Now that summer is really, truly here, I find fish dishes highly appealing, like this recipe for shrimp and scallops with green mayonnaise. Don't get me wrong, we enjoy fish year-round, but out on the east end of Long Island come June all things aquatic take over the collective consciousness. I get the rod and reel out a couple of times each … [Read more...]
CHOICE MEALS: FIRST SOFT SHELLS OF THE SEASON
While on the prowl at the fish counter, the welcome sight heralding the arrival of the season's most choice meals beckoned. Soft shell crabs -- one of spring's greatest glories. Poor dears, neatly lined up with their little bubbling faces and slightly moving claws, unaware of their imminent sacrifice to become a … [Read more...]
Recipes for Salads: Roasted Asparagus with Egg
Although asparagus is available year-round, spring still stimulates the appetite for great recipes for salads and first courses. I've found that steaming and (shudder) boiling asparagus are the least flavorful methods. At the very least, sauté them in butter or olive oil, or better yet, toss with oil and roast in a hot oven or give them a good … [Read more...]
BLOOD ORANGE AND FENNEL SALAD
The original, true, unadulterated recipe for this salad is from my mom. The salad itself is not controversial, although the recipe does carry a little baggage. You see, a while back the recipe was submitted and printed by a highly respected, large circulation food magazine. The accompanying story gave Mary Pat her full due, complete with a description of how … [Read more...]
THE LOST VREELAND MEMOS
Legendary Harper's Bazaar editor Diana Vreeland is famous for her "Why Don't You..." suggestions -- surprising, oftentimes outlandish but ever the epitome of haute chic. Not limited to fashion, her sage ideas ranged from child rearing ("wash your children's hair in dead Champagne to keep its gold, as they do in France?), … [Read more...]
DUMPLINGS ETIENNE
To establish your dumpling cred, it's good to follow a few guidelines. Even after you've got a number of killer recipes under your belt (like these Dumplings Etienne), resist the temptation to prepare them all at once. Focus on just one or two. If you crank out an array worthy of a dim sum palace, … [Read more...]
SPANISH MEATBALLS IN ALMOND SAUCE
Funny how food trends creep up on us until they all at once over take the popular consciousness in a mad rage, then subsequently settle back down when the next big thing comes along. So it was for tapas. Tapas tapas tapas. They had their time in the spotlight a while ago. But they did leave their mark, with the whole … [Read more...]
FIRECRACKER DUMPLINGS
Who doesn't like a dumpling? And the fun of going to dim sum in Chinatown, selecting the most intriguing (and least threatening) offerings as they pass by? The best part is when you take a chance and try something new, like this recipe for firecracker dumplings, and it's really, really good. I've heard dizzying stories from friends … [Read more...]
MOZZARELLA EN CAROZZA
It was back in college that I started on my food journey, just before I tried the Mozzarella en Carozza. In my first apartment the height of my culinary sophistication was a dish called Monster Chicken. A split chicken, skin side up, a whole can of undiluted cream of celery soup spread over. Under the broiler (never turning it over) until it was a … [Read more...]
MADELEINES AUX TRUFFES
I was in Paris about seven years back and spent a really terrific day with Paule Caillat and her Promenades Gourmandes cooking class and walking tour where I first learned of Madeleines Aux Truffes (there's a really cool video of her class at http://www.babelgum.com/3016113/paris-promenades-gourmandes.html -- but do note Paule is completely fluent in English). We met … [Read more...]