Hi. I’m Isabel, I cook and scribble. I make a lot of food and do a lot of writing, and Bread & Courage is what I have to show for it. It started as a simple food blog called TASTE but evolved into something more—a place where I express my love of food, community and the environment. Thanks for spending some time here—and be in touch!
If you love the idea of savory summer vegetables steaming in a deep bowl, the scent of herbs and spices rising to your nostrils, you’ve likely tried your hand at ratatouille. But, for as many delicious summer stews you’ve enjoyed, you’ve probably also faced many a limp blob of hot, mushy mass inappropriately called ratatouille. […]
My friend Molly has a talent for great food in a flash: Rachel Ray would benefit from a lesson over this gal' s stove. Even though I' ve never had any of Ray-Ray' s reportedly YUMO stoup, I would be totally un-inclined to visit her home for thirty minutes of meal preparation. All that chatter […]
Mussels are one of my favorite things to order at a restaurant. No meal is ever as fun to eat as a big pot of mollusks: the interactive element is what I like best, pulling at the shells, slurping the mussels and scooping the broth. It' s not especially glamorous, but it really is so […]
I' m always looking for a new twist on the tomato, especially as my favorite summer fruit begins to wane. I had a request for panzanella this weekend and was delighted to find a recipe in Edible Nutmeg, the Connecticut farmer' s magazine that specializes on local food and produce. I quadrupled the recipe for […]
Swordfish is my favorite fish. It can' t be eaten too often I' m told, due to the threat of infertility, blindness or death by mercury. Despite the noxious metals that settle in its flesh, swordfish is one of the most delicious dishes ever drawn from the sea. The best swordfish I' ve ever had […]
Gazpacho is a happy summertime catharsis. You pluck and chop and possibly puree a bit until your mouth explodes with crunch and flavor and your cheeks burn from so much hot pepper and such an enduring wide grin. It is the easiest thing to do in the world and requires nothing more than a knife […]
I’ve been thinking about how this got started: why I love foraging from markets, (wish I had the wherewithal to hunt for morels in the bayou forest) hoarding ingredients, and trying to make them into something interesting–without ruining how good fresh food is on its own. There are few things I can do with a […]
