So I was scheduled to appear on a Connecticut morning show in Hartford to promote Much Ado this past week, and the idea was that we'd focus on my twin careers in food and performing. Ergo... a cooking segment! I…
Read more
Snowy Day in Connecticut (Pasta with Hot Italian Sausage, Minced Broccoli, Garlic and Parmesan)
Please excuse the snow photography...
It's yet another snow day here in the wilds of Connecticut. I'm about to open a production of Much Ado at the Connecticut Rep... the same theater where I did O Beautiful a little over…
Read more
Lemon Tree
In its own way this is about food...
About 10 years ago, my best friend, screenwriter Deb Stenard, sent me a box of gorgeous Meyer lemons from the tree in her yard in L.A. After using a number of the…
Read more
Sauteed Pork Tenderloin and Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan and Cream
One of the great gifts of working in the test kitchen is the food that won't last the weekend... So I came home one Friday with a tiny bit of gorgeous pork tenderloin - and I really do mean tiny…
Read more
Kürbiskernöl (Austrian Pumpkinseed Oil)
Just wanted to show all of you the pumpkinseed oil Charlie brought back from Vienna...
This sumptuous oil's color is the richest, darkest green you can imagine... But it shines like an emerald when it hits food!
And just wait…
Read more
European Getaway (Putenschnitzel und Cannellini Beans mit Pumpkinseed Oil Salad)
Charlie was feeling a little nostalgic for his days in Vienna... and it was snowing... so I thought a faux Austrian meal was in order...
I had been given some turkey breast... so Putenschnitzel was in order! And we still…
Read more
Pasta with Turkey, Bacon, Shredded Brussels Sprouts, Cream & Parmesan
It was a fun but LONG day in the test kitchen... and the weather had turned from ridiculously warm for December to frigid...
I happened to have some already trimmed Brussels sprouts and some thawed bacon... plus a large slab…
Read more
Hamburger on Arugula with Sweet Potato Pancakes and Sour Cream
As you can see, this meal consisted of a hamburger (good 80/20 ground beef with some sriracha and smoked paprika mixed in) on a bed of undressed arugula...
But the newest member of the team was a very easy…
Read more
Shrimp Orgy II (Horseradish Shrimp Cocktail)
As part of our recent shrimp orgy, I took about 10 of the shrimp out of the bowl (before making two other major meals) and I cooked them... just barely... and removed them to a container to be cooled.
And…
Read more
Shrimp Orgy (Shrimp-Fried Rice with Garlic, Ginger, Peppers, Peanuts & Scallions)
Thanks to the generosity of two lovely ladies who also happen to be killer chefs, I recently found myself with an embarrassment of gorgeous large raw shrimp. And when a bounty like that falls into your lap... you simply resign…
Read more
Over the Top! (Port with Queso de Valdeón)
I'm about to go WAY over the top. Bear with me. Because this year our Christmas Dinner featured some of the most extraordinary things I have ever tasted...
Happily ensconced between our Christmas tree and a roaring fire, we had…
Read more
In Praise of Judy Rodgers
Most of us, including me, never got to meet Judy Rodgers...
But I would humbly suggest that you all take a look at her wondrous book, The Zuni Cafe Cookbook. It is everything that's right about food. I turn…
Read more
Champagne's Best Friend: Bacon Cheese Puffs! (Bacon Gougères)
Happy New Year! Time to break out the Champagne and ring in 2014!
Back in the fall, I introduced you to one of my favorite baked treats... Smoky Cheddar Cheese Puffs!http://www.thisoldchef.com/blog.html/smoky_cheese_puffs__cheddar_gougres_with_parmesan_and_smoked_salt/
Now that I'm at home and celebrating the…
Read more
Fear of Frying (Meatloaf Burgers and Turkey Risotto Arancini with Chive Sour Cream)
I know it seems as if I've gone off the deep-fat end over the holidays this year... but I had some really good turkey risotto in the fridge... And warmed-up risotto just isn't the best idea in the world.
But…
Read more
Christmas Cookie Update!
News Flash! I just made a batch of the annual Christmas snowballs, but this time I made them with homemade cultured butter and walnuts instead of pecans! And they were a revelation!
NO! A good one! So...
Snowballs
Yield:…
Read more