Tara Mataraza Desmond - Choosing Sides: From Holidays to Every Day, 130 Delicious Recipes to Make the Meal

ALSO BY TARA MATARAZA DESMOND

Almost Meatless: Recipes That Are Better for Your Health and the Planet

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Choosing Sides text copyright 2013 Tara Mataraza Desmond.Photographs copyright 2013 Ben Pieper Photography. Allrights reserved. No part of this book maybe used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever withoutwritten permission except in the case of reprints in thecontext of reviews.

Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC an Andrews McMeel Universal company 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

www.andrewsmcmeel.com

ISBN: 978-1-4494-4134-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013937539

Design: Holly Ogden
Photography: Ben Pieper Photography
Digital/Photo Assistant: Anneka DeJong
Food Stylist: Trina Kahl
Food Stylist Assistant: Dan Tref

ATTENTION: SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES Andrews McMeel books are available at quantity discounts with bulk purchase for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail the Andrews McMeel Special Sales Department:specialsales@amuniversal.com

For Topher, the best side Ive ever chosen

Contents

In life, the good people who surround you make everything better the way side dishes can make a meal. Im lucky and grateful for so many who were alongside me while I wrote this book.

Clare Pelino, my agent, who was enthusiastic about this concept from the minute I suggested it and who remains supportive, patient, and empathetic to the juggle of motherhood and career.

Jean Lucas and the staff at Andrews McMeel Publishing for choosing, polishing, and designing this book. The talented folks at Ben Pieper Photography, whose styling and pictures made for the perfect visual helpings of the featured recipes.

Kevin Downing, an endless source of creativity, who spurred the title for this book in a weekday email exchange that Ill keep forever. Maureen Petrosky, who has been unselshly available throughout my career, especially when her moral support as a fellow mother of twins rallied me through the very rough rst trimester of babies and book writing. Liz Pollitt Paisner, who commiserated and propped me up when the notion of working in the early days of a twin pregnancy felt impossible. Cheryl Sternman Rule for being a professional and personal condante who makes me laugh in the most cathartic and medicinal way; Robin Asbell for good advice on keeping it real in this business; Monica Bhide for an unwavering optimism and commitment to seeing it through; Nancie McDermott, whose energy comes bounding through email in a way that brings the camaraderie so much closer; Sandra Gutierrez, an inspiring author, woman, and mom for her deeply personal advice and encouragement; Jill OConnor, who should really have her own comedy show if it wouldnt interfere with her sharing her incredible culinary and writerly talents; Ivy Manning for her generous and immediate cracker consultation, which spared me sleuthing time and made for the crispy, crunchy snacks I set out to make; Jennifer Lindner McGlinn for calling me from the hospital in labor to talk about pastry dough; Holly Herrick for a blind-baking consultation; Andy Schloss for his one-of-a-kind view of the world and life that keeps me laughing and thinking. Colleagues and friends who are always on hand, however far away, for invaluable exchanges, especially those from the food writers Google group, the Facebook cookbook writers group, Facebook friends who weighed in on questions that fueled this books content, the Food Writers Symposium, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).

Friends who contributed recipes to Choosing Sides , including Allyson Evans for helping me create .

The cadre of recipe testers who tested, retested, offered feedback, and kicked around ideas, improvements, andalterations that made this book so much better than it would have been if I had written it without their input. Theirinvolvement helped me anticipate questions that you, the reader and the cook, would ask; kept me on my toes; andkept me company in a quiet kitchen. They include Anthony Abbatiello, Robin Asbell, Soma and Audreesh Banerjee, CathyBaglieri, Deacon and Erika Chapin, Denise and Kevin Downing, Allyson Evans, Matt Grande, Tara Hoey, Joy Manning,Jennifer and John Mataraza, Paula and John Mataraza, Caoimhe OKelly, Alyson Oswald, Chrissy Quisenberry, CherylSternman Rule, Julie Solomon and Gregg Narod, Chris Soltis, Liz Tarpy.

My mother, Paula Mataraza, who taught herself how to cook so successfully that it made me want to do it for aliving. She contributed some of my favorites to this book, especially . And my dad,John Mataraza, who keeps convincing me that Ill only live once, so I might as well keep trying... and keep eatingcheese and drinking wine.

My daughter, Abigail, now two years old, who pushes her stool up to the kitchen counter to cook with me. Ihope she always will. And the twins, Timothy and Miles, who were literally with me every step of the way on thejourney of writing this book.

My husband, Topher, without whom life would be as incomplete and unsatisfying as Thanksgiving dinner withoutmashed potatoes and gravy. I am endlessly thankful that he is by my side every day.