Archive for December, 2009

• No plans for New Year’s Eve? Have some foodie fun right at home.

  Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

  Don’t want to go out this New Year’s Eve? I don’t blame you. If it wasn’t for it being my birthday, I’d stay in the comfort of my own home too. Why not invite your closest friends and enjoy an evening of raucous foodie fun?
  Foodie Craze is a food trivia game with a tantalizing buffet [...]

• Looking for the right zing to add to your food? Look no further. ~ Recipe: Ribollita (Tuscan soup)

  Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

  When a company has been in business since 1825, they must be doing something right, right? On a search for a product to give a wow factor to my Ribolitta soup recipe, I wanted more than just the traditional olive oil drizzle. Fig Vincotto Vinegar transformed my hearty Tuscan soup from great to out of [...]

• The perfect cup of tea ~ Recipe: Braised lamb stew

  Monday, December 28th, 2009

  THE PERFECT CUP OF TEA:  IT’S ALL IN THE BREWING
  I consider myself somewhat of a tea connoisseur , having drunk the stuff all over the world–rooibos in South Africa, green in Japan, and the perfect Earl Grey in London. What they all had in common was the lack of the ubiquitous tea bag in favor [...]

• Popcorn gone wild

  Thursday, December 24th, 2009

  Cold weather is indeed upon us now, and there’s nothing more comforting than curling up on the couch with a nice bowl of popcorn and an old movie. But if you look at the offerings of popcorn on the market, frankly I think they leave a lot to be desired. You have microwave popcorn which [...]

• A fish turner that does double duty ~ Recipe: Salmon with white wine & mustard sauce

  Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

  If you don’t own a fish turner, start there. Many cooks still use a traditional spatula for turning fish filets, but you’ll get much better results if you use a fish turner–a specially designed spatula that confirms to the shape of fish filets.
  There are many on the market and, believe us when we say, we [...]

• What’s the best polenta for creaminess and flavor? ~ Recipe: Parmesan Polenta

  Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

  Polenta is one of those great comfort foods that reminds me of the little black dress: you can keep it plain and simple or jazz it up; either way it’s a standout.
  I got hooked on polenta many years ago while in Italy and ever since have been on a quest to find the polenta I [...]

• Give a whole new meaning to pass the salt (and pepper)

  Friday, December 18th, 2009

  Here’s a gift to give to the foodie who has everything. For sheer amusement, you’ll give a whole new meaning to passing the salt and pepper. Pylones, the French company who produces such fun for the kitchen has created the first (at the least the first time I have seen this) wind up salt and [...]

• A whimsical whisk makes a great salad dressing ~ Recipe: Roasted Pear Salad with Walnuts & Prosciutto

  Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

  Every now and then I like to shake up our test kitchens with a little fun. We surely love all of our classic cooking utensils and equipment, but a little deviation can’t hurt. I’m usually skeptical of kitchen tools that are all gloss and no substance, so when I found Pylones whisk produced in Paris [...]

• Great Pizza = Great Dough ~ Recipe: Caramelized onion, walnut & parmesan cheese pizza

  Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

  Pizza experts will tell you what constitutes a great pie. Some will say it’s the sauce, others will say it’s all in the toppings. Me? I say it starts with the right flour to make a spectacular crust. The crust is the little black dress of the pizza; it has to be a classic background [...]