Chinese Braised Pork and Spinach is an American-style Chinese dish with a strong mid-century vibe. Like many of the recipes in Myra Waldo’s Chinese Cookbook (1968), what makes this dish “Chinese” is a blend of soy sauce, sherry, and honey that add a subtle Asian flair to an otherwise run-of-the-mill pork roast. I say this……
Ingredient: beef broth
Biscuit-topped Bulgarian Lamb Stew (adapted from Smart Shopper’s Cookbook, 1972)
Biscuit-topped Bulgarian Lamb Stew is a hearty, simply seasoned lamb stew from Loyta Wooding’s 1972 Smart Shopper’s Cookbook. As I’ve noted elsewhere, in twenty-first century terms a lamb stew doesn’t seem to fit with the strict-budget ethos of Smart Shopper’s Cookbook. Lamb consumption has dropped precipitously since the 1960s and in modern markets lamb is……
Shiitake Velvet with Black Fungus (adapted from The Country Kitchen Soup Cookbook)
One of the more elegant recipes in The Country Kitchen Soup Cookbook is “Mushroom Velvet”, available in both my OG and later editions. It’s a simple cream of mushroom soup made with onions and beef broth and then pureed with sour cream until smooth. It’s rich and meaty on its own but also a wonderful……
Lentil Soup (adapted from Home Cookin’ with Dave’s Mom, 1996)
Lentil Soup is far and away our family’s favorite recipe from Home Cookin’ with Dave’s Mom. The recipe comes to us by way of David Letterman’s sister Jan, without any backstory. Like any good cold weather soup it’s warm and rich and sticks to your ribs, but what makes it special is a healthy dose……