August 2008
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Moroccan Spiced Pork Chops with Pluot Sauce
This is an impressive main course to serve to guests (ours were Angie and Scott). The pretty pink sauce is fruity and tangy, a perfect balance for the spicy pork. What's even better about this recipe is that most of the work can be done ahead of time.Moroccan Spiced Pork Chops with Pluot Sauce -
Oxtail Goulash and Spaetzle
I love beef oxtails and try to use it in any beef recipe I can (see my Oxtail and Linguine recipe). It works especially well for soups and stews because the bones give off so much flavor to the liquid. My latest oxtail conquest is Goulash, a Hungarian stew, which Lon grew up with. This is an easy dish that doesn't require too much work, but it does require inactive time. As I sat, waiting for it to finish cooking, I started ... -
Chioggia Beets
Beets are mostly commonly seen in that deep red color that's very sexy. You've probably encountered the golden ones too, a pretty and cheery yellow. Have you seen the Chioggia Beets? From the outside, they look just like other beets, but a lighter red. -
Sushi Yasuda #19
Can you believe it? The 19th visit to Sushi Yasuda marks the first time we did not try a new piece of fish that we had never had before. I'm pretty sure we will still be educated on new pieces in the future, but this visit, I got to concentrate on asking for some notable pieces that I was dying to have again. I do get Peace Passage Oyster every single time I go. It is my absolute favorite piece, without a doubt. You have to try it! ... -
Raspberry Swirl Brownies
A little less than a year ago, I left my last office job (ever, I hope). I haven't really kept in touch with my old co-workers, but oddly, I am still good friends with the office that was down the hall. The small boutique office of Signature Bank was just the coolest little group that I really enjoyed eating lunch with almost daily. I went back to visit them yesterday, had lunch with Anthony, but of course I had to bring them s... -
Lunch at Zeytuna
I've been to Zeytuna before, but this was my first time sitting on the cafe side, with service and a full menu. My friend Anthony and I thought the prices were quite reasonable considering the outdoor seating in such a location Zeytuna. It was a bright and sunny day, and the umbrellas over the cafe were red, creating a red hue in all my pictures.I was... -
Lon's Birthday Basket: Honey Habanero Grilling Sauce
I was out all yesterday afternoon, looking at apartments (yes, still looking), so dinner had to be simple. Luckily, we had this Braswel...
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Pluot Torte
I bought a large amount of beautiful Dinosaur Eggs (or Pluots) and decided to try baking some. I figured I wouldn't find an exact recipe for these so I just took a plum torte recipe, adjusted, and hoped for the best. It's a little tart, very pretty, and almost too easy to make. Save this one for when you're in a time crunch....
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Tal Bagels: Cheese Pie
Kasi and I stopped in at Tal Bagels Tal Bagels for coffee and a snack. We didn't have bagels though, after noticing this Cheese Pie. Remember the Spinach one I had in Greece? -
Lon's Birthday Basket: Crisp Baked Crackers and Pomegranate Blueberry Sparkling Lemonade
Lon has made it clear to his family, never to buy him a present unless it's edible. He hates clutter and is particular about clothing. He generally just wants to prevent his family from wasting money on stuff he'll likely throw away. This year, his mom and brother put together a basket of interesting foods so we're kicking it off with two items:... -
Yellowfin Un-Salad Nicoise
I happened to have tuna, string beans, and potatoes and I thought, perfect for a Nicoise. But, I wasn't excited. Nicoise is pretty boring. So here's my anti-Nicoise, still healthy, but a little Asian influence thrown in for fun. It's actually three different dishes assembled together to make a yummy dinner. Each is very easy on it's own. They key is to time it out for all three to be ready at once. -
Strawberry Poppy Muffins
This is what happens when you think about food so much, your wires get crossed. I just picked up some strawberries from my local fruit guys and started thinking about a strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing. In the back of my mind, I had been thinking about mini-muffin tin, that hasn't been used in months. I had been trying not to use it, afraid I would bore you all with my mini obsession. Somehow Straw... -
Inside the Despana Basket: Assorted Cata Gourmet Honeys
These cute little jars of Cata Gourmet honeys came in our Despana Basket. One was Heather Honey, which I didn't open yet, but we tried the Chestnut Honey with Walnuts and the Chestnut Honey with Hazelnuts.Soba with Spicy Tofu and Edamame
This recipe has been swimming around in my head for a while, editing back and forth, with nothing written down. I finally let it materialize and I'm very happy with it. Even Mr. Soba-hater, Lon, gave me the thumbs up. It's really refreshing and perfect for summer so make sure to try it before fall comes around.Coney Island on a Saturday Morning
What were you doing yesterday (Saturday) at 6:15am? I hope sleeping... because the alternative is, well, um, not sleeping. And that's what we were doing. In fact, we were driving down to Coney Island, so Jessica could jump in the water with other Team in Training Triathalon Trainees (plus coaches, lifeguards, and others). Me and Ice (our dog) went with Jessica to cheer her on. Ice also joined in on half of the 45 minute run after the swim.Dinner: Mustard Thick-Cut Chops, Sauteed Mushrooms and Green Beans, Colorful Bruschetta, and Roasted Fingerlings with Manchego Walnut Pesto
This dinner was all about simplicity. Every preparation was easy and the highlight is the ingredients. When you're using really good meat, ultra fresh vegetables, and super vinegars, oils, etc. you don't need to get fancy. Let the ingredients do all the work.Ready for the easiest recipe ever?Mustard Thick-Cut Chops- 2 thick-cut (1 1/2" thick) boneless chops
- 5 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- salt and peppe">
Blueberry Crumb Cake
It's Friday so I decided to make myself a treat. OK, fine, I make dessert close to daily but who's counting? (Actually, our scale is and he's telling me to stop it asap.) Not feeling creative today, so I just pulled out my trusty Perfect Cakes...
