Rose, Berry & Pomegranate Panna Cotta

I made this little dessert as an ode to moms, but specifically my mom. I wanted it to have a touch of rose, for the bountiful gardens she tends. It had to be multi-layered, for the way she has constantly re-invented herself through the years, from a young wife supporting her husband through graduate school, to a stay-at-home mom, a working mom, a successful business owner, a teacher, and a community leader. It would need a variety of toppings, for she’s worn many hats throughout motherhood, as maker of our home, nurturer, provider and role model. It had to be something solid but with a rounded softness and lots of give, for the many ways my sisters and I have depended on her and the countless ways she is giving to everyone around her.

Winter Salad of Chicory, Orange, Pomegranate & Walnuts

Can you taste these colors? Feel this brightness? When winter starts to feel drab and dark — around January — I like to find seasonal ingredients to make a vibrant and cheery salad.

Jeweled Saffron & Cardamom Rice with Sultanas, Pomegranate & Almond Slivers

For a long time, I’ve been craving a Persian-style jeweled rice with colorful bites of fruit and nuts and savory spices. I adapted this dish from a recipe in The Spice Merchant’s Daughter, a book I treasure for its beautifully alluring, always aromatic, and surprisingly simple recipes. Since the whole family devoured this alongside the Lemon, Saffron & Paprika Roasted Chicken Thighs, I think I need to make this again — soon.

Love, Part II: Duck, Pear & Pomegranate Lettuce Wraps

Romance: That’s what these lettuce wraps are all about.