I love eating in Mexican restaurants like Lorena’s and La Puente, which make their own tortilla chips from scratch. They are so much better than pre-packaged, store bought chips. Well, it’s simple - if a little time-consuming - to make fresh tortilla chips at home. You can make a little or a lot, just be sure to do it in batches so that you don’t crowd the chips in a … [Read more...]
Cataplana Mussels & Clams
When our family lived in Spain, I recall seeing seafood dishes served in restaurants in a vessel called a cataplana. They are made of copper and, not surprisingly, are clam-shaped, since they are perfect for steaming shellfish: mussels, clams, shrimp, crabs and others. The idea is to bring the cataplana directly to the table from the stove and serve the steamed seafood in it. … [Read more...]
Thai Basil & Chili Chicken
This year my wife and I planted Thai chilies and Thai basil in our garden, which are perfect for this dish but you can also find them in Asian food markets. This is a delicious, spicy stir-fry that’s called pad kra pao gai in Thailand. It’s a hugely popular street food there and is typically served with a side of fried egg. This recipe makes two large servings of Thai Basil … [Read more...]
Maryland-Style Chicken Fingers
Here is a spicy take on fried chicken fingers that kids like as much as adults do. I use Maryland-style spices to kick things up a notch - the type you frequently find when eating shrimp and blue crabs while sailing around the Chesapeake Bay. Ingredients: 1 lb. boneless chicken breast 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. Louisiana hot sauce (or your favorite) 2 cups … [Read more...]
Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
As a kid I hated Brussels sprouts, as I imagine many kids do. Partly that’s because we were always served the sprouts whole. One way to get kids (and some adults) to enjoy Brussels sprouts is to shave or shred them before cooking, which makes them much more palatable. And of course, adding bacon doesn’t hurt. You could prepare the sprouts and shallots using a knife but I find … [Read more...]
Butter Chicken Recipe
Butter chicken is a very popular Indian curry dish that is also called murgh makhani. The chicken is smothered in a creamy curry sauce made with vindaloo spice mix, which can be purchased at stores and online such as at Penzeys Spices. This recipe is largely based on one shared by Andrew Zimmern in Food & Wine. You’ll want to get a head start as the chicken needs to … [Read more...]
Seared Sea Scallops
I love the slightly sweet and tart flavor of seared sea scallops - those are the large scallops; the small ones are bay scallops. They are super easy and quick to make - they literally cook in about 3 minutes. Serve them simply with salt and pepper or with a favorite sauce, aioli, remoulade, yuzu-miso, etc. Ingredients: Fresh sea scallops - about 3-4 per person as a main … [Read more...]
Pork Cutlet Piccata
Most of us are familiar with the popular Italian dish called chicken piccata, typically served with a side of pasta. Well, you can easily change up your piccata by using fish, shrimp, scallops, pork, turkey or even tofu as the main protein for picatta. Here is a version using boneless pork cutlets. It’s a quick dish to prepare. In less time than it takes to boil water for a … [Read more...]
Beef Lo Mein Recipe
Chinese dishes like lo mein are pretty easy to make at home. The secret is organization. Be sure to have all of the ingredients prepped and ready to rock before you heat your wok. That’s because the actual cooking time for stir-fry dishes like lo mein is very rapid. This recipe is a modification of a beef lo mein recipe on the Woks of Life website. Ingredients: For the beef … [Read more...]
Tortellini Alfredo
I love fettuccine Alfredo. Who doesn’t? But then, you could really use any type of pasta you like and pair it with creamy Alfredo sauce. I especially like to use tortellini when making pasta Alfredo, since it’s firm and holds up to the thick sauce well. Ingredients: 8 Tbs (1 stick) good quality unsalted butter ½ pint (1 cup) heavy cream 1 package frozen or fresh … [Read more...]