holidays: halloween fall is here

Halloween is a much anticipated holiday, especially in the US. Children dress up in scary or funny costumes and knock on neighbors’ doors and shout “Trick or Treat!” From ghastly ghosts to pink princesses, they carry huge bags and open them for people to stuff in candies and other sweet goodies. This occasion has Christian origins and has been celebrated since 800 BCE. It precedes All Saints’ Day and the mass said on this day was called “Allhallowmas.” That’s why the evening was known as “All Hallow e’en,” or as we now know it, “Halloween.” Because of the US influence, a lot of countries also celebrate this tradition albeit in different ways, such as New Zealand, the Philippines, and Australia. The Halloween celebration has always been connected to spirits. The holiday is also represented with witches on broomsticks, goblins, ghosts, black cats, and other scary creatures of the night. They... Read the Rest →

 

fudofinds friday: murray’s cheeses

We aren’t sharing what we would call a “find” in the sense that the word is used when we shine the spotlight on small cottage industry purveyors. We are sharing this fudofind because there is nothing like it in the world. Of course, one would have to visit a Murray’s Cheese shop in order to understand our utter awe at the selection of cheeses Murray’s supplies. But, if you can’t get to Murray’s flagship store on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village or its Grand Central location. And, if you don’t happen to live near a Kroger in Cincinnati, Atlanta and Houston areas you can always shop online. Murray’s has been in business since the 1940’s; bringing over hundreds of cheeses to New Yorkers. In 2002 Murray’s opened shop in the Grand Central Market at Grand Central Station. Could you imagine picking up gourmet cheese on your way to catch a... Read the Rest →

 

fudofinds friday: murray's cheeses

We aren’t sharing what we would call a “find” in the sense that the word is used when we shine the spotlight on small cottage industry purveyors. We are sharing this fudofind because there is nothing like it in the world. Of course, one would have to visit a Murray’s Cheese shop in order to understand our utter awe at the selection of cheeses Murray’s supplies. But, if you can’t get to Murray’s flagship store on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village or its Grand Central location. And, if you don’t happen to live near a Kroger in Cincinnati, Atlanta and Houston areas you can always shop online. Murray’s has been in business since the 1940’s; bringing over hundreds of cheeses to New Yorkers. In 2002 Murray’s opened shop in the Grand Central Market at Grand Central Station. Could you imagine picking up gourmet cheese on your way to catch a... Read the Rest →

 

appetizers & recipes: sweet and sour butternut squash

Butternut Squash is one of those foods that most people will eat if someone else prepares it. They are hard to peel and difficult to cut. However, we’ve noticed that many grocery stores are selling pre-cut pieces of butternut squash in the produce section. This is incredibly convenient because we can now enjoy this wonderful nutty and sweet squash can be enjoyed on a busy evening without much ado. A mainstay at holiday tables, butternut squash can now adorn your table any day of the week when using this simple recipe and pre-cut squash from your grocers. You will impress your family, friends and guests when you serve sweet and sour butternut squash on Thanksgiving. The sweetness of the squash interacts remarkably well with the vinegar. The hint of cinnamon brings out the natural flavors of the butternut squash in a very subtle way. The coloring is one of our... Read the Rest →

 

appetizers & recipes: sweet and sour butternut squash

Butternut Squash is one of those foods that most people will eat if someone else prepares it. They are hard to peel and difficult to cut. However, we’ve noticed that many grocery stores are selling pre-cut pieces of butternut squash in the produce section. This is incredibly convenient because we can now enjoy this wonderful nutty and sweet squash can be enjoyed on a busy evening without much ado. A mainstay at holiday tables, butternut squash can now adorn your table any day of the week when using this simple recipe and pre-cut squash from your grocers. You will impress your family, friends and guests when you serve sweet and sour butternut squash on Thanksgiving. The sweetness of the squash interacts remarkably well with the vinegar. The hint of cinnamon brings out the natural flavors of the butternut squash in a very subtle way. The coloring is one of our... Read the Rest →

 

worldly wednesday’s : andorra a trinxat recipe (potato cakes)

Andorra is an autonomous and semi-independent co principality under the joint suzerainty of France and Spain since 1278. Andorra shares closer ties with Spain with Catalan as its official language. Located high in the Pyrénées Mountains on the French-Spanish border Andorra’s climate is that of the high mountains; generally dry, cold in the winter and mild in the summer. Naturally the food of Andorra reflects its geographical location so it isn’t surprising that one of the best known Andorran dishes, called “trinxat”, combines foods that are readily available in the Pyrenees. Potatoes and cabbage are common and could be grown locally since the climate permits. Pork is also easily available as cattle do not do well in a mountains region where grazing areas are limited. Perhaps a fresh mountain breeze is also needed when preparing this dish. The aroma of boiling cabbage combined with frying bacon is definitely not in... Read the Rest →

