thecounterintuitivekitchen

We live in glorious times. For example, two burritos can sleep quietly together in harmony. It’s hard to tell from this photo, but one of these burritos is an American Democrat, and one is an American Republican. How peaceful they are! The fork is late capitalism. I have another miracle to share, which is the … More Everything is maybe okay, or will be

This summer, we had a backyard vegetable garden that started out as… not tidy areas, but semi-specific small plots of tomato, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, kale, and pepper plants. I say “we” but my role ended at the point that I cleaned out an old Ikea toy bin and turned it on its side so we … More Zucchini pancakes

I didn’t consider myself a person who had a lot of opinions about domestic stuff until this summer, when I had the good fortune to spend a week at two homes where the people in charge have dust ruffles on every bed. As I was about to leave each house, I was making a whole … More Blog of Fire and Ice

Traditionally, at a funeral, you will want to serve pasta dishes, casseroles, and other items that reheat well. You will also need kid-friendly food, like chicken nuggets or mac and cheese. Potatoes are “always a hit,” according to funeral home administrators, who also advise that including some of the deceased’s favorite dishes can be a … More Food for Summer Gatherings

Once upon a time, a person stood in a kitchen holding a tin bowl full of cauliflower florets. A beeswax-coated cloth, which such person can use instead of plastic wrap, sat stiffly on top of the pile of cauliflower like a mortarboard. The cauliflower was a bit aged, old enough to graduate from the refrigerator … More Tempura

Late one afternoon, shortly after taking a wander around my office and confronting a number of things that are either possible to eat or things that people seem to think other people might eat, if those other people are just desperate or human dumpsters, I had some thoughts.     I thought: I am going … More Scallions