“I’m still here, El Guapo,” shouted the mustachioed bandit to his distraught jéfe, as they caught sight of the rest of their outlaw gang fleeing in panic, away from the tiny Mexican village defended hysterically by the Three Amigos (and a band of Three Amigos look-alikes).
Never mind that after he said that he promptly got [...]
Drowned Eggs: Huevos Ahogados
Giant Butter Bean & Feta Gratin
I’m cursed by a total inability to cook the “magical fruit” from scratch. Every time I try, I end up with rock-hard nubbins that would be better as pebbles on the bottom of a fish tank than dinner.
Fortunately, there is a wide selection of the canned variety at the store.
While I like bacon as much [...]
Shanghai Soup Dumplings
Yes, Virginia, there is Jello in Chinese cooking. You say you don’t believe it, but indeed, it’s true.
Are you having visions of quivering rings of Astro-turf-colored sugar topped with glistening slices of Peking duck? (Actually, I found this photo on Flickr, it might be worse: duck hearts in gelatin.)
You of biting sarcasm and suspicious mind, [...]
A Hearty Breakfast for Your Inner Mexican
Let’s face it, we all wish we were Mexican. Cinco de Mayo, margaritas, Caesar salad, Salma Hayek and, dare I say it Chihuahuas, are all a part of American culture. What would life be like without miniature, hairless dogs stuffed into purse-carriers and sweaters to keep them safe and warm?? And no Salma? That is [...]
Crepes with Kefir Cheese and Chai-Scented Pears
Mmmmmmm, bacteria. Of course, without it, we wouldn’t have one of life’s most perfect foods: cheese (as my brother-in-law can attest). One of these days, I’ll learn how to make it (anyone ever been to classes at the Cheese School of San Francisco?).
Kefir cheese is made with a very particular, mysterious bacteria that grows on [...]
Au Currant: Irish Soda Bread
Ah, to be a currant, sunning in the Greek Isles. Especially on a day like today: gray and cold.
Except, it turns out, the currants I have in my pantry aren’t really currants at all, though they have been called that in the U.S. for the past hundred years or so.
“Zante currants,” as the bag reads, [...]
Miso-Marinated Tri-Tip
A reader comment (thanks, Margot!) from the miso soup post led to a DELICIOUS marinade for meats. I put it on beef, but I bet it also would be good on pork. The marinade makes the meat slightly salty and spicy. The sugar in the ponzu helps create a nice crust. I absolutely love this [...]
Christmas Cookies: Russian Tea
One word: BUH-duh.
What else do you think makes cookies taste so good? These tried-and-true favorites have been a Christmas staple in my family for decades. I don’t cut out cookies, remember? So these chill-and-roll treats are a good choice when the season calls for some emergency baking. (Like, perhaps, at 10:00 p.m. on the Monday [...]
Spaghetti with Swiss Chard and Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs
Anyone read Dwell magazine? It’s one of my favorites, with lots of what one friend calls “architecture porn.” Where am I going with this, you ask. How could anyone make an analogy between architecture and pasta? It’s a stretch, I’ll admit, but this dish somehow makes me think of a modest, modern 1,200-square-foot house built [...]
Butterflied Chicken with Rosemary Gremolata
Yah, I know gremolata is traditionally made with parsley and is used raw as a condiment, but since I was going to be cooking it, I wanted something more pungent.
Using REALLY local ingredients, I snipped a few sizeable pieces of rosemary from our backyard. The rosemary bush is growing out of control – but it [...]