All American Beef Stew

Yankee Cooking At Its Best This New England Classic is easy to make, but does require a long braise. The active cooking time is probably an hour or less. It is even better the second day. The first time I made this, the aroma filled my SoCal home and brought me straight back to my … Continue reading All American Beef Stew

Mojito Tacos

These fresh, vibrant tacos are perfect for a warm summer evening. Named for the drink, these tacos are brightened up by the flavors of rum and mint - and it totally works. Ingredients: 1. 4 chicken breasts, butterflied 2. 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 3. 2 teaspoons fresh mint, finely minced 4. 2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, finely … Continue reading Mojito Tacos

Cedar Wrapped Salmon & Asparagus

Infused with the sweet, smoky aura of cedarwood, this salmon and asparagus preparation makes for a killer presentation, and is easy to put together! Ingredients 4 fresh salmon portions, approximately 4-6 ounces each1 lb asparagus, divided into 4 portions (see note*)1 lemon sliced into 8 thin rounds1/4 cup mayo1 teaspoon Aleppo chili flakes1 tablespoon brown … Continue reading Cedar Wrapped Salmon & Asparagus

Flatbread Pizza

Depending on how many different types of pizza you want to make, this can either be a relatively quick endeavor or part of an afternoon. I like to make several types of pizza, baking them one or two at a time during a football game or Sunday afternoon get together. Make a pizza, eat a … Continue reading Flatbread Pizza

Grilled Sriracha Hot Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

These wings are a riff on classic buffalo wings - perfect for game day, or any day for that matter! Ingredients For the Wings 2 lbs fresh chicken wings2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon kosher salt For the Sauce 4 tablespoons butter1 clove garlic, grated on a microplane or pressed1 cup Sriracha hot sauce2 tablespoons honey1 … Continue reading Grilled Sriracha Hot Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

Medianoche Sandwiches

The perfect "midnight" snack, it's easy to see how this sandwich became a staple of the Havana late night scene - after an evening of drinking, dancing and music, this is guaranteed to hit the spot. Also, they're pretty darn good just for dinner. Note: This is more or less the recipe from the movie … Continue reading Medianoche Sandwiches

Classic Chicken Marsala

This classic American-Italian Dish is comfort food at it's best. Crank up the Pavarotti, uncork a bottle of wine, and prepare yourself for a meal that will challenge the best New York Italian hole-in-the-wall joint any day. Best part? Easy: 30 minutes start to finish. Ingredients 2 chicken breasts, butterflied in half lengthwise, pounded to … Continue reading Classic Chicken Marsala

Charred Lemon Vinaigrette over Seared Ahi Tuna

Bright, piquant, light and refreshing; the perfect weeknight summer dinner. Serve with a roasted green vegetable and a glass of dry white wine and you've got yourself a real treat. Believe it or not, frozen fish is often times better than the "fresh" fish you find at the supermarket. More often than not, that "fresh" … Continue reading Charred Lemon Vinaigrette over Seared Ahi Tuna

BLT with Avocado and Brown Butter Mayo

The addition of Avocado and Brown Butter Mayo elevate the BLT from good to divine. Technically I suppose the addition of Avocado would make this a BLAT - but somehow that doesn't sound as appetizing. Skip the avocado if you like, but the Brown Butter Mayo takes this classic sandwich to a whole new level. … Continue reading BLT with Avocado and Brown Butter Mayo

How to Make Chowder

This post invites you to experiment - it is a blueprint and a technique, not a rigid recipe that must be followed. Use whatever ingredients you have on hand, or whatever you like. There is a lot of fierce debate about what makes a soup a chowder - or if chowder is a type of … Continue reading How to Make Chowder