tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121433570957076932026-06-06T07:38:35.763-04:00Stainless Steel ThumbI like to say I was born with a stainless steel thumb - my culinary equivalent of the green thumb - and that's a lucky thing for me since my passion in life is food and cooking, and everything that comes a long with it.
What do I do with my life? I dream food, think food, look at food, read about food, work in the food business, travel via food, talk about food, use food as my artistic muse, teach others about food, and clearly, cook, play with and EAT food!
Food is my compass.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-12105149977106771632017-12-21T13:38:00.000-05:002017-12-21T13:38:58.263-05:00Middle Eastern Inspired Cauliflower
Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that really can lend itself to any flavors - a blank canvas of sorts, but that by no means translates to it being boring - although some people may claim it as such! Let's be honest, pretty much ANYTHING is bland and boring if its not seasoned or cooked properly, so throw those opinions out the window. In this preparation, there Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-89849174925324177392017-12-07T17:13:00.000-05:002017-12-07T17:14:41.157-05:00One Thicc Chick
So, I SWEAR I actually have been cooking things over the past year, but this blog just seemed to get away from me (which is NOT okay!). That being said, we're making a revival - and by we, I mean me. There have been some career changes, moves being had, and all the fun stuff that life brings us over time. But fortunately, I'm back in a position where I have to let my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-60418961124409997122016-12-04T14:09:00.001-05:002017-11-30T12:30:44.488-05:00all tied up
Okay, so yes, I'm in NYC, and YES you can get pretzels on every corner, but SOMETIMES I get a little.....skittish buying things from the little food carts on the streets. Which is strange, because I've eaten many questionable things in my lifetime. And no, it's not a water dog, nor street meat, but still. Either way...let's talk about PRETZELS! I love pretzels. Maybe its Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-54925517957819065712016-01-29T17:15:00.000-05:002016-01-29T17:15:24.354-05:00bangin' bucatini
Some things in life should be simple. Actually, MOST things in life should be simple (unlike in that movie "It's Complicated"). Mainly, food should be simple. And yes, I know that I sometimes make extremely complicated things, but that's just because I'm a lunatic and bring it upon myself. This next recipe is one of the most delicious and simple dishes to make, and it comesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-11304815771635981882015-11-20T15:28:00.002-05:002015-11-20T15:28:24.699-05:00an edible bouquet
As we all know, I don't really do baking...but when I DO, I generally decide to make something absurd. Because really, if I'm going to challenge myself, I might as well go big as opposed to solely stressing myself out with just having to specifically measure things (read: I do not like doing this). Anyway, it's that time of year when all I'm thinking about is food....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com88tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-22781371023532665962015-10-18T13:45:00.002-04:002017-10-19T14:48:04.050-04:00butternut skip THIS recipe!
Fall is here! (Despite the fact that there was FROST on the ground yesterday morning, and about four inches of snow four hours north of here.....) But fall means squash,warm spices, hearty herbs, and most importantly, soup! Butternut squash soup basically is the quintessential fall soup - am I right? And sage is the quintessential fall herb. Obviously this is why these two are a match made inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-66369230576272405202015-10-11T16:39:00.003-04:002015-10-11T16:39:56.430-04:00Viva Cuba!
So if you know me, you probably know my obsession with Cuban sandwiches. To the point of I-can't-resist-this-when-I-see-it-on-a-menu kind of situation. Yellow mustard? Check. Pickles? Check. CHEESE? Check. I'm fairly convinced that you could make this sandwich with basically any type of meat and have it still be delicious, but the standard pork and ham generally takes the cake. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-58606670663867159272015-09-07T17:20:00.000-04:002017-10-19T21:45:58.371-04:00Holé Molé
Alright. Let’s get back in action. It’s been over a year and I, along with some
others, find/found it highly unacceptable that this site became basically
defunct. ‘Twas a function of many
components, and among MANY things, the lack of capability to acquire FABULOUS
ingredients was truly not helpful.
