I cook because I love to eat. I garden because I love to cook.
I can only imagine what it would have been like for my ancestors – both the caveman types thousands of years ago, wherever they were, and those just over a century or so before, in little villages somewhere in what is now Ukraine. After a …
Some foods are a blank slate; they are a vehicle for other flavors. Take escargot, for example. They’re probably not too exciting on their own, but as a way to get your fix of garlic butter, they can’t be beat. Boneless, skinless chicken breast and …
The story of Jimmy Nardello’s peppers is an immigrant tale. Giuseppe and Angella Nardello arrived from southern Italy in the late 1800s, immigrating to Naugatuck, Connecticut. With them they brought seeds from their Italian garden, including a sweet frying pepper. They grew these peppers to …
Asparagus, a perennial that returns year after year if properly cared for, is one of my most cherished crops. Last year in late spring, when the harvest was over and the plants were maturing, sending their frilly leaves out to collect sunlight to transport food …
Small Plates Saturday Night has become a tradition in our household, even more so since the pandemic has made dining out a gamble we do not feel is worth the risk. I cook three, four, five, six small dishes, while relaxing and pushing the pressures …
Long Island is the land of clams. From the original native peoples to the multicultural residents of Long Island today, clams have always been a tasty part of the culinary repertoire. Surrounded by salt water on all sides, with sandy and muddy habitats aplenty, there …
Tomatoes and arugula are a match made in heaven; the juicy sweetness of tomatoes and the spicy bite of arugula. The problem is, the peak of tomato season in the garden does not coincide with maximum arugula production. Tomatoes are best before nights get too …
As the New Year approaches, my attention turns to appetizers; they are the perfect way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. A wide variety of one or two-bite treats signifies the festivities of the evening and the abundance we all wish for in the New Year. …
It’s the end of August, I’m feeling lazy, and it’s too hot for serious cooking in the kitchen. As tomato season is in full swing, we will not suffer. That means we’re eating lots of delicious, healthy tomato salads. They are quick and easy to …
Summer demands simple food, and grilled vegetables fit the bill. I sometimes look at the prepared foods in the big glass case at a supermarket or pork store or deli and see piles of sad, limp grilled vegetables. They don’t look at all appetizing and …
