Tag: small plates

Baked Stuffed Clams

Baked Stuffed Clams

There’s something about carbohydrates and garlic; they go well together. Think garlic bread, garlic knots from any New York pizzeria, and even my mashed potato pizza, fragrant with roasted garlic, mashed potatoes, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. The carbs are a vehicle for the pungent 

The Sun Is Your Garden’s Best Friend…Or Foe – Greens with Blue Cheese, Pear, and Spiced Candied Pecans

The Sun Is Your Garden’s Best Friend…Or Foe – Greens with Blue Cheese, Pear, and Spiced Candied Pecans

Plants cannot live without sunlight. Photosynthesis converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy of glucose, the food that all plants need to survive. But too much sun might be a death sentence, depending on the plants one desires in their garden. As we 

My Obsession With Dim Sum – Shumai

My Obsession With Dim Sum – Shumai

I was a messy eater as a little kid. In practically every photo of me as a child, my face is dirty, often covered with food. I have no idea why my parents didn’t believe in napkins. The long-term fallout has proven minor, but I 

Weekend Fancy in a Weeknight Meal – Shrimp Saganaki

Weekend Fancy in a Weeknight Meal – Shrimp Saganaki

A weeknight dinner might need to be quick, but that does not mean it needs to be unhealthy, tasteless, or inelegant. This Greek dish, shrimp in a simple, slightly spicy tomato sauce topped with salty feta cheese perfectly fits the bill. As it makes use 

Summer Refreshment – Watermelon with Feta

Summer Refreshment – Watermelon with Feta

I don’t need to tell anyone that the heat and humidity of July and August in New York is unbearable, and getting worse in a climate changing world. The air is as hot and thick as split pea soup, hearty and warming in winter, but 

My Early Spring Garden – Arugula, Fig Jam, and Burrata on Grilled Garlic Toasts

My Early Spring Garden – Arugula, Fig Jam, and Burrata on Grilled Garlic Toasts

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 

A Break From the Cold – Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

A Break From the Cold – Vietnamese-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Think about winter food; root vegetables, hearty soups and stews, braised meats. All delicious, they warm the body as we face the chill of the season. They are heavy and satisfying, getting us through the darkest, coldest months of the year.     But sometimes 

Appetizers of the Year – Ground, Spiced Lamb in Phyllo

Appetizers of the Year – Ground, Spiced Lamb in Phyllo

As Covid continues to surge for the second winter, we unfortunately don’t expect to see many friends this holiday season, at least not up close and personal. That means any big New Year’s Eve plans may have to be put on hold yet again. And 

Pregnancy Food – Spiced Ground Lamb in a Pita Panini

Pregnancy Food – Spiced Ground Lamb in a Pita Panini

When my wife was pregnant with our children many years ago, there were foods she would eat and those she would not. The ones she ate, she ate all the time. The dishes she would not eat, I sometimes cooked anyway as she stood in 

A Garden Story – Asparagus Bruschetta with Manchego, Tarragon, and Toasted Almonds

A Garden Story – Asparagus Bruschetta with Manchego, Tarragon, and Toasted Almonds

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