21 Comments

My favorite quick recipe is More Vegetables than Rice Fried Rice. I go to the Amish produce auctions in Pennsylvania and I come home with way too many vegetables. Of course , I give some away but I still have a lot. Your recipe is a lifesaver. I also like your quick curry recipe in the newsletter. I think More Vegetables is in Simply Julia. I also like making dal from the Indian-ish cookbook.

Expand full comment
author

I am so glad those recipes are so helpful! Means a lot to hear. And I lovvvvve Priya's book so much, too.

Expand full comment

We do a big New Year’s Eve dinner every year, and this year, I decided to make it as easy as possible.

- my ham went in the crockpot

- macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes came from our local deli

- all of the veggies were frozen from the store and air fried.

The only thing I had to bake was my corn pudding, which is basically a veggie version of a dump cake.

As Ina would say, how easy is that?

It was lovely!

I also vowed to make things way easier on myself in the new year, so I’m embracing themes and easy cooking: taco Tuesday. Breakfast for dinner. Fondue. The kids are loving it and so am I!

Expand full comment
author

I love that you're being easy on yourself! Yes yes!!! Can you please tell me more about this corn pudding?!!?!? Also...fondue! Brilliant!

Expand full comment

Hi!

Mix an egg, a half cup of melted butter, a cup of sour cream, a box of cornbread mix and two cans of corn (one must be cream style corn) together.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or so and dig in! It would be GREAT with the ham and mustard sauce.

Expand full comment
author

Sounds so easy and delicious.

Expand full comment

Your tasty turkey would be delicious on top of a plate of tortilla chips...with some cheese, avocado, and salsa!

Expand full comment
author

I want that RIGHT NOW!!!

Expand full comment

Ha ha, we had nacho night for dinner last weekend, so it was on my mind. So good, so easy, so fun!

Expand full comment

I had a couple days last week where I randomly felt really nauseated and my stomach was Not Okay. None of the rich holiday leftovers we had in the fridge sounded good, and I ended up cooking some pearl couscous in chicken broth (aka Better than Bouillon mixed into boiling water) until the couscous was al dente and the broth had reduced, almost like a couscous risotto. It is incredibly easy and quick because of how small the pearl couscous is. Once I was feeling better, I started gilding the lily with a little splash of heavy cream and some gruyere that needed to be used up grated over top. It feels like the most comforting, creamy bowl of goodness, is insanely fast and easy, and I'm obsessed!!

Expand full comment
author

this sounds SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOD. wow. might make this tomorrow?! glad you're feeling better!

Expand full comment

I'm sure there are plenty of recipes on the internet for "couscous risotto", but when I made it the first time, I felt like a genius chef who just discovered the Next Big Thing! We're about to experience a cold front here and even though I have other things to cook/eat in the fridge (including the makings of the Chicken Reuben Skillet from Simply Julia!) everyday I just dream of creamy, cheesy, couscous.

Expand full comment
author

I’m so happy you had that feeling!!!!

Expand full comment

Hi Julia! Love your writing and recipes. How would you reheat homemade polenta? I tried just microwaving it along with the garlicky kale I’d served it with, but the texture was all wrong — so blubbery and clumpy and not at all like the amazing smooth and creamy polenta I started with. Should I have warmed it on the stovetop with a splash of milk or water?

Expand full comment
author

I think your idea is right on!

Expand full comment

For the holidays, I made your carrots hassleback, plus potatoes hassleback, a spatchcocked chicken, and the easiest menu item - pavlova. Not for the holidays, but today I made this super easy soup: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/chicken-rice-soup.

Expand full comment
author

What a menu!!! And this soup looks great 🧡 thanks for sharing!

Expand full comment

I make clams and spaghetti. Takes about the amount of time it takes to cook the spaghetti.

1 jar of Rao’s with the juice from 2 cans of clams and a healthy dose of red pepper flakes. Simmer until warmed through then add the clams. Stir in the spaghetti and eat with parm and garlic bread.

Expand full comment
author

this sounds SO EASY AND SO GOOD!! thank you for sharing :)

Expand full comment

Hi Julia

I saw how you made those breakfast burritos. Can I freeze them? My daughter will have c section next week so I'm making food for her and I need to pack the freezer for her family l

Thank you

Nancy Berman

Expand full comment
author

Yes definitely!!!

Expand full comment