Comfort food, weeknight cooking, and the joy of gardening all come together in the delightful world of Gesine Bullock-Prado, a pastry chef, author, and self-proclaimed "half-ass homesteader." From her move from Los Angeles to Vermont to her passion for baking and growing food in pajamas, Gesine shares her insights on how to elevate cooking, embrace seasonal recipes, and enjoy the simple pleasures of food and life. This article dives into her favorite comfort dishes, the science behind pie dough, homesteading tips for city dwellers, and some fun food quirks that make cooking and eating an adventure.
Comfort Food for Every Day: Weeknight Cooking Ideas
Weeknight dinners are often a challenge—finding comforting meals that are quick, satisfying, and break the monotony. Gesine and her colleague Morgan Bowling share some favorites from America's Test Kitchen that bring coziness and flavor without the fuss.
Southern-Style Chicken and Rice
This classic dish is a longtime favorite. It features chicken thighs cooked in chicken broth with onion and rice, creating a cozy, simple meal that feels like a warm hug. The beauty of chicken and rice is its versatility, with endless variations to explore.
Morgan highlights a new Peruvian-style arroz con pollo on the site, brightened with vibrant cilantro, fresh herbs, and peas. The chicken fat coats the rice, creating a rich, flavorful dish that's also refreshingly green and fresh—a perfect balance for weeknight comfort.
Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese
For those craving a bit of spice and indulgence, the jalapeño popper grilled cheese is a game-changer. Featuring pickled jalapeños mixed with cream cheese, American, and cheddar cheeses, it's a quick five-minute recipe that elevates the classic grilled cheese to a new level of deliciousness.
This grilled cheese is spicy enough for adventurous eaters but can be adjusted for kids too. It's the perfect example of comfort food with a twist—simple, fast, and packed with flavor.
Veg-Forward Eggplant Sandwich
Not all comfort food has to be heavy. The eggplant sandwich, inspired by the famed Cuddy's sandwich shop in Brookline, is a juicy, rich, and hearty option that leans into vegetable-forward eating. Cooked-down eggplant combined with olive salad and mozzarella creates a sandwich that feels substantial yet fresh and satisfying.
From Hollywood to Homesteading: A Journey of Passion and Place
Gesine's life took a remarkable turn when she moved from Los Angeles, where she worked in production and was a lawyer, to rural Vermont. This shift was not just geographical but a profound change in lifestyle and focus.
In Vermont, surrounded by the wild beauty and rich food culture, Gesine embraced baking, teaching, and homesteading. Her property, an old inn dating back to 1793, with ancient barns and maple trees, became a canvas for growing vegetables, orchards, and raising chickens.
Her German-American heritage and upbringing in Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains resonate in her gardening and cooking style, blending tradition with the wild, independent spirit of Vermont.
Half-Ass Homesteading: Practical Gardening for All
Not everyone has a sprawling farm or rural homestead, and Gesine embraces the idea of "half-ass homesteading"—gardening and growing food in imperfect, real-life ways. Whether in pajamas watering plants or managing a small urban deck garden, the key is to grow what you love and find joy in the process.
For city dwellers with limited space, she recommends:
- Using inexpensive grow lights to cultivate perennials like peppers and perilla leaves indoors year-round.
- Growing strawberries in hanging baskets and determinate tomatoes that stay compact.
- Investing in good soil and simple containers to grow meaningful plants without breaking the bank.
This mindset encourages thoughtful eating, reduces food waste, and deepens appreciation for fresh ingredients—no matter where you live.
The Science and Joy Behind Pie Dough
Gesine’s expertise shines when discussing pie dough, especially her love for rough puff pastry. Unlike classic pie crust, rough puff offers an effervescent, flaky, buttery texture that works beautifully for both sweet and savory pies.
She emphasizes the importance of mastering technique to avoid tough dough and shares that resting and rolling the dough thinly are key to success.
Gesine also teaches "inverse puff" pastry, where the butter is on the outside, creating a shattering crispness perfect for delicate pastries like mille feuille. This technique prioritizes ease of eating and a tender, flaky texture that’s truly magical.
Fun Food Quirks: Corn on the Cob and Lemon Cremeux
Food is as much about how we eat as what we eat. Gesine and Morgan explore the quirky world of corn on the cob consumption. Gesine prefers a "log runner" style—rotating the cob inch by inch to get every kernel—while Morgan opts for a "typewriter" approach, eating row by row. Both methods show how personal and fun eating habits can be!
When life hands you lemons, Gesine says, "Make cremeux." This creamy, butter-rich lemon filling is a superior alternative to lemon curd, offering a luscious texture and lasting well in the freezer. It’s perfect for lemon tarts and can even be enjoyed on its own by the spoonful.
Pie Preferences and Regional Food Love
When asked about the best American fruit pie, Gesine champions strawberry rhubarb, a classic with a perfect balance of sweet and tart. She also admires key lime pie for its simplicity and wild blueberry pie for its regional charm, celebrating the diversity of American pies.
The love for pie extends to Vermont’s quirky law requiring apple pie to be served with either cheddar cheese or ice cream—both of which Gesine embraces, even baking sharp cheddar into her pie crust for a savory twist.
Embrace Joyful Cooking and Seasonal Recipes
Whether you’re breaking out of a weeknight cooking rut with comforting recipes like chicken and rice or indulging in the science of perfect pie dough, the key is to find joy in cooking and savor the seasons. Gesine Bullock-Prado’s journey from Hollywood to Vermont homesteader inspires us all to blend passion, creativity, and a little bit of "half-ass" effort to make food that warms the body and soul.
Explore these recipes and more on America's Test Kitchen’s website and app, and let your kitchen be a place of comfort, discovery, and bon appétit!
This article was created from the video Gesine Bullock-Prado on Gardening in Her Pajamas | In The Test Kitchen | America's Test Kitchen with the help of AI.
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