Tag Archives: Cooking

Clay Pot Chicken

The 30th president of our country, Herbert Hoover, once uttered these famous words of hope and positive thought for our nation as we went through tough times of another era: “A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” Now I of course agree with the first half of the sentence but notContinue reading “Clay Pot Chicken”

Easy (and delicious) Winter Frittata

Well first of all if you are a regular reader of this blog you can see by the picture at an earlier post this week that I have not gone grocery shopping…it’s mostly the same ingredients pictured. But it’s how you use and interchange the ingredients that makes things interesting, I suppose. At any rate,Continue reading “Easy (and delicious) Winter Frittata”

Lentil Stew with Vegetables and Meatballs

This is a really hearty and nutritious stew (delicious, too!)…and great for a chilly day like today. It’s also an interesting way to utilize meatballs other than in tomato sauce. I seasoned it with cinnamon, cumin, allspice, smoked hot peppers, and lemon…this gave it a distinctively Middle Eastern flavor and the aromas permeating the houseContinue reading “Lentil Stew with Vegetables and Meatballs”

Cheesy Goodness

I made a fancy version of macaroni-and-cheese for dinner tonight…with four cheeses (smoked cheddar, asiago, Parmesan, and Romano), Italian sausage (made with chicken), sweet bell pepper, whole wheat pasta, and a few peas that I had in my freezer (the broccoli pictured was cooked separately). This recipe is simply a guide…it can be altered toContinue reading “Cheesy Goodness”

Gravy Deconstructed

One of my many flaws, I think, is that I fail to promote myself (maybe it’s just a weakness). I work as a professional cook, thus this may stem from the whole “celebrity chef” thing…for those of you that know me personally you also know that I think TV chefs are silly, always have andContinue reading “Gravy Deconstructed”

Sometimes Only Vegetables Will Do

While I do not eat a great deal of meat I am far from a vegetarian…but sometimes I just crave vegetables…yesterday was one of those times. I made this delicious vegetable stew with enough leftover to eat a second day and freeze some as well. It is so simple to make…basically like a chunky soupContinue reading “Sometimes Only Vegetables Will Do”

Seafood and Vegetable Fried Rice

Here’s some of the ingredients: Onions, broccoli, green beans, carrots, zucchini (which, believe-it or-not, I still had in my fridge as one of the last garden vegetables picked). Also, garlic and ginger (not pictured). Brown rice that was cooked in diluted chicken broth and spiked with Thai curry paste. A plain egg omelet which wasContinue reading “Seafood and Vegetable Fried Rice”

Codfish "Meatballs" in Tomato Sauce

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that my diet is the opposite of a low carb diet…my diet contains a lot of bread, rice, pizza, and pasta (whole or multi-grains, mostly). At any rate I had pasta for dinner tonight (again!), and topped it with codfish “meatballs.” I know thisContinue reading “Codfish "Meatballs" in Tomato Sauce”

Curried Fish Chowder

This is so easy to make…healthy and delicious, too. Variations are up to the cook. Here’s how to make it. Dice the ingredients. Saute the the vegetables. Add curry powder and curry paste. Saute a little longer. Add diced fish (I used tilapia) and clam juice or fish broth. Peel and dice potatoes, then addContinue reading “Curried Fish Chowder”

Homemade Rice-A-Roni with Lamb and Vegetables

This really is a variation of Lebanese rice dishes that I’ve posted on before (with chicken instead of lamb); to see those posts, which include pictorial directions as well as a recipe, click here and here. I’m referring to this as Rice-A-Roni because that’s what it sort of resembles. I’ve always been convinced that Rice-A-RoniContinue reading “Homemade Rice-A-Roni with Lamb and Vegetables”

Julia’s Chickens

I came across this short clip tonight (it’s only about 90 seconds) and it is somewhat hilarious…when she begins talking she is so excited about what she’s doing it seems she can barely contain herself. But as funny as it is there is no questioning Julia’s knowledge or ability…she was a professional cook (not aContinue reading “Julia’s Chickens”

Green Tomato and Pepper Salsa

This is a variation of a recipe that I learned from my grandmother; I used (mostly) ingredients that I culled from the garden for the last time this year. I didn’t learn this by watching her, but more so from reading her recipe…I inherited her handwritten recipe book which contains a recipe for “Hot PepperContinue reading “Green Tomato and Pepper Salsa”

Delicious Taco/Burrito Filling

I made tacos for my son and I the last night…this is a basic meat filling that is thickened (and stretched) with cornmeal. It can be made with pork or beef (or other meats, I suppose), and this is how I made ours. I started with a couple of pork chops, which I had inContinue reading “Delicious Taco/Burrito Filling”

Polenta Bolognese con Uova (made in under twenty minutes)

I am not the type of cook who buys ingredients to make specific dishes (ok, sometimes I do, but not often). My method of cooking dinner usually entails rummaging through the fridge and pantry to see what I have (or don’t have). And when you shop as infrequently as I do this is sometimes aContinue reading “Polenta Bolognese con Uova (made in under twenty minutes)”

The Frugal Gourmet Cooking Chinese Soup

People ask me all the time what cooking shows I watch and I usually answer them with one word: none. Those who know me personally know that I have a somewhat disdain for the current state of cooking shows and what they have done and continue to do to the culinary industry (please, don’t getContinue reading “The Frugal Gourmet Cooking Chinese Soup”

Pork Ragu with Whole Wheat Penne (in pictures)

Like most pasta dishes this is one that can be almost infinitely improvised, but pork, tomato sauce, and pasta are one of my favorites. The ingredients can be interchanged to your liking. This is how I made it: I started with a couple heritage pork chops from the freezer (from T Meadow Farms), a yellowContinue reading “Pork Ragu with Whole Wheat Penne (in pictures)”

Experiments In Fermentation

I’ve been experimenting with fermentation for years…it never ceases to amaze me…put the ingredients together and provide the correct conditions (temperature and no oxygen) and it basically creates (grows) itself . Bread, yogurt, pickled vegetables and sauerkraut…all forms of fermentation. Anyhow, my latest experiment is two-fold. I’m making a form of kim chi using wholeContinue reading “Experiments In Fermentation”