Last year about this time Steve and I went to Rome and not surprisingly we loved every minute. A few of our "When in Rome" highlights: a close-up of the Pope; the Borghese Galleries; tracking down Bernini sculptures in some lesser-known churches; and the Diocletian Baths. And of course, the food, the food, the food! Armed with recommendations from friends we felt we did well … [Read more...]
EVA GABOR’S HUNGARIAN GOULASH (UPDATED)
Celebrity recipes are always a mixed bag and in my experience that bag usually holds a lot of bland disappointments and ill-advised oddities. Frank DeCaro's The Dead Celebrity Cookbook does much better than most to battle this opinion. It's an amusing compendium of fond remembrances and celebrity recipes by A- , B- and C-list stars loved and lost. Most of the recipes serve to … [Read more...]
PROSPERITY SANDWICH
Because everything. And if worrying about our future isn't enough, you can also worry about the calories in this ooey, gooey, cheesy wonder: 674 calories and 41 grams of fat per serving. Oy! PROSPERITY SANDWICH Recipe 5 Tablespoons butter, divided 8 oz. white mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin 1 shallot, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups … [Read more...]
WIN THANKSGIVING WITH THIS PUMPKIN SEED PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
Technically, Thanksgiving isn't a competition. But everybody knows that everything on the table is openly (or privately) rated and ranked. From the toasted pumpkin seeds in a sweetened sour cream topping down to the gingersnap crust, this pumpkin cheesecake is a standout. Sit back and let the accolades wash over you as you sink into a tryptophan stupor. Thanksgiving: … [Read more...]
GRILLED CORN RELISH
Because why not? Making corn relish is an annual event here on Springy Banks. Come the holidays, it's one of our most-requested condiments. This summer I added a new twist, grilling the corn first, giving a toasty, tawny flavor. Due to its popularity I always put up a whole bushel of corn. It might look daunting at first but once you get going things move along quickly, … [Read more...]
WATER-CURED OLIVES, PICKLED GREEN ALMONDS, WHEY-PICKLED PEPPERS: WHAT I’VE LEARNED
This summer I tried my hand at few new types and techniques for pickling. The sub-head on this post is What I've Learned. Spoiler: It might better be called I Tried It So You Don't Have To. Here goes. At my neighborhood green grocer in Astoria, United Brothers Fruit Markets, there's always an enormous variety of produce, and often stuff I've never seen before, like raw … [Read more...]
SUMMER PAELLA
Paella feels like a summertime dish to me, in part because old-school versions in Spain are prepared over a fire. Plus it's great make-ahead party food. The fish, the chicken, the tomatoes and peppers, make for great warm weather fare. Of course it need not be limited to just summer, or summer. These 10 Rules for Perfect Paella apply year 'round. You can try this Lobster … [Read more...]
SUMMER KIMCHI
Not all kimchi is red. It's not always fiery hot, and doesn't have to be audaciously aromatic. Sometimes something lighter is called for, something fresher, something that doesn't scare the timid. In these situations summer kimchi is just the thing. Bright, crunchy and fresh tasting, this pretty toss of cabbage, carrot and radish is only slightly sour. Fresh Serrano … [Read more...]
KUGELHOPF DELUXE WITH ORANGE GLAZE
Spring yard sale season is in full swing here in East Hampton with treasures galore to be had for a pittance. Witness my new Wilton kugelhopf pan - never used, label intact though showing the benign neglect earned by long storage under sub-optimal conditions. No matter, it was well worth its 25¢ price tag. And not just any label, but one with a recipe! The Wilton recipe … [Read more...]
Two Fancy Jams: Blood Orange Marmalade and Meyer Lemon Marmalade
Winter citrus season is winding down but there's still time to put up some scrumpuous marmalade, which is variously defined as a citrus jam, jelly or preserve. These versions of the same basic formula take advantage of fancy fruits before they disappear from grocery shelves for another year. The first, with blood oranges, is like a a one-act play: portentous title, drama of … [Read more...]