Chelsea Green Blog

Food & Drink

A jar of maple syrup and a wooden spoon on a table

Get Ready for Maple Sugaring Season

Everything is better with maple syrup. At least, that’s what you’ll hear when you ask Vermonters. What better way to solidify your love for all things maple than to learn how to make it yourself? If you only have a couple of trees nearby — say in your backyard — author Michael Farrell has some simple advice…

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Say Vegan Cheese! The Basics of Vegan Cheesemaking

Whether you eat dairy products or not, the vegan cheese recipes will surely knock your socks off. Some people even say they’re better than regular cheese. With a little fermentation knowledge (and practice), you’ll be making delicious vegan cheese in no time! To get started, all you need is a culture starter recipe (with this…

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plantain blender pancakes with raspberries on top

Video: The Best Blender Plantain Pancakes

Want to try a twist on a classic breakfast favorite? Try using plantains in your pancakes! With this recipe, you’ll make healthy and nutritious pancakes that will have you and your taste buds dancing. With no grains, dairy, or added sugar, these pancakes are wholesome enough to feed to your family on a busy weeknight,…

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Salad Sprouts

Perfect Salad with Soil Sprouts: Unlock the Secret

Around this time of year, when “seasonal produce” is just a synonym for root vegetables, many of us begin to dream about fresh greens and colorful salads. Without a greenhouse or expensive equipment, it’s hard to imagine a reality in which you can have fresh and local greens every day. Luckily, you can grow your…

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Listen! Towpath: The Podcast

Did you know that one of our books has a podcast? Authors Lori De Mori and Laura Jackson talk about their London-famous restaurant Towpath in their podcast of the same name. They share some of their favorite recipes too, giving aspiring cooks a chance to listen as they explain some of their trade secrets. The…

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meatloaf

The Best Meatloaf You’ll Ever Taste… Ever!

It’s a staple in almost every kitchen. It has hundreds – nay, thousands – of variations. It’s delicious, nutritious, and packed full of protein. It’s meatloaf!! This meatloaf recipe from London restaurant Towpath is sure to delight everyone in your household. And who knows, it may even end up taking the place of your tried-and-true family recipe. The…

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light coming through windows

How to Use Reflected Light to Boost Indoor Food Production

Growing food indoors or in an urban setting can be quite a challenge. You need to find the right kinds of plants, purchase or build tools, and make sure you have lots of time and patience. Oh, and don’t forget making sure your garden gets enough reflected light so it can thrive! If your space…

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Mugs of lambswool wassail.

Brew Recipe: Lambswool Wassail

(Mugs of Lambswool Wassail. Photo by Jereme Zimmerman) Wassail! Whassat? We’ll tell you! From brewing genius Jereme Zimmerman, we have another out-of-the-barrel brew for you to try at home. Especially on those colder nights. This recipe is an excerpt from Brew Beer Like a Yeti by Jereme Zimmerman and has been adapted for the web. Winter…

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Miso under Electron Microscope

The Complexity of Membranes and the Beauty of the Unseen

It can be comforting to define things using strict categories; black and white, tasty or gross, good or evil. Sandor Ellix Katz, author of Fermentation as Metaphor, knows that this isn’t really the case in real life. Taking another lesson from the act and art of fermentation, Katz dives into the complexity of membranes and…

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Sage and Chili Butter on Fried Eggs (and everything else!)

Spice up your fried eggs with this delicious caramelized sage and chili butter! Not only is this butter great on eggs, but also on pasta, roasted veggies, and an array of other great meals. Much like the sage chili butter in its kitchen, Towpath has a way of enhancing everything it touches. From planting gardens…

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Unlikely Vineyard

Wine Pairings for the Holidays

(Photography by Deirdre Heekin) As the holidays get closer, it’s good to know what kind of wine to serve on the right occasion with the right meal, right? Deirdre Heekin, winemaker and author of An Unlikely Vineyard, is here to share some of her favorite wines along with food pairing suggestions. Her selections include a…

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The Book of Pears - The Fruit Seller

A Book for the Fruit Nerd on Your Holiday Gift List

Have a fruit nerd on your holiday shopping list this year? Then give the gift that Booklist calls, “a thorough investigation of one wonderful fruit”—The Book of Pears by Joan Morgan. In this one-of-a-kind guide, noted pomologist and fruit historian Joan Morgan (The Book of Apples) has researched and crafted a definitive account of the pear’s…

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viking drinking ritual

Try Homemade Mead For a Very Viking Thanksgiving!

