because culinary inspiration is everywhere
turning dinner around one steak at a time
pan-seared salmon circles
(tournedos de saumon)
Taking the same old and making it new is the inspiration for this week’s simple pleasure: pan-seared salmon circles (tournedos de saumon). Read the rest of this entry »
lights, camera, crab
spicy crab toasts
Hand to mouth food is what you want at gatherings where everyone’s focus will be on the television. The red carpet and easy appetizers for your Oscar party inspired this week’s simple pleasure: spicy crab toasts. Read the rest of this entry »
living it up (on Mardi Gras) in a savory and seasonal way:
Romanesco Cauliflower fettechini with Gorgonzola
Romanesco cauliflower is in the markets right now and the tight, pointed green curds are nutty tasting and delicious. Given that we have two celebrations in one week - Mardi Gras and Saint Valentine’s Day – a little culinary indulgence in a tasteful, seasonal, and savory way inspired this week’s simple pleasure: Romanesco Cauliflower fettechini with Gorgonzola. (However, if you prefer to celebrate Mardi Gras with something sweet, try making traditional beignets ! recipe here.)
Romanesco cauliflower Fettechini with Gorgonzola
serves 6-8
preparation time: 10 minutes
cooking time: 15 minutes
what you need:
dear Madeleine, please be mine !
how to bake the perfect Madeleine
So it is like this: a half-birthday celebration, a reduced-sugar school policy, and several requests for a favorite snack recipe (just in time for your Valentine’s celebration) which all inspired this week’s simple pleasure: vanilla bean Madeleines.
vanilla bean Madeleines
makes 2½ dozen
what you need:
9 tablespoons (4.5 oz) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup (7.5 oz) granulated sugar
4 large eggs (7 oz.), room temperature
1½ tablespoon vanilla bean paste
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup 2 % milk, room temperature
1½ teaspoon lemon zest Read the rest of this entry »
potato and wilted escarole salad
this winter salad is full of protein and tossed in a creamy dressing made with avocaodo (no mayonnaise or cream)
serves 4-6
what you need:
salad
1 small head frisée
1 small head radicchio
1 Belgium endive
8 fingerling potatoes, steamed or boiled
1 small head escarole, leafed
½ cup Cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
(optional) ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Valentine beet carpaccio
serves 6-8
what you need:
1-2 red beets, roasted, peeled
(optional) ¼ cup chopped nuts (nuts, pistachios or walnuts), toasted
home for Valentine’s Day;
cooking for the important person or people in your life:
“ la blanquette d’amour”
In honor of Saint Valentine’s Day (a little early), I share something with you beyond a great recipe, the words of author Leo Tolstoy. It is Tolstoy’s “pursuit of life” which inspired this week’s simple pleasure: la blanquette de veau (veal stew in a white wine-crème fraîche sauce with mushrooms, pearl onions, and artichoke hearts served on garlic-rubbed toasted French bread). I also call it “blanquette d’amour” because cooking is all about what you put in the cocotte, namely, a little love with hand-chosen ingredients. Read on.
la blanquette de veau
(veal stew in a white wine-crème fraîche sauce with mushrooms, pearl onions,
and artichoke hearts on garlic-rubbed toasted French Bread)
(a/k/a “la blanquette d’amour” for Valentine’s Day 2013)
serves 4-6
preparation time: 10 minutes
oven time: 1 hour
stove time: 30 minutes
what you need:
veal
2 pounds veal shoulder (or beef or chicken breast), cut into 1 ½ -2″ cubes (fat discarded)
all-purpose flour (as needed)
kosher salt (as needed)
freshly ground black pepper (as needed)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter Read the rest of this entry »
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