Mulligan Stew

March 13, 2014 Lorin Bruckner

It is believed that Mulligan stew was a creation of American hobos around the turn of the century. It was a community dish formed by whatever people happened to have on hand. Now that traditional hobo culture is not so prevalent in America, Mulligan stew has come to resemble Irish beef stew with an American bent. This version uses seitan in place of beef, beer with the broth, and is chock-full of root vegetables. Once again, I will be dedicating this stew recipe to an important person in my life. This time, it's my little brother, Ben.

Seitan and Dumplings

January 19, 2014 Lorin Bruckner

This recipe is based on possibly the most famous stew in the southern United States. It's the kind of dish that is passed down from generation to generation, creating feuds between families over minor variations, such as flat or fluffy dumplings (fluffy) and broth base or cream base (broth). Having come from the northeast, where the gravy is always brown, I never knew much about this stew before I met my husband. That's why, as part of the tradition I've started on this blog, I'm dedicating this recipe to him.

Fall Soup

November 21, 2013 Lorin Bruckner

As the season draws to a close, I find myself eager to snatch up the last of the fall goodies at the farmer's market before it's gone until spring. This soup gives me a good excuse for that, and, in keeping with my newly-founded tradition of dedicating soups to people I know, this one goes out to my friend, Kate.

Agave Glazed Golden Stir Fry With Tofu

November 14, 2013 Lorin Bruckner

It took me years to learn how to make a decent stir fry, and even now the ones I cook come nowhere near the quality of those made at my favorite Chinese restaurant. It truly is an art, and many people end up overcooking everything into a mushy, soggy mess.