Dana Velden

Dana Velden's first book, Finding Yourself in the Kitchen: Kitchen Meditations and Inspired Recipes from a Mindful Cook (Rodale Books) is available where ever books are sold. She lives in Oakland, CA.
I Sprinkle This Super-Flavorful Gremolata on Everything
Gremolata is one of those things where the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. Sprinkled over any number of dishes, it will make every mouthful pop with its bright, fresh flavors. Along with classic basil pesto and chimichurri sauce, it’s one of the essential condiments made with fresh herbs that you can add to practically anything grilled or roasted. Plus it’s a great way to use up a bunch of parsley!
Jun 28, 2024
The "Knuckle Trick" for Cooking Perfect Rice Every Time
Lots of people swear by it.
Sep 2, 2022
This 2-Ingredient Rhubarb Simple Syrup Is the Perfect Cocktail Upgrade
It’s rhubarb season and no doubt everyone is making rhubarb pie! But there are many other things you can do with rhubarb: relishes, chutneys, and jammy compotes; sauces both sweet and savory, and rhubarb desserts like ice cream and sorbets. The list is endless, but one of my favorite things to make when rhubarb is plentiful is this lovely, pink-hued rhubarb syrup. Here’s how to make it.
May 16, 2024
Yes, You Can Soak Dried Beans In An Hour Flat
We’ve all been there. You go to start a recipe for your favorite classic beef chili, navy bean soup, or from-scratch hummus and then it hits you: you forgot to soak the beans! Of course you can reach for canned beans at this point, but if freshly cooked beans are what you really want, then it’s time to learn how to quick-soak your beans — it cuts the soaking time down to just an hour!
Feb 16, 2024
25 One-Pan Meals You Can Make in Under an Hour
One-pan meals are a busy person’s dream come true. Just as with recipes that call for only a few ingredients, you can trust that those requiring just a single piece of cookware are going to be quick to assemble and quick to cook. Plus, you won’t be left with a giant pile of dirty dishes afterwards.
Jan 10, 2024
My Dad's 6-Ingredient Chocolate Fudge Is the Easiest You'll Ever Make
I grew up making this chocolate fudge with my father, who spent a fair amount of time in the kitchen (which was rare for a man of his generation). He was always welcoming, pulling up a chair to the stove and hovering close as I stirred the molten chocolate bubbling away. This chocolate fudge recipe is a family-favorite and easy to make for the holidays (or any time of the year).This recipe for fudge is a classic one from my childhood.
Dec 20, 2023
52 Make-Ahead Christmas Dinner Ideas That'll Save You Stress
They somehow taste even BETTER when prepped in advance.
Dec 5, 2023
Collard Greens with "Pot Likker" is a Southern Staple for a Reason
Get to know this Southern green.
Dec 13, 2023
From Waffles to French Toast: Classic Breakfast Recipes to Know by Heart
Or how to cook an amazing breakfast without a recipe.
Nov 30, 2023
30 Romantic Dinners to Make at Home for Valentine’s Day
Everyone knows that staying in on Valentine's Day is way better than going out, right?
Nov 30, 2023
14 Pressure Cooker Recipes to Get You Started
The electric pressure cooker has a lot to offer the busy cook. Today's cookers are sleek, safe, and can do almost anything!
Nov 15, 2023
How To Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes for Thanksgiving
The richest, creamiest, most classic version.
Nov 15, 2023
The Best Way to Bake a Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are at the top of my shopping list this time of year, and for good reason. These tender tubers are readily available, last a long time in the pantry, and are incredibly versatile. One of the very best ways to prepare sweet potatoes is also the simplest — baking. Serve baked sweet potatoes anytime from breakfast to dinner and flavor them savory or sweet. Baking eliminates the prep work of peeling, chopping, boiling, and draining for tender potatoes.
Oct 13, 2023
The Biggest Rule for Cooking Bacon On the Stove
Are you already doing this?!
Sep 20, 2023
How To Make Quick-Pickled Red Onions
They take about 10 minutes to assemble and last for weeks in the refrigerator.
Sep 8, 2023
How To Make Whole Grain Teff Porridge
Teff is a gluten-free whole grain that’s starting to get more attention these days. And for good reason: these tiny grains pack a big nutritional punch since they’re made up primarily of the bran and germ, where all the good-for-you stuff is. Making teff porridge is easy. Before cooking, first toast the teff for two minutes in a pan, then transfer in a saucepan and bring to a boil for 15 to 20 minutes.
Aug 21, 2023
40+ Stews and Braises to Keep You Warm, Cozy, and Well Fed
This is how we're staying cozy (and well-fed!) this January.
Aug 14, 2023
How To Slice an Avocado
Slicing an avocado is a simple technique that requires minimal knife skills and just a few seconds of your time.
