Edible Moments

Green Strawberries; Rhubarb Cake; Paying For Bread Baskets; Gatsby Inspired Desserts

2013-05-12T21:16:00.004-04:00

Current Food News & Trends 2013 Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 The Great Gatsby Style Alcohol Inspired Desserts A Chocolate Cake Worth Baking Would You Pay For A Good Bread Basket? Green Strawberries Are A Thing The Secret Lives Of Chefs (Cartoon) The History Of Asking Your Neighbors For A Cup Of Sugar (I love to borrow and give!) Happy Rhubarb Season! Now Bake This!

Dinner With Solar Panels; Veggie Plants Sale; Store Update

2013-05-10T12:08:00.000-04:00

Having diner on a working farm is not only fun and delicious but I love the connection to where my food comes from so much that to dine with the farmers is truly a pleasure! Last Saturday evening Prince Charming and I joined 48 others for a dinner at Jericho Settlers Farm. The money raised from the dinner went to help families in need of food. The event started with a nicely detailed farm

Meet My Inventory

2013-04-20T14:22:00.000-04:00

Two weeks into my new kitchen & store and I'm truly enjoying what I've created (maybe not all of the paperwork). My customers have been great fun to talk with and we're already swapping recipes! Yesterday was an exciting day as I received my beautiful Wolf appliances. I could hardly wait to start using them, so this morning I baked a batch of soft and gooey chocolate chip cookies using

April Food News + Live on WVMT-620am Monday at 8:10am

2013-04-07T14:58:00.000-04:00

I'll be live on WVMT-620am Monday morning at 8:10 reporting Food News and Trends plus a store update! Below are some of the stories we will be talking about. Could Deer Milk Cheese Improve Our Immune System? Interpret Your Food Dreams What I Wish I Was Eating - Buttered Popcorn Cookies How To Make Your Own Confectioner Sugar Whole or Skim? New Study Links Fattier Milk To Slimmer

open :)

2013-04-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy couple of months preparing for today's opening. That's right, I opened my doors today. This would't have been possible without the support and help of many friends and family. THANK YOU! As I sit in my new kitchen at this gorgeous table built by Vermont Farm Table I'm feeling very grateful and enthusiastic for what I've created. Looking forward to giving you a tour!

Two Days + A Sneak Peak Into My New Store

2013-03-17T13:35:00.003-04:00

Kickstarter Update: 2 days to go 79% funded $3180 raised $4000 Goal Thank you for your wicked support with my Kickstarter! Kickstarter is a cool way to support a new small business. This money will be used to fit-up the kitchen at Chef Contos Kitchen & Store. The kitchen is where the fun public cooking classes will be taught weekly. The kitchen will be a beautiful space to

The Fast Diet; Nutella Hoarding; Breakup Foods; 36% Funded Kickstarter

2013-03-10T12:46:00.002-04:00

Tune into 620am WVMT Monday morning at 8:10am as I report food news, trends and share some cool foods that will be sold in my new store. Hey, what about that new store? Plans are coming along nicely with tons of neutral painting, building slick shelves, and stocking inventory! My doors will open early April with promises of the coolest inventory and of course memorable cooking

New Classes, New School, and a Kickstarter

2013-03-04T19:03:00.000-05:00

Sugar season in Vermont has always been a joyful time for me, simple because I adore the whole story and taste of Vermont maple syrup. Sometimes I think it's why I moved to Vermont 7 years ago, but this time of year also means my father's birthday (today), St Patrick's Day (mom's soda bread), and Greek Easter (ouzo) which is just around the corner. This time of year I also start my vegetable

Almost Hatched

2013-02-22T09:49:00.001-05:00

Exciting times!!! This April I will be opening Chef Contos Kitchen & Store in the historic downtown of Shelburne. As Chef and owner I will be providing an interactive, informed culinary shopping experience to the gourmet foodie and the beginner cook alike by offering chef-selected kitchenware and gourmet foods I adore, all in an intimate inviting setting. In addition to featuring

Caramelized White Chocolate; Cooking With Snow; Clear Headed Buzz

2013-02-10T14:06:00.002-05:00

Tune in or stream WVMT-620am Monday at 8:10am as I spill the beans on my new project! New Study Asks Wither A Vegetarian's Heart Is Healthier Than A Meat Eaters Heart? Scandal? Is Horse Meat The New Beef? Certainly Normal In Montreal. Make Your Valentine One Of These! Cooking With Snow And More Snow... Have You Done This To White Chocolate Before? Can Your Waiter Give You

Fresh Out Of The Oven

2013-02-07T16:24:00.001-05:00

Recently at home kitchen Prince Charming and I have been enthusiastic about homemade bagels. We tried a recipe from Baking With Julia which was good, but it was the recipe posted in the New York Times that created the bagels we were dreaming about. Bagels are easy to make, plus half of the work may be done the night before. Also, consider this your opportunity to get younger ones excited

2013 Food Trends; Chickens Treated With Oregano Oil; Flame Retardants; Farmwashing

2013-01-06T11:10:00.001-05:00

2013 Food Trends: Fermentation, Line Caught Fish From Lakes And Oceans, Chef's Play With Ramen, Sea Foraging, Alternative Milks Like Naked Oat, Blue Curacao, Panama City, Barrel Fermented Hot Sauce, and Top-To-Bottom Sunflower. More at Food and Wine, Forbes, and NYT. 2013 Top Restaurant Trends: Extravagant Bread and Butter offerings, Tacos, Skin (chicken, duck, pork), Smoked

Time For Some News Of A Little Newsletter

2012-12-19T10:58:00.001-05:00

It's time! I have news, therefore I must have a newsletter. Sign up to keep current with my cooking classes and new recipes! Will I still be blogging here? You bet! This is where we get personal. Click here to subscribe  Tune in Friday morning to WCAX-TV Channel 3 at 6:50am, I'm cooking a new holiday recipe for you. Next Cooking Class: Winter Soups

Real Punch; 2012 Top Cookbooks; Sign The Petition; Best Baking Chocolate

2012-12-09T12:22:00.002-05:00

13 Year Old Girl Wants Easy Bake Ovens To Be Marketed To Boys (I happily signed the petition) How To Make Punch Without The Trash Pizza Hut Canada Made Perfume? Slideshow Of 2012's Top New Cookbooks Blue Bandana Chocolate Is All Bean-To-Bar And It's On My Favorites List Surprise Ingredient In These Tasty Ginger Cookies (They will be the star of our holiday party) What

Winter Farmers Market This Saturday and I'm A Vendor!

