Recipes

Poutine And Football. A Match Made In Heaven.

Posted on 4 October 2018
in Pure Comfort Food
by Bob

I would like to note: THE NATIONAL DISH OF CANADA IS NOT RACHEL MCADAMS – It’s poutine. I know. This is exactly what I don’t need. Another type of comfort food. For those of you who aren’t aware, poutine (pronounced poo teen) is a gloppy snack which consists of French fries, gravy, and melted cheese curds, and it’s absolutely died-and-gone-to-heaven good. McDonalds sells it in Canada. And in several lists of the ten greatest Canadian inventions, it came in ahead of the electron microscope, the Blackberry, and the paint roller….

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Halibut For The Hell Of It

Posted on 16 June 2018
in Fish and Seafood Selections
by Bob

A Great Fish Selection      If you’re looking for a white fish that won’t fall apart in the skillet, and one that also tastes great, try halibut. The meat is low-fat, has a nice clean taste, and it requires little seasoning. It’s oftentimes hard to find, and it’s always pricey when its compared to other fish. Halibut is my favorite. We think of it as a rare treat, but it’s oh, so worth it.      When purchasing the filets, I ask for larger pieces cut from the center of the fish. And I…

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The British Serve Cucumber Sandwiches To Avoid A Sticky Wicket

Posted on 13 June 2018
in Nibbles and Appetizers (The Starters)
by Bob

In the film Moonraker, Hugo Drax asks James Bond, “may I press you to a cucumber sandwich?”      Are you looking for something to serve in the tea breaks at your club’s cricket matches? Or perhaps you would like to offer your guests a light mid-afternoon snack? You might also be looking for a nice addition to a picnic and a luncheon.      The answer: serve cucumber sandwiches. They are, of course, very British, and modern variants (largely of American origin) exist, involving cream cheese. Also, chopped dill or spices, brown bread,…

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Colatura di Alici

Spaghetti alla Colatura di Alici

Posted on 7 June 2018
in Pure Comfort Food
by Bob

I’ve never particularly liked anchovies. To me they are great in small amounts, such as when I make a Caesar salad. But if I am faced with a pizza with those furry strips decorating the top, I will select the piece with the fewest anchovies. Liquid Gold    In several of my recent readings, they made references to colatura di alici (a fish sauce made from anchovies). One article in Slate actually had the heading “The Italian Anchovy Juice That Might Change Your Life.” Well, that sounded intriguing, so I decided to…

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shrimp

The Shrimp Cocktail – A Retro Favorite

Posted on 7 March 2018
in Fish and Seafood Selections
by Bob

“Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. There’s, um, shrimp ka-bobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. . . That’s, that’s about it.” – Mykelti Williamson The Appetizer Of All Appetizers      Mykelti, you failed to mention the Classic Shrimp Cocktail. Of all of the ways to serve shrimp, it is my favorite. It basically is…

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bites

Cranberry Brie Bites

Posted on 24 February 2018
in Nibbles and Appetizers (The Starters)
by Bob

Bring A Snack To Share      You’ve been invited to a party, and you’ve been asked to bring a snack to share with the others in attendance. What’s a good snack to bring as your offering?     Considerations      We usually stick with the following criteria for a good party snack: We think individual bites are best – something a guest can pick up and put on their plate. Our current go-to snack is Cranberry Brie Bites. We avoid taking snacks that are messy or need to be cut, sliced, or spread at the table prior…

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Meatballs. Sicilian-Style

Posted on 23 February 2018
in Pure Comfort Food
by Bob

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” – Julia Child      I’m not advocating eating pasta three meals a day. I think of pasta as the ultimate in comfort food, and once a week I like to treat myself. And, if I’m going to treat myself to some extra calories, I want it to be over the top. While I absolutely love spaghetti and meatballs, the Sicilian Meatball recipe featured in Men’s Journal (March 2018, page 24) is just the…

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Marrow

Bone Marrow Roasted

Posted on 22 February 2018
in Nibbles and Appetizers (The Starters)
by Bob

     Bone Marrow. For years now, nutritionists have been touting the benefits of consuming bone marrow in our diets. Claims have been made that it builds immunity, aids in digestion and wound repair, and even helps fight cancer.      It’s considered a culinary delicacy, but it’s been around long enough that it no longer has vogue status. It’s becoming more and more common to find bone marrow listed on menus, usually as an appetizer. Yuck!      And when you see it, it’s not terribly appetizing. It’s a soft and mushy…

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clams

Linguine with White Clam Sauce

Posted on 28 January 2018
in Pure Comfort Food, Recipes
by Bob

Quick and Easy      Linguine with a white clam sauce – sounds difficult, right? Not really. This is one of those quick meals you can prepare on the spur of the moment. If you have your act together, you can have this on the table and ready to go in about 40 minutes.      There is not a long list of ingredients. Garlic, shallots, and white wine are usually part of what you will have available in your kitchen. I have added linguine, cans of whole baby clams, and parmigiano…

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Chain-gang

Georgia Chain Gang Chili

Posted on 14 January 2018
in Pure Comfort Food, Recipes
by Bob

Now What?      When you find yourself lying on a bunk in the big house, and the only appointment you have scheduled in the next 20 years (to life) is with the Georgia Department of Corrections, you realize you’re going to have lots of free time on your hands. So, what’s the plan?      You can volunteer to work in the kitchen and hone your culinary skills. I don’t know if this is Hy Abernathy’s story or not, but given the name of this chili, I’m sure it must have chain-gang roots…

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