Fortunately, cooking for me is like riding a bike, although I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-85652691537841863842014-07-22T17:14:00.003-04:002014-07-22T17:14:55.424-04:00lamb, peach, olive. CHARCOAL.
I have not cooked in three months. This is true. How did this happen!? I'm quite ashamed of myself. It's been way too long. I'm in a different place, new kitchen, and new goods. Quite frankly, it took me a hot second to figure out how to navigate the kitchen...I'm still not used to it! But hey...everyone needs to get used to new surroundings. On the bright side,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-34942855694887160002014-03-15T11:32:00.000-04:002014-03-15T11:32:28.432-04:00nothing says springtime like lamb
FULL DISCLOSURE: bon appétit magazine had this recipe a long time ago...and I REALLY wanted to make it but sadly, never did so. Until today. HOLY MACKEREL! This dish, when I first saw it, made me SO excited....it sounds delicious, looks beautiful, and has amazing ingredients. What can go wrong? Generally a lot of things. Our eyes ARE always bigger than our stomachs. In this Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-84248657020977892722014-02-20T20:15:00.000-05:002014-02-20T20:15:05.468-05:00Ippoglosso
Well, well...I am back in the kitchen indeed! At least for now. It's been a while, but things have been cooking outside the kitchen and in my real professional world - all for the better! Either way, I finally had a full day to myself and wanted to do nothing more than to go grocery shopping and to cook. I wasn't even sure what I wanted to make, but I knew I had to do Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-80649029824501103852014-01-17T17:18:00.000-05:002014-01-17T17:18:43.131-05:00Pronto Pesto! Escarole, Walnut, Red Onion, Lemon
We all know my love for Pesto Genovese, but who's to say I discriminate against other pestos? I had a hankering for an escarole and walnut combination (a salad initially), and then decided to just go ahead and make some kind of sauce. Mind you, this pesto is not made in a pestle as per usual, but instead in a food processor. Easy enough, right!? This recipe is super healthy, superUnknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-29169899403742719892013-12-19T19:03:00.000-05:002013-12-20T16:25:51.567-05:00Nopales? No problem.
Nopales tacos - definitely seasonally appropriate, no?! Maybe not, but these tacos are so good, they should definitely be eaten year round. I really did think about doing something more holiday-esque, or seasonal, but when I saw the cactus paddles at the market, I really couldn't resist buying them. I've never cooked them, and I've only eaten them a handful of times. So, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-53485967433397098372013-12-09T14:37:00.001-05:002013-12-09T14:37:12.195-05:00What up Wonka
It's finally the holiday season! Which, to me, means lots of food, lots of drink, and spreading holiday cheer. Cornucopias of things. Overflowing chalices. Literally all of the good parts of A Christmas Carol.
Basically this:
And this:
For the entire season. I pretty much end up dressing like male characters from Charles Dickens novels for winter everyday Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-13400028111915292772013-11-09T18:11:00.002-05:002017-10-19T14:48:58.541-04:00pomegranate judo chop
It's pomegranate time! I love pomegranates. I don't know if it's the bright, garnet color that gets me, or the crunch and pop of each pomegranate seed, or just the delicious sweet and acidic flavor that comes from it - but whatever it is, I know I think they are a superb fruit. Pomegranates are generally in season from September to February - thank god, considering most produce Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-57427031857914682112013-10-28T14:57:00.000-04:002013-10-28T14:57:28.308-04:00beet it!
Welcome back, Cotter! Fall season is here, and I have been entirely engulfed in nonsense that does not involve me cooking, which I find completely NOT ok. Thankfully, I'm still around food all the time, so I guess it isn't half that bad! Regardless, I've got a pretty tasty treat for you all. Since it is fall, I decided to go with some nice autumnal flavors (ones that don't Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-60943448170287537502013-09-19T22:18:00.003-04:002013-09-19T22:18:37.316-04:00i heart bunashimeji!
