When I lived in New York City I came to love a one-pot dish called arroz con pollo (rice with chicken). I’d often enjoy arroz con pollo at inexpensive Cuban and Puerto Rican restaurants. Arroz con pollo is a dish that is ubiquitous in Latin American and some Caribbean countries, and it seems like every family has its own recipe. It’s an easy comfort food to prepare and I like … [Read more...]
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich Recipe
Since my son lives near Philadelphia, I’ve spent a lot of time there and eaten more than my share of Philly cheesesteaks. And while it isn’t easy to make an authentic cheesesteak at home - especially since you can’t get Amoroso rolls here in Utah - you can create a pretty good facsimile. Most cheesesteaks in Philly are made using boneless rib eye steak. If you have that … [Read more...]
Thai Red Curry Recipe for Home Cooks
Here is a really simple and quick recipe for Thai-style red curry. I use boneless chicken for the dish but you could easily substitute pork, tofu, duck, beef, veggies, shrimp, fish, or just about anything else you’d like. Items like Thai red curry paste and fish sauce are available in most Asian markets and nowadays in many regular supermarkets, as well. Ingredients for Thai … [Read more...]
Chicken & Cashew Biryani Recipe for Home Cooks
Biryani - which is also spelled biriyani - is a popular rice-based dish in South India. It’s sort of like rice pilaf, but with an Indian spin and can be made in a multitude of ways, such as with shrimp, fish, lamb, etc. I especially like chicken biryani with toasted cashews to add some crunchy texture to the dish. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp ghee or butter (clarified, if … [Read more...]
Juicy Bone-In Chicken Breasts Recipe
I’ve never quite understood why so many people favor boneless chicken breasts over bone-in ones. Bone-in breasts, properly prepared, are so much more juicy, tender and delicious. Here is a method for roasting bone-in chicken breasts in the oven that is virtually foolproof. The recipe is for two chicken breasts but can easily be doubled. Give it a try! Ingredients: 2 bone-in … [Read more...]
Classic Cheese Fondue
For New Year's Eve this year, my wife and I are planning to celebrate at home by opening a great bottle of wine and enjoying homemade cheese fondue. This is a basic recipe for classic Swiss-style cheese fondue that's easy to make and pretty much foolproof. Ingredients: 1 garlic clove, halved 1 pound Gruyère cheese, grated 1/2 pound Emmentaler cheese or … [Read more...]
Harissa Mussels with Chorizo
Ever since I first visited Brussels, I’ve loved steamed mussels and make them at home frequently. They are very easy and quick to prepare. I have about a dozen different steamed mussels recipes that I use and this is one of my favorites. It’s got a Moroccan flair with the use of spicy harissa paste and chorizo. Many markets carry harissa, but if you can’t find it you could … [Read more...]
Recipe for Tender Roasted Pork Loin
This is a very easy, but delicious, recipe for roasted boneless pork loin (not tenderloin) that makes for a terrific fall/winter main dish. The recipe is based on one published on a food website called Kitchn. Ingredients: 1 (3- to 4-pound) boneless pork loin roast 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black … [Read more...]
Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe
After Thanksgiving winds down, I always look forward to using some of the turkey leftovers to make turkey tetrazzini. Although it sounds like an Italian dish, tetrazzini was created in America at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, and named for opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini, who was a long-time hotel resident. Ingredients: 12 oz. spaghetti or other pasta or noodles … [Read more...]
Quick and Easy Pad Thai
Pad Thai might seem like one of those dishes that you can only get in restaurants. However, it is surprisingly quick and easy to make at home. The key is to have all of the ingredients prepped and ready to go, since the actual cooking time for this recipe is just a matter of a few minutes. Ingredients: 8 ounces flat rice noodles (I like linguine or fettuccine width) 2-3 … [Read more...]