 

worldly wednesday's : andorra a trinxat recipe (potato cakes)

Andorra is an autonomous and semi-independent co principality under the joint suzerainty of France and Spain since 1278. Andorra shares closer ties with Spain with Catalan as its official language. Located high in the Pyrénées Mountains on the French-Spanish border Andorra’s climate is that of the high mountains; generally dry, cold in the winter and mild in the summer. Naturally the food of Andorra reflects its geographical location so it isn’t surprising that one of the best known Andorran dishes, called “trinxat”, combines foods that are readily available in the Pyrenees. Potatoes and cabbage are common and could be grown locally since the climate permits. Pork is also easily available as cattle do not do well in a mountains region where grazing areas are limited. Perhaps a fresh mountain breeze is also needed when preparing this dish. The aroma of boiling cabbage combined with frying bacon is definitely not in... Read the Rest →

 

tartlicious tuesday’s: corn and shitake tart with cornmeal pâte brisée

This gorgeous tart is an essential. It makes a flavorful main dish at breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can be served as an appetizer or a side. It is visually pleasing and looks particularly handsome on a Thanksgiving Day table. The recipe comes from Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. We made two minor adjustments to the tart. First, the original tart is a corn and shitake tart. However, we felt that a mushroom mix tastes superb, adding more depth to the tart. Secondly, the amount of corn was adjusted from two cups to one and a half. There was just too much corn in the original recipe. The dough for this tart is a cornmeal pâte brisée . This dough is a flavorful complement to this and many other savory tarts. One of the fun aspects of this dough is using the trimmed scraps after the tart pan is fitted with... Read the Rest →

 

tartlicious tuesday's: corn and shitake tart with cornmeal pâte brisée

This gorgeous tart is an essential. It makes a flavorful main dish at breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can be served as an appetizer or a side. It is visually pleasing and looks particularly handsome on a Thanksgiving Day table. The recipe comes from Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. We made two minor adjustments to the tart. First, the original tart is a corn and shitake tart. However, we felt that a mushroom mix tastes superb, adding more depth to the tart. Secondly, the amount of corn was adjusted from two cups to one and a half. There was just too much corn in the original recipe. The dough for this tart is a cornmeal pâte brisée . This dough is a flavorful complement to this and many other savory tarts. One of the fun aspects of this dough is using the trimmed scraps after the tart pan is fitted with... Read the Rest →

 

easy desserts & recipes: yellow butter mini cake

Who doesn’t like the good old American classic yellow butter cake with chocolate frosting? This is a go to cake to bake for birthdays. It is easy to whip up and it is sturdy enough to travel to any location in your cake carrier. Best of all it is old fashioned goodness; solid, buttery cake with creamy, rich chocolate frosting. The smell when you bake it is so full that you feel you are eating the cake when you inhale. Could you imagine being in the house when this cake is baked, knowing you won’t get to eat it?! Having children and baking for an occasion in which they may not partake is not easy. Recently, this was the case because a coworker was having a birthday. “Are you making that for us?” is a question you are bound to hear when this happens. Guilt washes over as a mumbled... Read the Rest →

 

easy desserts & recipes: yellow butter mini cake

Who doesn’t like the good old American classic yellow butter cake with chocolate frosting? This is a go to cake to bake for birthdays. It is easy to whip up and it is sturdy enough to travel to any location in your cake carrier. Best of all it is old fashioned goodness; solid, buttery cake with creamy, rich chocolate frosting. The smell when you bake it is so full that you feel you are eating the cake when you inhale. Could you imagine being in the house when this cake is baked, knowing you won’t get to eat it?! Having children and baking for an occasion in which they may not partake is not easy. Recently, this was the case because a coworker was having a birthday. “Are you making that for us?” is a question you are bound to hear when this happens. Guilt washes over as a mumbled... Read the Rest →

 

appetizers & recipes: flexibility of maki sushi

Maki Sushi is a no-nonsense and all-business type of dish. What you see is what you get, but what you should always expect and look for is the quality and freshness of the ingredients used. Sushi is considered to be a popular Japanese viand that is composed of rice mixed with vinegar, sweet mirin and other ingredients. There are several variations of sushi presentation; the most common is made with seafood. The origins of sushi were first developed in Southeast Asia and spread to China and finally reaching Japan. The work sushi literally means “sour tasting” from an ancient archaic form of language. The vinegar used is from fermented rice that breaks down the proteins in the fish and turns it into amino acids, resulting in the unique taste that develops which is called Unami in Japanese. The modern version of sushi that we enjoy today was developed by Hanaya... Read the Rest →

 

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