When Did Kale Become So Popular? by Nell Jones Kale has become wildly popular in the last decade, now available in the form of smoothies, chips, salads, and more. Some people live by it and some people just like to make fun of those who live by it. But where did it come from and […]
My wife’s friend Laura from Chicago shared these thoughts that I wanted to pass along, especially since we recently wrote that a good substitute for Golden Mountain Sauce, which we included in our recipe for Roasted Cauliflower Steaks, is fish sauce. Fish Sauce – A Not-So-New Go-To for Chefs and Home Cooks by Contributing Writer […]
A Great Value Washed Rind Cheese – Fleur d”Aunis I really like this cheese because it is a “value” cheese” however it is still an imported cheese from France so it’s not going to be that inexpensive. It’s also a “washed rind” cheese that is first bathed in Pineau des Charentes, a Cognac-fortified aperitif wine […]
The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner in 2016 Is Back Under $50 The price of a Thanksgiving meal according to The American Farm Bureau Federation is now less than $5 per person. Before you get too excited, last year it was $5.01 per person so not much of a decline but I’ll take it. Every […]
How to Made the Best Rice and Beans in a Rice Cooker I don’t eat enough rice and beans. They are good for you by providing lots of protein, fiber and vitamins, low in fat and filled with complex carbs. They are relatively cheap and so versatile. Serve them as a side dish, add them […]
Pasta and Rice Conversions & Equivalents How frustrating is it when you’re cooking dinner from a great recipe you found in your favorite cooking magazine that says you need 2 cups of cooked rice but you have no idea how much dry rice that takes. Or what if you need to know how many cups […]
Heirloom Apples Abound This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Fall apple tasting at the Historic Harriton House in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Hosted by curator Bruce Gill who collects heirloom apples from various locations throughout the area, some varieties over 300 years old and still being grown for eating “out of hand”, baking […]
Where Do the Various Pork Cuts Come From On A Pig? I am very interested in knowing exactly where the various cuts that I’m purchasing and cooking come from on a pig. I know most of the general prime cuts but I’m fascinated in knowing exactly where on a pig’s carcass the cut is […]
How Many Way’s Can You Sell Mango at Trader Joe’s? Was at Trader Joe’s this weekend to do a little shopping with my wife as we do most weekends and everywhere I turned there were products featuring mango. I’m figuring June must be mango month so I looked it up online and yes it is. […]
Great Wines to Drink This Spring & Summer Last week my wife and I attended a wine tasting at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. The event was hosted by The Starr Catering Group who handle many of the Museum’s dining operations. They also provided the food that was specially selected to show off the wines […]
I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More
What is Demi Glace? I am a huge fan of demi-glace for preparing classic sauces like mushroom or peppercorn sauce but I have to warn you, it is a huge process to make classic demi glace at home. It is not for the faint of heart but well worth the effort – at least once. […]
Penne Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
How to Make a Delicious Pasta Meal with Roasted Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella In our house we typically have a weekly “What’s On Hand” meal where my wife and I find ingredients in the refrigerator and pantry that need to be used sooner than later and prepare a pasta dish, stir-fry or Mexican fajita. This […]
Pan Roasting—the Chef’s Secret Cooking Technique One of my favorite cooking techniques not talked about in most cookbooks If I could teach you just one chef’s technique that will help you save time in the kitchen and deliver a thick cut of meat to the table with a perfect sear and juicy medium-rare throughout, it […]