A thousand years ago, the people who lived the Viking lifestyle enjoyed a myriad of foods and beverages and threw feasts that lasted several days to show off what they had stockpiled throughout the harvest season. Bring the Viking spirit of celebration to your Thanksgiving table this year with a traditional batch of spiced orange…

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give thanks

Thanksgiving Feast: A Twist on the Traditional New England Dinner

If you’re looking for something new and different to serve this Thanksgiving, Chef Evan Mallett of the Black Trumpet restaurant in Portsmouth, NH has some ideas. From his book, Black Trumpet, Mallett has selected three traditional, New England-inspired dishes that are sure to add some new flavors to your Thanksgiving feast. The following is an…

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Break Up Boring Dinners with Lamb and Hummus!

Have you been cooking the same handful of meals over, and over, and over again? We’ve all been there– life gets busy and your creativity in the kitchen is one of the first things to go. Well, we’re here to break you out of that boring dinner rut with this tasty recipe for Crispy Lamb…

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The Power of Fermentation: A Bubbling Transformation

Fermentation revivalist Sandor Ellix Katz has spent a lot of time thinking about fermentation. Stemming from his personal obsession with all things fermented, in his newest book, Katz meditates on his art and work, drawing connections between microbial communities and aspects of human culture: politics, religion, social and cultural movements, art, music, sexuality, identity, and…

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rosehip berries

RECIPE: It’s The Perfect Time For Rosehip Jam

All good things must come to an end– and that includes warm summer nights.  But with the close of summer comes overnight frosts, the ideal time to gather plump, ripe rosehips. A rosehip’s sweet, unique flavor is perfect on morning toast. There are endless variations on ingredients and many ways to make rosehip jam.  Here are…

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Chestnut koji with macro lens.

Fermentation as Metaphor

If you’re a foodie, then you’re probably familiar with fermentation; sauerkraut, kimchi, cheese, and beer are just a few of the delicious foods that rely on it. Now, what if you thought about fermentation not just as a physical process, but as a metaphorical one? The following is an excerpt from Fermentation as Metaphor by…

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A Realm of One’s Own

There’s nothing more exciting than discovering a hidden gem, which is precisely how many people describe Towpath. If you were strolling down the Regent’s Canal in Hackney during the winter months, you’d never suspect a restaurant sat behind Towpath’s shutters. To add to its intrigue, this unassuming little eatery is advertised exclusively by word of…

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okra marshmallows and coffee

Okra Marshmallow Delights

Did you know you can make marshmallows out of this peculiar plant? Anything is possible when it comes to okra! Whether it’s a treat you’re creating at home with your family or an on-the-go snack, okra marshmallows will certainly become one of your favorites. Check out this amazing recipe by Katrina Blair. The following is…

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Apples on apple trees

Honoring the Cider Making Process

Cider making seems like a lot of work (and it is) but it makes itself more than you may know. With the addition of yeast, the apple juice ferments into cider after a few days. Andy Brennan, cider-enthusiast, advises to trust this process and not to interfere. Leaving nature to do its work yields a…

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Recipe: Hibiscus and Rose Hip Soda

In today’s world of processed foods and too much sugar, it can seem impossible to find truly natural ingredients that taste good. Look no farther than your backyard! Hibiscus and roses are two common flowers that can be used to make natural soda that tastes fresh and have healing properties. The following is an excerpt…

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ferment

Become a Fermentation Sensation with these 8 Recipes!

Fermentation can take any ordinary ingredient and turn it into something amazing and delicious! To prove it to you, we’ve compiled some of our best fermentation recipes that you can try at home. Kvass: A Nourishing, Fermented Beverage Looking to add another recipe to your fermenting repertoire? Try your hand at kvass. This nourishing beverage…

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Artisan Foods: Inspiration from Masters of the Craft

Artisan food-makers spend years studying their craft and perfecting their culinary techniques in order to give us the most delicious food possible. Our authors are sharing their knowledge with the world, whether it be brewing beer or making cheese. Pick up any one of the books this list to learn from the best! If these…

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koji

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Koji

What if we told you there’s a world of flavor that you’ve never tasted before? There is, and it all starts with a little mold called koji! In the right hands, koji makes anything taste better, from bread to cheese to ice cream. Check out our post on growing your own koji to get started.…

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