Tag: vegetarian

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 Blank Slate – Marinated Bocconcini

A Blank Slate – Marinated Bocconcini

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 

Rookie Moves – Mushroom, Goat Cheese, and Fontina Pizza

Rookie Moves – Mushroom, Goat Cheese, and Fontina Pizza

We all make mistakes in the kitchen. Sometimes they are rookie moves, like the first time I roasted a turkey leaving the neck and bag of giblets inside. These novice errors can usually be chalked up to ignorance. How was I supposed to know they 

The Forgotten Stepchild – Cranberry Chutney

The Forgotten Stepchild – Cranberry Chutney

At Thanksgiving, the cranberry sauce doesn’t get a whole lot of respect. It’s different than the show off roast turkey, the over-achieving first child of the holiday. Nor is it like mashed potatoes, so smooth, buttery, and creamy, the youngest child who gets away with 

The Angry Chef – Shiitake Mushrooms and Tofu in Wonton Cups

The Angry Chef – Shiitake Mushrooms and Tofu in Wonton Cups

My wife sometimes calls me the Angry Chef. I guess it’s a nickname well deserved, but only from my past. Our first apartment together, in the early days, was the entire second floor of an old Victorian house on Long Island. We had a small 

Early Thanksgiving, Outside Edition – Sweet Potato Pancakes with Maple Cream

Early Thanksgiving, Outside Edition – Sweet Potato Pancakes with Maple Cream

Traditions and celebrations with friends and family are important; they are the joyous events on the horizon to which we all look forward. As last year was devoid of many of these festive occasions, we weren’t going to let our annual Early Thanksgiving dinner with 

Worth The Hype? – Fried Jimmy Nardello’s Peppers

Worth The Hype? – Fried Jimmy Nardello’s Peppers

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 

The Simplicity of Summer – Tomato Salad

The Simplicity of Summer – Tomato Salad

It’s been a doozy of a summer. Unbearably hot and humid on Long Island, where I live, we have been forced to use the air conditioner much more than usual. A passing hurricane this week, which fortunately did not amount to much, made things even 

Simple Summer Side – Sautéed Mixed Vegetables

Simple Summer Side – Sautéed Mixed Vegetables

Sometimes in the heat of the summer you need a simple and quick side dish. You want to add more vegetables to the menu. Tired of raw vegetables and already had enough grilled, it’s time to move on to something different. Something fast, easy, and 

Yogurt Culture – Tzatziki

Yogurt Culture – Tzatziki

I am fascinated by the way a food item appears in varying forms in different cultures. Take dumplings, for example. Every culture has a dumpling. Boiled, baked, or fried. Stuffed with a filling or not. It is especially interesting when you see a continuum of