded with chunks of aromatic vegetables, with a smoky backbone underlying it all.
Cardamom coffee
Whether you’re having a relaxing weekend morning, catching a break from a busy week, or just looking to try something different for your morning joe, this’ll be sure to bring you a smile.
Basic lentil soup
This is one of those recipes that every home cook should keep in their back pocket. With cheap, common ingredients and a cook time of barely more than a half-hour, lentil soup has saved dinner in my house more times than I count.
Optional Kitchen 