Like many Americans, ancestrally speaking I am a mixed breed. My dad’s family is Lebanese—straight from the “Old Country”—hence the Lebanese-inspired recipes on this blog. My mom’s family is German (with maybe a bit of French, too…my grandfather’s family was Alsatian); they’ve been in this country since about 1830 the best that I can tell.Continue reading “Das Kuchen (rezept und fotos)…”
Category Archives: Home Cooking
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)”
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”
Penne Bolognese (senza latte o panna)
Pasta with meat sauce. Mmm…I love it; easy to make and really delicious. But first I have to say that while I am most definitely not a vegetarian I do not eat a great deal of meat (for a variety of reasons). Sometimes I go days, even a week or so with out eating meatContinue reading “Penne Bolognese (senza latte o panna)”
Employee Meal 09.04.12 (part of it)
As the head cook where I am employed it is within my job description to make lunch for the employees every day. And some days I enjoy this more than others. I’ve posted some of these recipes in the past, but haven’t in a while. Anyhow, this was one of the components to the mealContinue reading “Employee Meal 09.04.12 (part of it)”
Broccoli and Bean Curd Stir-Fry Recipe
This is one of my favorite stir-fry recipes…it’s, simple, quick, and really delicious and nutritious. This is one of those simple restaurant-quality dishes that you’ll be wondering why you ever pay to have it prepared when it is so easy to make yourself. I’ve posted this recipe, or variations of it, a few times before,Continue reading “Broccoli and Bean Curd Stir-Fry Recipe”
Whole-Wheat Chickpea-Turmeric Bread, an interesting Ezekiel Bread variation…sort of
Beautiful, isn’t it? This is just another example that you can make bread out of nearly anything you like. I happen to like chickpeas, and try to put turmeric in a lot of things because of the yellow hue it offers, but mostly because turmeric is so good for you. While the dough looks reallyContinue reading “Whole-Wheat Chickpea-Turmeric Bread, an interesting Ezekiel Bread variation…sort of”
Macaroni and Four Cheeses
This is a variation of the classic American dish, Macaroni-and-Cheese. The variation from the classic recipe in this one is that I used four cheeses…cheddar, Parmesan, Fontinella, and Gorgonzola. It is–if I do say so myself–mouthwatering delicious. And while this may not be the heart-healthiest meal you can eat it is easy to make, versatile,Continue reading “Macaroni and Four Cheeses”
The Reward…
As summer begins to wind down the tomatoes and peppers are coming to full fruition. And one of the rewards each summer is tomato sauce. I make it a few times throughout the season and then usually one bigger pot…which was today. I made about 3 gallons of sauce “hillbilly style” (cooked it outside asContinue reading “The Reward…”
Three-Color Gazpacho Shooter
Tonight we’ll serve these gazpacho shooters as a component of a cocktail party menu…pureed gazpacho made from perfectly ripe red and yellow tomatoes topped with yogurt and green onion puree. Easy to make, delicious, nutritious…and pleasing to look at. There’s a basic gazpacho recipe below (omit the breadcrumbs to puree it smooth) but if you’dContinue reading “Three-Color Gazpacho Shooter”
Salade Niçoise
Mmm…I love this salad; delicious; one of my favorites. I’ve also been fortunate enough to visit the beautiful city of Nice on a couple occasions, which of course is the namesake of this particular recipe. Anyhow, we served this salad for a luncheon today and thought it appropriate to post the recipe…it is also theContinue reading “Salade Niçoise”
Substitutions and Experimentation…there’s more that one way to make a cheesy cracker
This recipe is the outcome of substitution and experimentation with ingredients to alter a recipe to fit my needs…and the outcome–if I do say so myself–is outstanding. But as usual I’m jumping ahead; let me begin again. Next week I’ll be serving a cocktail party showcasing the heirloom tomatoes from Tom Towers Farm. He gaveContinue reading “Substitutions and Experimentation…there’s more that one way to make a cheesy cracker”
Bursting with Color and Flavor…
Beautiful aren’t they…just picked this morning. Like much of the nation it has been hot in Western New York and the vegetable plants are loving it. Yesterday when I picked a perfectly ripe tomato for dinner it was not just warm from the sun but actually hot to the touch…it felt like it was cooked,Continue reading “Bursting with Color and Flavor…”
Moudardara (Lebanese Lentils and Rice)
This recipe is classic Middle Eastern Food. It is also easy to make and so delicious that you won’t be able to stop eating it. The recipe I’ve included here, of course, is a variation on the traditional. This is a dish that is often eaten during Lent and for that reason usually remains vegetarian,Continue reading “Moudardara (Lebanese Lentils and Rice)”
The Ezekiel Bread that Almost Wasn’t…
In order to explain the title of this post I have to tell a brief story. And the reason I tell this story is that I am a firm believer that good food can come out of mishap, or at least a near mishap. But I’m getting ahead of myself. The above picture is thatContinue reading “The Ezekiel Bread that Almost Wasn’t…”
Gazpacho Blanco (receta y fotos)
All I really need to say in this post is that this soup is really simple to make and delicious and that you should make it. But I’ll say just a few more things. I made this for a luncheon I served at work today. It is a cool and refreshing soup, but also oneContinue reading “Gazpacho Blanco (receta y fotos)”
Le Nouveau Tarte Tatin
This recipe is a play on the classic Tarte Tatin, which of course is normally made with apples. I’m currently researching and testing recipes for an article I’m writing about Tarte Tatin for Buffalo Spree Magazine and thought I’d try a couple savory recipes (the poor Tatin sisters must be rolling in their graves); thisContinue reading “Le Nouveau Tarte Tatin”
Urban Simplicty 