Aug 7, 2023
Classic Vegetarian Nut Loaf
A savory and satisfying vegetarian option for your holiday spread
Jul 21, 2023
How To Chop, Dice, and Mince an Onion
There are very few savory recipes that don’t begin with a chopped onion or that contain minced herbs or garlic. For a new cook, terms like “medium chop” or “small dice” can be confusing. Medium compared to what? How small is small? And how much trouble can you get into if you small chop something when the recipe says to mince?
Jul 7, 2023
30 Cozy Breakfasts to Make When You’re Snowed In
An unexpected snow day means it's time to have some fun in the kitchen!
Jul 5, 2023
How to Make Italian Grissini Breadsticks
Are you familiar with grissini? A far cry from their soft, chewy pizza parlor cousins, grissini are long, thin, Italian-style breadsticks. They are crisp all the way through and can be flavored with various herbs, seeds, and spices to complement whatever else you may be serving. You can wrap them with paper-thin slices of prosciutto for a classic presentation, but they’re equally delicious served just as they are.
Jul 4, 2023
13 Ways to Eat Chocolate for Breakfast (Because You Love Yourself)
Get that chocolate in at the beginning of the day!
Jul 3, 2023
How To Make Baklava
Baklava is one of those desserts that has a reputation for difficulty, but is actually surprisingly easy to make.
Jun 27, 2023
How To Temper Chocolate Without a Thermometer
Alexandra Whisnant, chocolatier and owner of a small, avant-garde chocolate company called gâté comme des filles (‘spoiled like girls’), located in Massachusetts, is truly passionate about chocolates. She shows us how to hand dip chocolates — but before we dip, we need to understand how to temper.
Jun 22, 2023
19 Recipes That Show Why We Love Baking With Yogurt
Skip the breakfast bowl and stir it into your cake batter instead.
Jun 13, 2023
How To Make Perfect 15-Minute Risotto in a Pressure Cooker
Risotto is one of those delicious dishes that not enough people make at home because it has a reputation for being fussy and time-consuming. If you make it the traditional way, you have to spend about 20 to 30 minutes at the stove, all of it hands-on time as you stir and add stock, stir and add stock, stir and add stock. What about a delicious, creamy risotto in about 12 to 15 minutes that includes some precious hands-off time?
Jun 12, 2023
Mushrooms on Toast: Perfect for Any Meal
Mushrooms on toast is a classic British dish, usually served with tea after work or as a light supper. It is perfectly delightful in its simplicity, just sautéed mushrooms with maybe a little onion and parsley, dumped over toast and dug into after a hard day’s work. I did play with it a little in this version, which gussies things up with a splash of wine, some crème fraîche and fresh thyme.
May 16, 2023
10 New Cookbooks That Make Great Father’s Day Gifts
With options for dads who love to cook and dads who never cook.
May 12, 2023
50 Things to Do with Chicken When You’re Bored with It
So long, dry, flavorless chicken breast!
Apr 25, 2023
How To Cook Dried Pasta
Can there be anything more simple than cooking up a pot of pasta? The only thing you have to do is boil water, right? Well, yes, that’s certainly the basic outline. But there are a few other tricks and helpful hints that will help make your cooking run a little smoother and your pasta taste a little better. This post is specifically about cooking classic dried durum wheat pasta.
Apr 7, 2023
Recipe: Roasted Cherries
It’s been exactly two years since I wrote about my favorite cherry custard tart recipe and I still stand by it. There isn’t a soul on earth who has tasted it and hasn’t promptly fallen in love. But with so many cherries in the Bay Area markets right now, it was time to think Beyond the Tart. Roasted cherries sounded intriguing, so I gave them a try over the weekend. I am pleased to report that I now can stand by two cherry recipes! Read on for the recipe.
Mar 27, 2023
Homemade Celery Salt from 101 Cookbooks
I love celery salt. I think it’s a great addition to just about any savory dish, but I especially like it on my eggs. So when I saw that Heidi Swanson posted a recipe for it on her 101 Cookbooks website, I knew I had to give it a try. Read on for my review.This is a simple recipe, with just two ingredients: flaky sea salt and celery leaves. And like any recipe with just two ingredients, you have to be sure that those ingredients are top notch.
Mar 24, 2023
15 Cookbooks That Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts
There was a time when receiving a cookbook for Mother's Day may have been as exciting as receiving a vacuum. That is no longer the case.
Mar 14, 2023
40 Simple Baking Projects for a Winter Snow Day
From fudgy brownies to a luscious layer cake, here's what to make when you're hunkered down indoors.
Feb 6, 2023
40+ of Our Best Valentine’s Day Desserts
From chocolate cakes to butterscotch pudding, there's something here for everyone!
Jan 12, 2023