cooking as therapy – Page 4

Turkey and Sun-Dried Tomato Meatballs with Basil and Asiago

Okay, so I’ll say this as I say about many of the recipes on this page (but I really mean it)…these are as easy to make as they are delicious (and they are really, really delicious). You simply put everything in a bowl and mix it together then shape it into balls; the most difficultContinue reading “Turkey and Sun-Dried Tomato Meatballs with Basil and Asiago”

A Really Simple (but Superbly Delicious) Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe with Homemade Whole Wheat Noodles

What is it about chicken soup? Even when I go through one of my “very-little-meat” phases I still welcome and crave this simple food. It’s a sort of cultural phenomenon…every culture and nationality has their own version of this humble dish. One of my favorite names for this recipe is “Jewish Penicillin,” making reference toContinue reading “A Really Simple (but Superbly Delicious) Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe with Homemade Whole Wheat Noodles”

A Really Simple (but Superbly Delicious) Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe with Homemade Whole Wheat Noodles

Broth, Bouillon, Brodo (y Caldo)

“Good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and stimulate the appetite than any other one dish.”–LouisP. De Gouy A couple things… Firstly, I have relatively little trouble eating (and ultimatley sustaining on) meatless or near-meatless meals. Actually, I prefer it. But IContinue reading “Broth, Bouillon, Brodo (y Caldo)”

Maccheroni al Forno con Quattro Formaggi

That’s a pretty fancy name (referring to the title of this post) for something that translates to American English as Macaroni-and-Cheese (okay, macaroni-and-four-cheeses). The recipe is really, really easy, and really, really delicious. It may not be the healthiest thing to eat, but geeze o’ man is it delicious (did I mention how delicious thisContinue reading “Maccheroni al Forno con Quattro Formaggi”

Kim-Chee!

I’ve posted this recipe in the past but not in quite a while. Today I tasted a new batch of kim-chee that has been fermenting for a couple weeks and it is–I have to say–on of my better batches. Anyhow, the recipe is below, but if you’d like to learn more about kim-chee, sauerkraut, andContinue reading “Kim-Chee!”

Really Simple (and really delicious) Stir-Fry Recipe

This recipe is so easy but it is also equally delicious. Once you have everything prepped it takes a mere 5 minutes to cook. While I used chicken, the recipe is equally good with nearly any other meat, poultry, or seafood; it can also be made vegetarian–sans meat–by substituting the meat with tofu, tempeh, seitan,Continue reading “Really Simple (and really delicious) Stir-Fry Recipe”

Pasta Fra Diavolo

Pasta with seafood…yum! It is one of my favorites. And Fra Diavolo is likely my all-time version of seafood pasta. It’s name–Fra Diavolo–translates from Italian to “Brother Devil,” and the dish has a somewhat interesting history (to read about it go to this post). This recipe can be made with nearly any seafood and anyContinue reading “Pasta Fra Diavolo”

Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread

I haven’t posted this recipe in a while (actually I haven’t made this bread in a while), and I forgot how delicious it is. Really easy to make; a few simple ingredients (100% whole wheat); and so delicious you’ll eat it for breakfast (makes great toast), lunch (do I even have to mention sandwiches), andContinue reading “Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread”

A Chicken in Every Pot…

“A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” —Herbert Hoover It’s interesting that the above quote is attributed to the 31st president of America, but it is also said to have originated much earlier. And of course I would like it better if it ended with “and a bicycle in every livingContinue reading “A Chicken in Every Pot…”

The Flavor of Curry…

I love the flavor of curry (heck, I love the flavor of most spices in general). I love how spices look, their aroma (how they perfume the house when you cook with them), but mostly I love how they taste and that they can make even the simplest foods into something really flavorful and special.Continue reading “The Flavor of Curry…”

The Entire Kernal…

Beautiful isn’t it? Bread made with 100% whole wheat flour and just a few other ingredients. If you’ve been to this blog before you know that my diet is the antithesis of a low-carb or gluten-free diet…the bulk of my diet consists of bread, rice, and pasta (with vegetables, meat, and fish). And for thisContinue reading “The Entire Kernal…”

Arroz con Frijoles y Carnitas

I made this for dinner tonight…mmm. Easy and delicious. Really delicious (if I do say so myself); I am very full as I type these words. It’s a basic brown rice pilaf recipe (use any of these recipes) with the addition of black beans and carnitas (click here for a recipe and pics). Urban Simplicity.

Gravy Deconstructed…

The following text was originally published in Artvoice; to see it at its original location, click here. Gravy(grā’vē) n., pl.–vies a. The juices that drip from cooking meat. b. A sauce made by thickening and seasoning these juices. –The American Heritage Dictionary It’s as ubiquitous at a Thanksgiving feast as the turkey itself. Mashed potatoesContinue reading “Gravy Deconstructed…”

Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice (sort of)

This is yet another variation of my Lebanese chicken-and-rice recipe. The reason I say “sort of” in the title of this post is that I didn’t use ground lamb–which is in the original recipe–and I color/slightly flavor the dish with turmeric (along with the other spices), which is not normally in this recipe. In addition,Continue reading “Lebanese Chicken-and-Rice (sort of)”

Simple Pasta Recipe = Comfort Food

I had mentioned in recent posts on how I am in a particularly stressful period right now at work. Crazy busy. Just one lunch and dinner after another. Today, at one point, I think I was making five different recipes simultaneously while I was also directing my staff. I’m not mentioning this to be aContinue reading “Simple Pasta Recipe = Comfort Food”

The Soup that I Grew…

There is, I believe, nothing more satisfying than a good bowl of soup and homemade bread. Okay…so maybe there is, but you’ve got to admit the combination is really good. Anyhow, believe-it-or-not, I am still harvesting vegetables from the garden in the rear of my house (yes, in October and in Western NY). I madeContinue reading “The Soup that I Grew…”

A Quick and Delicious Recipe (and how cooking can be therapeutic)

I’ve posted this recipe before and it’s one of my favorite stir-fries. Sometimes I make it myself and now-and–again I order it from a local restaurant. But, as often is the case, I’m jumping ahead. Last evening I was stressed; over a few things but basically that I had too much to do and notContinue reading “A Quick and Delicious Recipe (and how cooking can be therapeutic)”

"Tis the Season…

Yes, whether we like it or not, it is that time of year again. The weather is getting colder. And with it lighter foods give way to heartier ones, and one of my favorites is soup. I’ve posted this recipe before, or at least variations of it, but it is so delicious and easy toContinue reading “"Tis the Season…”

The Fire in the Center of the House and a Rooster’s Beak…two recipes and the brief stories behind them

For some reason I haven’t posted many recipes lately (not sure why…I still cook and eat everyday), so here’s a couple. One I made yesterday at home for dinner just for myself, and the other I made at work today for 180 people (but the recipe below is for just a few). Both of theseContinue reading “The Fire in the Center of the House and a Rooster’s Beak…two recipes and the brief stories behind them”