Inside the Despana Basket: Valor Dark Chocolate with Toffee
Sushi Yasuda #18
Can you believe it's been 3 weeks since the last visit to Sushi Yasuda. How ever did I live through that? I don't know, but we did made sure to make reservations for next week on our way out. I wonder if Chef Tomura has gotten more popular because of our blog because it has gotten harder to get reservations with him.Well, distance makes the heart grow fonder, and as Lon, Sara, and I sat there enjoying the sushi, we oo'd ...Chorizo Manchego Olive Corn Muffins
Not only was our Despana Basket an amazing assortment, there was a generous portion of each item, enough for us to really experiment with. I was sitting here trying to figure out what else I could make with all these great ingredients and I decided on savory muffins: Chorizo Manchego Olive Corn Muffins....Haw Flakes
I saw Haw Flakes in a Chinese market on Monday and I was instantly brought back to childhood. These were the candies I ate and shared with friends, while playing jump rope and tag in the school yard. I'd often have a little package or two stuck in my pockets, sometimes melting into a gooey mess during hot summer days. How could I have forgotten about Haw Flakes?Arturo's Pizza
While babysitting our adorable niece, Sabrina, we ordered pizza from Arturo's Pizza Arturo's Pizza, not to be confused with the more famous one on Houston Street. Bearing no resemblance, this large pie, half plain, half sausage was mediocre at best, a tad too salty, but onl...OK 218 is still OK
We wandered in to OK 218 OK 218 for lunch today, and I didn't realize it was that restaurant till we got inside. I ha...
Cool in Your Code Says "Hi"
We're excited to be featured today on "Cool in Your Code". Being a geek, I first thought their...Breakfast Trifle
Lon's mom and brother got us 10 ounce mini trifle dishes. So instead of throwing yogurt and fruit in a bowl, like I've been doing most mornings, I decided to make a Breakfast Trifle....Steakhouse Dinner at Home
When I make shopping trips out to Queens, my mom always does me the favor of driving me and my load back to my apartment. Since she's making the drive to the city, I figure it's a good opportunity for her to have dinner at our place. Conveniently, my dad and brother can come after work and join us. The only problem is that these are meals that we have to whip up very quickly. We usually arrive, unpack, and have dinner within 30 minutes.I usually don't write about these meals because ...Trader Joe's Authentic Greek Feta
As much as I love most of Trader Joe's products, I was pretty disappointed in their Authentic Greek Feta. Not only did it NOT taste like any of the feta I had in Greece, it doesn't taste like anything, just salty. There is no flavor. Thumbs Down!Don't Burn the Food!
While first learning to cook, I burnt food on a fairly regular basis. And I've heard from many home cooks that they still run into the occasional burnt food crisis. It can happen to the best of us -- all it requires is a bit of heat and taking your eye off the pan for a bit too long. As I've become more practiced, burning food has become almost a non-issue. But it almost happened this morning, and I saved my dish in the last moments. So I thought I'd jot a few notes down not so much about ...Mexicana Mama Centro
Mexicana Mama Centro Mexicana Mama Centro opened up a few blocks from us, and became a last minute resort for dinner when our plans changed. We grabbed one of the three little tables outside and enjoyed the perfect weather this evening, starting with a Salsa Piquin<...Inside the Despana Basket: Oro Verde
We got two cans of Oro Verde (green olives) in our Despana Basket, one stuffed with pimiento and one stuffed with almond.
Th...Red, White, and Blue Pie
Have you been watching the Olympics? Wow, Michael Phelps rocks! Our beach volleyball teams look pretty hot too. So I'm feeling pretty patriotic and I decided to make a Red, White, and Blue Pie. If you're one of those people who needs an excuse to eat dessert, I just threw you a new one: it's the Olympics and you have to celebrate that with this pie! You could always wait till the next 4th of July, but you'll regret it....Camembert Super Sale
Quick! Run over to Zabar's Zabar's! The La Bonne Vie Camembert, an 8 oz package, is on sale for 79 cents!! (Thanks Carol, f...
