Mention comfort food and people generally think of homemade chicken soup or meatloaf and mashed potatoes. These staples of the American table deserve their due, but for Janine and me, the most comforting of all foods is pasta. Not the heavy, unrefined “Red Lead” over spaghetti that is often served for Sunday dinner, but a […]
Other Items Recently On Our Plate:
Recipe: Grandpa’s Sausage Bread
“It’s not always about the food, it’s about the story.” I think Ruth Reichl, the Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet, said that once. My apologies if I am incorrect. (And no, this column is not about the fact many people are still puzzled and shake their heads and shrug about the closing of Gourmet magazine . Yes, I […]
A few words about sharing recipes…and those who do not.
Before I begin, recently I heard a friend get upset because she was invited to dinner at a friend’s house, someone she considered a longtime friend. They were served something they enjoyed at dinner. During dessert, they asked for the recipe and were flatly, rudely, refused. Claiming, it is a “family secret”. Really? Since, I am now annoyed and […]
Recipe: Braised Lamb Shanks and White Beans
Winter rolled into New Jersey last week with a blast of Arctic air and the season’s first snowfall. The snowbirds have already migrated to warmer climates. The sand and sun crowd are busy hibernating in front of their televisions. The season may be dreaded by some but welcomed by Janine and me. Our winter refuge […]
Wine: Chateau Pierrail – A Bordeaux Bargain
Chateau Pierrail / Bordeaux Superieur 2009 It is winter here in New Jersey. Time for braising and stews. This time of year with those meals we tend to go for the bolder wines and we are always fond of a good bordeaux. Although the flipside is usually a good Bordeaux is as they say en […]
Recipe: Shrimp Risotto – Maximum Flavor, Minimal Effort
Risotto is a staple in our kitchen repertoire. It is a hearty dish that is quick and easy to prepare with minimal mess. Once the basic technique is mastered, any number of different variations can be created by simply changing the main ingredient (in this case Shrimp) and the type of stock used. The Shrimp […]
Recipe: Stuffed Pork Loin Inspired from Zoe in Little Silver, NJ
One of my favorite food pastimes is encountering an excellent dish at a restaurant and then trying to recreate it at home. Recently, such a challenge presented itself at Zoe in Little Silver, NJ. The picture on the left is the version we were served at Zoe. The picture on the right is my version. Zoe is our local […]
Recipe: Mini Brie En Croute
We were driving one day in Shrewsbury last year and had to go to Staples. We noticed construction, etc. next door and wondered what they were building in the old restaurant’s place. Then we saw a sign, “Trader Joe’s Coming Soon”. My husband became as giddy as a little boy who just won all the marbles. I […]
Cooking Tip: Steam Table/Hotel Pans
Steam Table pans are metal trays that contain food on buffet tables and salad bars. Known as hotel pans in professional kitchens, they are common in the food service industry but seldom used at home. Stainless steel construction makes them non-reactive, oven proof and dishwasher safe. A wide assortment of sizes and shapes creates unlimited […]
Wine: This white vino is oh so keen-o
Janine here. Let me begin by saying I love to drink wine with dinner but only red wine. Red, red wine. It goes to my head. Frankly, I have never really enjoyed a glass of white wine. Chardonnay (too oakey – blech) or pinot grigio (after taste) and very rarely a sauvignon blanc (eh) or vin verde (ok). Yes, I cook with […]
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