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 p … [Read more...]
Scheff’s Table – Simple Meat Sauce for Pasta
Many authentic Bolognese-style Italian meat sauce recipes for pasta are cumbersome and time-consuming. The sauce often has to cook for the better part of a day, or even longer. Well, here is a nifty meat sauce for pasta that can be made in under a half-hour - a great recipe for a quick weeknight dinner. Ingredients: 1 Tbs olive oil ¾ lb. lean ground beef, preferably … [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 subst … [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...]
Scheff’s Table: Pork Chile Verde
One thing I love about fall and winter weather is that it’s an excuse to make hearty soups and stews. And probably my very favorite stew is pork chile verde. There are lots of different variations on chile verde. For example, I use tomatoes in mine while some people prefer tomatillos. Feel free to experiment with this recipe and make it your own. Ingredients: 10-12 Anaheim p … [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...]
Chicken Fried Rice
One of my wife’s favorite comfort foods is Chinese-style fried rice. It’s one of mine, too. Fried rice is a good way to utilize leftover rice, chicken or other foods you might happen to have on hand. And, while this recipe is for fried rice with chicken, you could easily use shrimp, ham or other favorite proteins, or just make veggie fried rice. The key to success here is to hav … [Read more...]
Crab-Stuffed Spring Rolls
I love Vietnamese-style spring rolls, which are made using rice paper wrappers. They are really quite simple to make, and no cooking is even necessary. Obviously, you could put any ingredients you like into your spring rolls. So this recipe is really just a starting point. I love fresh crab, for example, but you could substitute shrimp or ground pork or just use veggies. Be … [Read more...]
Braised Chicken Quarters with Herbs
This braised chicken is a terrific fall dish, full of hearty, robust flavor. If you prefer to use individual chicken thighs and legs as opposed to chicken thigh-leg quarters, go for it! The chicken and sauce is excellent with rice, noodles or mashed potatoes alongside. Ingredients: 3 Tbs. olive oil 4 bone-in chicken thigh and drumstick quarters (or separate thighs & … [Read more...]