We’ve reached the end of another delightful semester. Some parts were more delightful than others, but I hope you all had a least one delightful part, or that you are looking forward to something delightful during the summer. If you don’t have anything yet, I have something for you: Halibut with jalapeño cream. This recipe is a little more fancy (and a little more expensive) than most of the ones I suggest. I thought you might want to impress your parents if they’re here to help you move or when...

This week we’re talking Thai curries. I make Thai curry much the same way I make yellow curry: coconut milk, veggies, curry paste/powder and sometimes chicken or tofu. It mostly depends on the curry flavor I want. For Thai curry, you have the option of either red curry paste or green curry paste. I don’t know much about the history of curry, but my guess is that there are certain ingredients that are associated with each paste, but I just use them based on what I think tastes good. You...

Pizza is the perfect food. I’ve had this conversation so many times I’ve lost count. Every time the topic of pizza comes up my roommate and I have at least a five-minute conversation about how it is perfect. It fits in your hand comfortably, it can be eaten warm or cold—depending on the weather—and it can contain all of the food groups if you want it to. As good as Cellar pizza is, it can get a bit spendy to eat there every time pizza sounds good, which for me...

Last week I read an article by Mark Bittman in The New York Times Magazine that dealt with the possibility of fast, cheap and healthy food. Bittman feels that the country as a whole is shifting toward a desire for something that is cheap, fast (for airport excursions, etc.) and made with healthful ingredients. On a recent cross-country trip, Bittman attempted to eat vegan. He quickly tired of Subway’s veggie delight sandwich. The best alternative he found was the “fresco” burrito at Taco Bell. This burrito replaced dairy and meat...

The weather is finally turning brighter, and even a bit warmer. The promise of springtime always makes me want crisp and fresh flavors in my food. I know I often start off this column by talking about the weather, but I want to assure you that it’s not because I can’t think of anything else to talk about. I find the weather has a huge effect on what I want to eat. I wonder if that has something to do with my body lining up with what foods are in...

The sun is here! The sun is here! Warm weather and—oh wait … it’s still only 50 degrees outside. I am a true Northwester, born and raised, but lately I’ve got to say I’m a little fed up with the Northwest version of springtime. Well, the bright side is that we still get to eat chili in April. This is my Dad’s chili recipe, and it is one of the first real (not from a box and / or not a sandwich) dishes I learned how to make. I love...

If you’re anything like me, the authoritative influences in your life have probably told you to choose fruit over candy, whole wheat over white bread and vegetables over saltines when snacking. Well, as I’ve said before, you’re in college now. You don’t have to listen to anyone about what you should eat. You can eat whatever you want—“can” being the operative word in this sentence. You can eat whatever you want, but do you really want to eat candy while you’re studying for your midterms? I mean, really? Maybe your...

I have a confession to make: the truth is, sometimes I buy way more vegetables than I can eat in a week. When I look at them sitting in my cart, I think, “I’m going to be so healthy this week.” This week I bought sweet potatoes, beets, carrots and asparagus and roasted them on Monday night. This is one of my favorite ways to prepare veggies. The basic idea is to cut all of your veggies into “French fry” slices. That is, about pointer-finger length and no more than...

Anybody else feeling a little betrayed by the weather this week? We had a few of those sunny days, but now they’re gone, never to return (or at least, that’s how it feels). February, you’re such a tease! This time last year my parents decided they couldn’t stand the rain any longer and used their airline miles to take my little sister and me with them to Mexico, where there was so much sun to be had we just about fried ourselves trying to soak it all up. This February,...

If you are tired of S.U.B. food, over instant ramen and/or too cheap for frozen dinners, you’re looking in the right place. Here you will find ideas for cooking well and cheaply, as well as finding more variety in your own cooking and the S.U.B. This week, with the chilly weather and pervasive sicknesses, I’m all about the veggie stew. This recipe, which I created with a friend while we were studying abroad, usually makes enough stew to last me about seven meals. I don’t eat it constantly, but I...