Who doesn’t know tomato soup and grilled cheese go fantastically together? It is spring here in Connecticut and approaching Memorial day weekend. As with many years, New England never really has a true Spring. The temperatures fluctuate like crazy, so here I find myself on a foggy cool…
Asian Vegetable Pasta Salad
My mom first made a version of this years ago and it has always been a hit at parties and barbecues ever since. I modified it a bit to suit my preferences and I recently served it at a company barbecue where they had a vote for best side dishes. This came in third. Cheese…
Chicken Fries – All The Rage!
My son loves Burger King’s Chicken Fries. However, they go on and off the menu like bell bottoms in the fashion world. To be fair: bell bottoms go by so many names: boot cut, flared, yoga pants, whatever it is called now, they are still bell bottoms in my opinion.. and yes, I love the yoga…
Be Prepared – Even the Best Cooks Need First Aid
I consider myself a pretty great cook and I am always prepared and take precautions. However, Some times the kitchen bites back. It is very important to keep a first aid kit in the kitchen or near by, This kit should include gauze, Neosporin +pain relief (Or equalivant), non-powdered latex gloves, band aids, buttery-fly strips….
Apple and Sage Chuttney
This is a great side I have used with Pork dishes. Most recently I used it as a base for seared foie gras and my port wine reduction sauce. It received great reviews. A little sweet but counter balanced with the sage and leeks to give it a more savory touch. INGREDIENTS (makes about 2…
Butternut and Acorn Squash Soup
I love this soup in the fall and winter. To make it right, it will take some oven time for the squash. If you don’t have the time, the squash can be diced small and boiled in stock (chicken or vegetable). Roasting any vegetable just gives it so much more flavor. (This post has been…
Port Wine Reduction Sauce
Most of you do not know this, in October, I tried out for the Fox Channel “Master Chef” home cooks cooking competition. While, I ultimately did not make it on the show, I did make it to second rounds in New York City mostly in part with this sauce over the foie gras I served….
Creamy Lobster Bisque
This past Labor day weekend my family got together in Maine. Our main Labor day weekend dinner was – Yup – Lobster! We went through over 25 lobsters. Imagine my delight at the thought of Lobster bisque on the horizon. We cleaned the shells (some of those little legs still had some meat which also…
Bacon Covered MeatLoaf and Homemade BBQ Sauce
I don’t know why when everyone is hitting the grill, I am inside making meatloaf. It is something that has been mentioned in a few different settings and I got a bug to come up with a delicious meatloaf. I have made meatloaf before, but never thrilled with the outcome, until NOW. Since I am…
Roasted Radish and Cauliflower Vegetable Soup
I saw in a magazine that if you roast or sauté radishes they lose their bitterness. I never use radishes much because I am not a huge fan and I figured they are only really used in salads and served raw. So of course with this new information, I had to give it a try…
Easy Herb Roasted Chicken
This is a very simple recipe for cooking chicken, delicious right out of the oven, or the next day for salads, sandwiches, chicken pot pie, etc. It does take about 2 – 2.5 hours to cook a 5 – 7 LB chicken. (about 20-25 minutes per pound). I love crispy chicken skin, to achieve…
Spring Pea Herb Soup
Spring is finally upon us (lets hope), and a beautiful bright green soup with fresh herbs is very appealing and delicious! finally being able to open the doors and windows and let in the fresh air prompted me to play with this recipe. I used chicken stock for this preparation, however, vegetable broth can be…
The BEST GARLIC BREAD without reaching for the mints after!
Isn’t all bread smeared with a mixture of garlic and butter the best ever? Well, you would think so. However, I used to think I made great garlic bread (and I did, until now), but I had an unusual request from a friend (ahh – unusual for me) to 1) not put any cheese on…
House Vinigrette Simple and Delicious
I went to a family friend’s house for Christmas dinner this year. Everything was excellent, but what stood out for me was the salad dressing. It is the dressing that is light and yummy and I could eat salad all night just to have that dressing. I asked the hostess what brand is it. She…
Brandon’s Delicious Burger (sliders) and Fries
I keep individual hamburgers in the freezer for when my teenage son gets hungry, which can be anytime of day. He can pull them out of the freezer and have them ready in no time. He does this regularly, and I try to keep hamburger buns around. One day, I ran out of buns (…
Vegetarian and Vegan Tomato Sauce – Quick and Delicioius
I have many ideas for tomato sauces, as they are many opportunities to use them and I have different ingredients on hand at any given time. Below is a tomato sauce that is easy to make, takes less than an hour (in simmer time – not actual work) to have a tasty versatile sauce. It…
Minnesota Bean and Cheese Dip
This has to be one of the best-loved guilty pleasures I have with food. First off, if you are prepping for a game day party this is a must on your menu. Why do I call it Minnesota dip? Well, it is because I urge you to find one house hold in Minnesota that does…
Fried Green Tomatoes with Horseradish Remoulade – Delicious!
This year has been a long growing season for tomatoes, but alas the weather is turning colder (at least in the north-east). It is time to pluck those last remaining tomatoes from your garden and hopefully they are a nice deep green. There are many ways to enjoy those emerald gems, but one I found…
Kielbasa and Goat Cheese Quiche
Summer is upon us and family and friends looking to come and spend the weekend with you. What do you do that is fast and simple so everyone is fed for breakfast? Why not some Quiche – yes it is for men too. It is a fully loaded breakfast dish that can be made ahead,…
Let Your Tastebuds Do The Tango Braised Pork Belly
I have made this dish a few times now and whenever ANYONE takes a bite, their eyes roll back and only sounds of pure delight escape. I have heard it described as many wondrous food experiences, and to really capture it, the sultry Tango dance probably best describes what happens when you take that bite….
Caponate – Italian Eggplant Relish
A wonderful woman whom I met at a fun food event in NYC recently, forwarded me this classic Italian recipe. This would be a great dish to bring for picnics or outdoor gatherings as there are no ingredients that would spoil in the sun and it is delicious! It is also a nice side dish…
Braised Sauerkraut, Brats and Knockwurst
It is a nice chilly slightly overcast May day out and I am in the mood for some sausage and Sauerkraut. To start, I want to make sure I have some great deli mustard, slightly spicy, and some nice deli rolls (like hoagie rolls). No hotdog buns for this hearty sausage delight. I chose to…
Delicious Lobster Lettuce Wrap / NE Lobster Roll
Maybe I was just really hungry, but I ate two and did not stop to talk or anything until they were gone. Summer and Lobster season is approaching, while I typically prefer steamed lobster with butter, I decided to give creating a lobster roll a try. While this just shows the lettuce wrap, you can…
Pub Cheese Dip
I love cheese. I love cheese that is melted and is great with bread, warm pretzles, chips, etc.. So when you dip, a nice long string extends from the chip back to the dip and you wrap that string around the chip or your finger so you get as much as you can and then…
Pickle Sushi
I had something like this in a restaurant in Minneapolis during a recent visit and thought, why haven’t I thought of this? I LOVE LOVE LOVE Dill Pickles, not the sweet kind, but Dill. Eat them almost every day; whole, halves, spears, hamburger chips, gherkins, relish, etc.. I chop them up and add them to…
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