Kyiv in your kitchen By Ilysse Rimalovski To find the Shatashvili family living happily in our community is nothing short of a miracle. It’s been three years since Maryna, her husband Iraklii and their three children Samuel (14), Tamar (12) and Ester (7) emigrated here from their beloved home in Ukraine. The Shatashvili family in their hometown of Dnipro, Ukraine in 2021: Maryna, Iraklii and their three children Samuel, Tamar and Ester. With each challah braided, baked and de

Mangala’s Chicken Curry Tastes of Home is a Food Matters series celebrating the rich culinary traditions of our local residents. The aromas flowing from Mangala Rajan’s kitchen stir hunger, memory and tradition all at once. Coriander and cumin are blooming in hot oil, signaling the rich, layered experience of the meal to come. Rajan readies her spices and chopped vegetables for making chicken curry. “With chicken curry, you can be as simple or as sophisticated as you want,” s

Vietnamese Summer Rolls As bunches of mint, cucumbers and tender lettuces fill backyard gardens and farmers markets, we naturally crave the foods that reflect the vitality of the season. Vietnamese summer rolls (gỏi cuồn) are the ideal portable summer lunch or light appetizer, requiring minimal cooking and maximum freshness. Served chilled with a dipping sauce, these rolls are traditionally stuffed with rice vermicelli, raw shredded vegetables, herbs and a protein such as shr

Ingredients for most Turkish recipes are available at local markets. For specialty items, visit Bereket Marketplace in Monmouth Junction. When Mutlu Bascillar’s family members left their Turkish hometown of Kilis in 1966, they thought they were coming to America for an extended visit. An invitation from a beloved uncle who had settled in St. Louis evolved into a nine-month immersion in language, education and settling here for new opportunities. The Bascillar family left Turk

Pot-lucky Pulled Pork Sliders A potluck spread offers something to satisfy every guest’s cravings Imagine buffet tables covered with platters of pulled pork sliders, cole slaw and mac and cheese. At the dessert table, chocolate chip cookies join fruit salad and Natale’s sugared donuts. At the drink station, water, iced tea and lemonade are on the table while coolers filled with beer, wine and soda are underneath. Potluck dining, in which each guest brings a dish to share, is

Cultivating community John and Cathy Knapp are fixtures at St. James’s Gate in Maplewood Village. Imagine you’ve just moved to Maplewood and the couple next door greets you with freshly baked cupcakes and an open invitation to swim in their pool. Neighbors and friends enjoy the annual First Splash in the Knapp’s backyard pool. In an era when neighbors barely exchange more than a wave, John Knapp and his wife, Cathy, have built something rare and valuable – a true community. T

Fuel for a healthy new year Fully assembled, each power bowl bite is a mighty forkful layered with flavors and textures. The power bowl has organically evolved into a staple of health-conscious menus. This artful combination of layered grains, proteins and vegetables meets the growing desire for convenient bespoke nutrition. A shift toward clean eating is evident in the ubiquity of bowls served at fast casual restaurants and elsewhere. But if Sweetgreen or Chipotle is not you

Holiday Tablescaping 101 While a well-planned menu shapes a memorable holiday dinner, a thoughtful host helps guests feel welcomed and comfortable before the first dish is served. Tablescaping is the art of designing and arranging a dining table by combining tableware, centerpieces, linens and decorative elements to create a setting that is inviting and visually appealing. But it goes beyond simple table setting. Anticipation and effort are expressions of care. Using themes,

Essential Apple Crisp When I feel a hint of fall in the breeze, I am reminded that the time is ripe for apple picking. I can already taste my first mid-season Macoun, an apple that is sweet and tart, juicy and thin skinned. I organize friends and family for daylong outings to pick-your-own farms. Each location has its own personality, some with cider donuts, hot spiced beverages and picnic tables, others with tractor rides, hay mazes, petting zoos and entrance fees. All are b

Loaded waffle tacos are fun and filling An ideal after-school snack is nutrient dense , balanced and filling. Preschoolers and teens need energy to help them stay focused, satisfied and ready for any afternoon activities. Even if the activity is a power nap, a small snack can help prevent hunger and stabilize blood sugar levels, making it easier for children to rest comfortably. Portion sizes and nutritional needs vary greatly depending on who the snacker is. A toddler may be

The art of grazing platters Grazing platters have become high art, often high budget and entertainment itself. By letting your inner food stylist out, you can easily create a bountiful board that will engage your guests. Thanks to local specialty food retailers, the finest ingredients are readily available. The “board” trend may be attributed to social media charcuterie artists who assemble meaty rosettes and meandering patterns almost too pretty to eat. But the traditional a

This salad says springtime The first time I saw asparagus growing, the farmer deftly snapped a stalk and handed it to me, encouraging me to take a bite. It was a transformative moment. To experience its tenderness, sweetness and earthiness was to taste springtime itself. Imagine the setting as well. It was a misty midday in April in Lambertville, NJ, at an organic farm overlooking the Delaware River. A few other guests and I toured the grounds and were then escorted up a hill