Posts from ‘December, 2008’

I had a strong affinity for food even as a young child, so I suppose it’s not surprising that some of my earliest memories are of the delicious meals my mom cooked. I can even remember standing at our kitchen counter in my Halloween costume 10 years ago while eating this chowder before a long [...]

A version of this recipe was featured as the “Dish of the Year” on the cover of the January 2009 issue of Bon Appétit. I’ve substituted crispy bacon in place of the pancetta in order to add more of a smoky flavor, and I’ve added peas and additional cheese to really give this dish a [...]

Roasting your own nuts is incredibly easy and gives you the freedom to customize them with your favorite flavors. The brown sugar in my recipe carmelizes the nuts while the cayenne pepper adds a little heat to this protein-packed appetizer. Serve the nuts during a cocktail hour or take a small bag of them [...]

With the holidays coming to a close you can now find good use for that leftover egg nog! This french toast recipe is prepared the night before in order to ensure that the bread is well coated in the egg and cinnamon mixture. You can easily substitute half-and-half for the egg nog and make this [...]

Every Christmas Eve my family and I eat at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, Spago, in Beaver Creek, CO. We have great memories of family and food at the restaurant, and tonight’s dinner was made extra special by a visit with Wolfgang.
Prior to visiting with Wolfgang, we enjoyed an incredible meal that included pretzel rolls, handcut taglietelle [...]

My family usually sticks to roasted turkey during the holidays, but this year we’ve decided to expand our menu to include roasted duck. Peking duck is a traditional Chinese dish that includes serving the crispy duck in a pancake that’s loaded with thinly sliced scallions and hoisin sauce (a sweet and pungent sauce made from [...]

Baking at a high altitude can be pretty tricky and can lead to cupcakes that fail to rise or cookies that are rock-hard. This recipe adjusts for the many perils caused by high altitude baking by reducing the amount of sugar to account for the drier climate. Just like a basic cookie recipe you can [...]

I am constantly watching the Food Network to not only learn new culinary techniques, but also to find inspiration for my next recipe. And with Ina Garten, Paula Deen, Tyler Florence and Rachael (does she even need a last name?) Ray at the top of my list of favorite chefs, it’s no wonder that I’m [...]

This chocolate bread pudding ranks at the top of my list of ultimate desserts. I guarantee all dessert lovers will enjoy this recipe (even if you aren’t a chocolate lover). The moist texture of the chocolate-soaked bread combined with the crunchy bits that form on top of the pudding make for a great ending to [...]

Tomato soup and triple grilled cheese, it’s comfort food at it’s finest. And with snowstorms blowing from New York to Chicago and even to Las Vegas this year, this perfect pairing provides warm comfort even on the coldest day. Using canned San Marzano tomatoes in place of fresh tomatoes not only adds extra flavor, but [...]