In my experience okra pickled with jalapeño makes for a much hotter pickle than one might expect. Don't know why, don't much care. Some like it hot and I am one of those some ones. HOT PICKLED OKRA Recipe - Makes 1 quart 1 pint fresh okra 3 jalapeño peppers 3 c. white vinegar 1 t. salt 1 T. sugar 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed Accordingly, people have paid … [Read more...]
BALSAMIC VINEGAR BALLS: FUN WITH MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY
Nothing says meth lab quite like a little foray into at-home molecular gastronomy. Digital scales weighing out grams of white powder, funnels, squeeze bottles and spoons for thermometer-controlled cooking and cooling. But no need to cover up the windows with old sheets. The delight provided by glistening jet black orbs of vinegar is 100% legal -- the ultimate expression of … [Read more...]
Peach Plum Pignoli — “THREE P TART”
Followers of Spectacularly Delicious may recall the blueberry semifreddo scandal of July 4th, 2011. Once again invite to dine chez Weiss, this time around I was determined to present a dessert that lived up to its billing. The sage advice in Ghostbusters' theme came to mind, albeit with a twist ending -- "If there's something weird, and it don't look good -- Who ya gonna … [Read more...]
MEXICAN CORN RELISH: A BIG BATCH BUSHEL RECIPE
Did I learn this recipe for corn relish when I lived in Mexico? No. But to me, "Mexican" indicates that some combination of cilantro, jalapeno, chipotle, serrano, cumin, oregano, lime and garlic feature prominently in the flavor profile. And of course corn is as Mexican as can be. Ask any Aztec. So whether or not this corn relish is anything like what might grace the tables … [Read more...]
POPPED CHERRY TOMATOES
You know when you go a restaurant and the food seems simple and straight forward and yet it tastes so much better than you expected it ever could? Out in San Francisco Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern and El Paseo restaurants serve up these epiphanies plate after plate, night after night. Having access to the best meats, freshest vegetables and fine butters and oils and … [Read more...]
WINNER! AMERICA’S ULTIMATE STRAWBERRY JAM
Once again Spectacularly Delicious took center stage at the astonishingly gorgeous 5th Annual House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year in Rockefeller Center. SpecD oversaw the fierce battle (state against state, blog against blog, USA against Canada) for the title of America's Ultimate Strawberry Jam Recipe. During the open-to-the-public judging my most excellent team of culinary … [Read more...]
FINALISTS OF AMERICA’S ULTIMATE STRAWBERRY JAM CONTEST
Here are the four runners-up in America's Ultimate Strawberry Jam contest at the 2012 House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year. Sandra Lee was the guest of honor at the KOTY opening gala and had absolutely nothing to do with the contest but she sure takes a nice picture. (Since I don't kiss and tell I can't tell you how we said good bye -- twice!) HONEY STRAWBERRY JAM by … [Read more...]
SPECTACULAR SUMMER SALAD OF SHAVED VEGETABLES
For a limited time only: A Spectacular Summer Salad of Shaved Vegetables. This dazzler is less about a recipe than having the best ingredients and some easy techniques. Isn't it the Italians who say you first taste with your eyes? Armed with a few key kitchen tools and an abbodanza di verdure (heaps o' fresh vegetables) straight from the hand of God you can't go wrong. The … [Read more...]
Helen Gurley Brown’s Zabaglione with Peaches and Meringue
Frothy and sweet. Smooth and pretty. Ripe, juicy and totally seductive. These qualities are dead-on for Helen Gurley Brown's recipe for Zabaglione. They also what any girl could be providing she had a little moxie -- and a subscription to Cosmopolitan magazine. The 1969 Helen Gurley Brown's Single Girl's Cookbook is also true to her revolutionary world view. Like all … [Read more...]
RECIPE: HELEN GURLEY BROWN’S ZABAGLIONE WITH PEACHES AND MERINGUES
Zabaglione recipe adapted from Helen Gurley Brown's Single Girl's Cookbook (Updated with fresh peaches and meringues) Helen Gurley Brown recommended the egg whites be saved for fluffy scrambled eggs or gin fizzes. The Spectacularly Delicious enhancement turns the whites into little meringues kisses with are folded into the foamy zabaglione with slices of ripe peaches. 6 … [Read more...]