I've been craving a Far East-inspired dish for quite some time, but never really got around to making anything remotely close. Welp, it seems as though this idea possessed me the other day, and the following dish was the result! I returned to my favorite old Japanese grocery store up the avenue a bit and, as per usual, got some pretty phenom stuff. Nira (chinese chives), fresh Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-44949344312798490002013-09-05T21:29:00.001-04:002013-09-05T21:29:32.386-04:00cheese & avocado salad? you bet.
So, I guess this could technically be called a "salad"....it could also technically be called a "fruit salad" as well, which is bizarre. Regardless, this is a solid combination of goodies! It's inspired by my favorite sandwich of all time, from the now defunct Frankies Spuntino on the LES...the cheese and avocado sandwich! I never thought I would have a longing for a sandwich, but apparently Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-2956303990692004352013-08-30T13:14:00.000-04:002013-08-30T13:14:18.991-04:00A change of pace for rabbit
Back in action!! So, I acquired myself a bunch of different eggplants, and just could not come up with any ideas of what to do with them! Kermit eggplants, rosa bianca eggplants, globe eggplants, you name it. I took myself to the market to see if I could garner any more inspiration for a dish to make, and that's when I saw the game changer - rabbit saddle! Definitely wasn'tUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-51041129819081553532013-08-10T17:47:00.002-04:002013-08-10T17:47:22.605-04:00summer living
Summer time, and the livin' is easy. Oh, is it now? Gerswhin, get it together. I suppose it's easier livin' wuth this than livin with 5 feet of snow, so I'll take it.
I will say, the livin' is MADE a bit more easy when you use food and ingredients as your barometer for summertime living. Tomatoes, zucchini, corn, peaches....everything! Summertime ingredients are all exploding Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-28480869353290515442013-07-12T23:49:00.003-04:002013-07-12T23:49:56.329-04:00craig mackerel
It did it again. Freakin' MACKEREL. All the time! I think I try to mentally convince myself that mackerel is not near the top of my favorite fish list, but you know what? I'll give in. Definitely near the top of my list. SO GOOD! It may be because I once had bad, poor, nasty mackerel and it ruined me. But I've had it and cooked it so many times since with Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-13437692710710594012013-06-23T09:50:00.002-04:002013-06-23T09:50:51.245-04:00dreams of cuba
It's amazing the amount of times that I say I don't make sandwiches, but then I go ahead and make a dang sandwich. Honestly, I think it's the components that I just can't resist. A Cuban? Oh my. I literally cannot say no!! It is the greatest combination of things ever!!!! Unless you're vegetarian...but we may be able to work something out. Mustard. Pickles. Pork. Cheddar. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-83083333934208346522013-05-16T23:26:00.000-04:002013-05-16T23:26:00.585-04:00bury your head....in some ostrich!
Alright, so I know it's not everyday that people find ostrich...or every day that they eat it. Unless of course your down under, or maybe in Africa? But clearly, I am not. Fortunately, we have a friendly guy from Roaming Acres that posts up at the Union Square market quite often that has some pretty solid ostrich offerings! I've never actually cooked ostrich, but figured...what Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-78487322143060564382013-04-15T09:51:00.001-04:002013-04-21T12:20:58.074-04:00dabbling in sandwiches
So it's not very often that I make and/or even have sandwiches. Do I love sandwiches? Absolutely. Can I make a darn good one? Sure! But I guess it's just not my first go to - unless I have leftover pork, some white cheddar, and pickles on hand...then it's Cubano time! But that's beside the point. Also, very rarely do I fry foods. Just a personal thing I guess. I think Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12143357095707693.post-13633268938389072682013-03-13T20:04:00.001-04:002013-03-13T20:04:39.225-04:00technicolor cavolfiori
We are getting SO close to spring time that it hurts...I'm ready to come out of culinary hibernation and get this show on the road. I'm ready to see some color out there, and we all know I can't wait to over-purchase boatloads of highly perishable baby vegetables and items that are only available for a small window of time. Seems logical, no? I just get excited. I've sort Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1