2012-12-04T08:42:00.002-05:00

The Five Corners Farmers Market is having its first Winter Market this Saturday. Along with fresh produce, outstanding breads/pastries, and maple syrup, I will be selling my flavored salts! Currently four fabulous flavors will be available: Tuscan, Greek, Caribbean, & Roasted Garlic! Stop by my table and say hello. The market is a great place to enjoy lunch, pick up a few holiday gifts,

Top 5 Recipes To Fill Your Cookie Jar

2012-11-29T13:33:00.001-05:00

Fig and Date Swirls Chocolate Espresso Sparklers Ginger and Cardamon Cookies Magic In The Middle Baci di Dama Cookies

Let's Cook Together

2012-11-23T22:37:00.004-05:00

Hoping your Thanksgiving holiday was filled with memorable moments along with delicious foods. After a challenging few weeks helping my dog recover from surgery, we decided to have a relaxing Thanksgiving at home with two close friends. Prince Charming and I cooked from Wednesday 2:00 to Thursday 2:00. A funny moment was early Thursday morning when I discovered that a chipmunk had eaten our

Roasted Cauliflower with Gremolata

2012-11-15T20:18:00.002-05:00

Roasted Cauliflower with Gremolata Serves 6 3 pounds (about 2 large heads) cauliflower 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/3 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs) 3/4 cup roughly chopped pecans Zest of 1 lemon 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley 1/2 cup loosely

50 Shades Of Chicken; Turkey Guide; Disaster Dining; Viral Pie

2012-11-12T21:58:00.002-05:00

Will Tabasco Flavored Jelly Beans End Up In Your Christmas Stocking? Do You Have Mayophobia? Top Five Things Restaurants Should Never Serve Again (wasabi mashed potatoes, bourbon glazed anything, truffle oil, raspberry vin., and lobster mac and cheese). Sam Sifton's Thanksgiving Turkey Guide Will Help. Vegan Pumpkin Pie Goes Viral. Could This Be The Healthiest Meal Ever?

A Kitchen Staple Turns Into A Holiday Gift You'll Want To Make (Video)

2012-11-09T09:43:00.002-05:00

Watch Video You'll be surprised how elegant and divine these quick and easy flavored salts are to make. On December 1st a friend and I will be teaching a fun class on how to make these pungent salt blends. Join us! Tuscan Salt 2 lemons, zested 3 cloves garlic, peeled 1/2 teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes 2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary 1 cup kosher salt or sea salt Add

Top 12 Holiday Kitchen Gifts Under $50.00

2012-11-01T10:06:00.000-04:00

Burma: Rivers Of Flavor is a new cookbook shining light on Myamar's cuisine celebrating the flavors we all crave, ginger, lime, lemongrass, coconut and more (NYT review). Once you try Peter Van Dykes sun-dried CA Sulfured Blenheim Apricots you will wish you discovered them long ago. For the best foodie gift, buy a pound, transfer to a nice LARGE glass jar like these vintage

Hors d'oeuvres Cooking Class with Chef Contos

2012-10-26T17:06:00.000-04:00

Holiday Hors d'oeuvres Cooking Class December 2nd, 10:00 - 12:15 $50.00 Don't miss this intimate opportunity to cook with Chef Contos at her home in Essex Junction. Learn how to cook delicious small bites for your next party. Blue Cheese Apricots, Smoky Maple Roasted Nuts, Kofta (meatballs) with Tahini and Pine nuts, Burnt Eggplant Dip with Garlic and Pomegranate Seeds, and Seeded

Upcoming Class: Discover the World of Flavored Salts

2012-10-23T15:43:00.000-04:00

kitchen crafter class: flavored salts essex junction senior center december 1 3:00 - 4:00 open to the public/no charge We're all about decreasing reliance on processed or store-bought food as much as possible and some things may be easily made at home. Discover the world of flavored salts, Tuscan Herb, Roasted Garlic, Celery Salt, Lemon Thyme, Spicy Habanero, Shitake Mushroom, Meyer

Perfect Pie Dough To Your Rescue

2012-10-01T11:13:00.001-04:00

Why is making pie dough from scratch a frightening task for many? Most likely it has to do with fear from past mistakes like dry dough, dough falling apart when rolling, over working, warm dough, trying healthy recipes... One of my goals as a culinary educator is to encourage you to make your own pie dough from scratch. Yes, you may easily go and purchase low quality dough loaded with

Bacon Shortage, October Fest Cookies, GMO Apples

2012-09-30T13:19:00.000-04:00

A Wrap-Up Of September's Food Highlights: 15 Things To Blame For Bacon Shortage Lunch Box Advancements To Like! Seriously Wrong Fruit Loops Meets Cocktail Hour? Happy Apple Season And By The Way Your GMO Apples Won't Turn Brown (Cringe)? Whiskey Turns Into Fuel? You Must Be 21 And Over for This Slice Of Pizza Meat jerky Is Like Greek Yogurt For Men Your Sweet