JJ Gonson, Author at Cambridge | Somerville Independent

What’s in your pantry? Part 2: Garlic and onion, oil and vinegar, jams and jellies and more

by JJ Gonson June 24, 2026

In the last article I waxed poetic about salts, but first I teased you about my pantry staples (again, I mean the big boxes of flavorings, not not the big box store). Today I dive into all the other...

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What’s in your pantry? Part 1: Salts

by JJ Gonson June 17, 2026

Staples. Not talking about the big box store, but rather things that I reach for so often that I feel they are essential to my cooking life. I’m a spice hoarder. I have whole shelves of tiny jars and...

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It’s picnic time, and we have tips for fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw and dunking watermelon in the ocean

by JJ Gonson May 22, 2026

Everyone has their own idea of a picnic. We look at cooking and presenting four classics of outdoor dining as melon (and yellow jacket wasp) season nears.

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When building a cheese board, start with a river and let it spill

by JJ Gonson May 6, 2026

There is nothing wrong with eating a couple of perfect cheeses plonked onto a plate, but don’t you think everything tastes best when it is pretty?

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Yay! It’s time for spring produce: Asparagus, sunchokes, fiddleheads, ramps and rhubarb

by JJ Gonson April 29, 2026

We have only a few months of seriously good growing time here, so we need to come out of the gate running.

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Dining safely with allergies or celiac disease takes a village. Also: Where to start eating the rainbow

by JJ Gonson April 22, 2026

For the people trying to eat only “the good things,” there's no superfood waiting to swoop in. But we can help ourselves by going back the basics.

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These foods could be made from a can or box, but you’re going to want to DIY instead

by JJ Gonson April 15, 2026

What’s something you insist on making more or less from scratch that the rest of us might just break out a box or can for?

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Edible flowers: Beautiful and, naturally, delicious (so long as you choose the safe ones)

by JJ Gonson April 8, 2026

Nasturtiums are edible, and popular, as you might have noticed, in fancy salads. There are lots of flowers that are edible and easy to come by here.

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Spice, spice, baby: Racking up some jarring insights about what gives life flavor

by JJ Gonson April 1, 2026

For starters, how often do you throw out spices? If you are my mother, the answer is never.

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Crispy pie: Secrets for homemade pizza, including the gluten-free kind

by JJ Gonson March 25, 2026

Very strong opinions from a former pizzamaking instructor who never mastered a perfectly round crust (because it doesn't matter).