How to Use Oil to Fix a Leek
No... we haven't become a mechanic blog, this post is about making Fried Leek Rings. A few years ago I saw Alton Brown make some delicious looking Leek Rings. I was inspired, but never got around to making them myself, until this week!Jessica picked up some beautiful leeks from the Union Square Farmer's market, and asked me to make dinner last night, wh...Red Cabbage Relish-ish
I bought a package of Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage from Trader Joe's. They were giving it out on my last visit and I guess I was sold. (That doesn't happen to me often. ) After lugging the groceries back to our apartment, I found Lon sitting at his computer. Apparently their office had an Internet outage so he was home. Yay! It's always more fun to make lunch for two.I wanted to make a cabbage relish to go with the sausages but I didn't want it to be so potent that you couldn't eat mo...Pizza Potato Snack from China
My friend, Lily, the same one who brought me the individually packaged chicken and duck feet, brought me a bag of Pizza Potato Snacks (the name I gave it, interpreted from the portions of the packaging I could understand).Inside the Despana Basket: Pimientos in Olive Oil and Quick Chicken Chorizo Rice
I didn't realize until I opened this jar of Pimientos, from our Despana Basket, that it was packed in olive oil. I normally buy the ones jarred with brine. The olive oil does add a bit of flavor and the fat coats your tongue nicely if eaten alone. I'm not sure it makes a big difference when cooked in a rice dish. It certainly doesn't hurt though.<...Elettaria
Months ago, Angie and Winnie went to Elettaria Elettaria, ordered too much food, and decided to bring their doggie bag to us. From then on, Elettaria has been on our restaurant wish list but you know how that goes. If only there were 8 meals in a day....Well, waiting so long is our loss. It was a memorable meal, where excellent ingredients and expert execution, was outshine...Green Tea Pound Cake
To follow up with my post on Maeda-en Matcha (Green Tea Powder), I used it today to make a Green Tea Pound Cake. Nick Malgieri's recipe (from Perfect Cakes) calls for 2 tablespoons, roughly half of the $10 container. As opposed to the outstanding green tea ice cream, I don't think the expensive green tea is worth it for pound cake. It doesn't get to shine here. Don't get me wrong; the pound cake is still a nice ...Vegetable Tamago Rolls
Last night, we threw together a bunch of things for dinner but it seemed so carb-heavy. I tried to conjure up a way to add protein and veggies to our meal and somehow this idea came to mind. I loved it so much that I decided to make it again for lunch, tweaking the recipe just a bit to make the rolls a bit smaller, and therefore easier to eat.Vacuum Sealed Drummette, Chicken Feet, and Duck Feet!
My friend, Lily, brought some rather interesting treats back from China for me: packaged meats? They were all individually vacuum sealed, making me wonder if people in China brought these with them as snacks. You could easily toss one in your purse. It could even fit in your pocket.Lon was only willing to try the chicken drummette, which was jerky-like and mostly skin with just a bit of meat. It tasted very artificial, only mildly chicken flavored, and a little like candy.
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Abraco
This tiny unlabeled (well the door is labeled but not the awning) coffee spot called Abraco Abraco had a mini line going on Sunday morning. It reminded me a little bit of Blue Bottle Coffee Co. in San Francisco, with the little counter outside, already filled with people standing around, enjoying their coffees and... -
Almond Crunch French Toast
After experimenting with Almond Crunch French Toast last week, I...
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Inside the Despana Basket: Olive and Artichoke Pates
We got these cool little containers of pate in our Despana Basket: Black Olive, Green Olive, and Artichoke. I broke out some bread and some cheese and called it our appetiz...
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Da Bhang Cafe
I asked Lily to meet me at Da Bhang Cafe Da Bhang Cafe after reading some rave reviews on Yelp. After placing our order, we decided to sit outside, where they have two 2-seaters. It was just too dark inside for the bright and beautiful summer day. (Am I the only person who doesn't enjoy cafes and restaura... -
Inside the Despana Basket: Sugar Almonds
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Chocolate Cheesecake Marbled Cupcakes
I was reading this post on A Southern Grace, and it reminded me of these amazing marbled muffins, sold at a gourmet market near my high school. They called them muffins, but I think it's technically more of an un-frosted cupcake. It's over 10 years since I've had these muffin/cupcakes and the store is no longer there so I decided to make something like it, myself. This recipe uses the c... -
Kopali Organic Mix
I sampled this Kopali Organic Mix at Whole Foods the other day and got kind of hooked. I think of it is as an advanced trail mix. Goji Berries, Cacao Nibs, M...
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Frozen Yogurt at Forty Carrots in Bloomingdale's
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Jianetto's Pizza Truck
A group of us met for lunch by Xiu's office, at Jianetto's Pizza Truck, which I happily found on Midtown Lunch. As recommended, I called (917-287-7241) ahead to place my order, and to check the location (always one on 47th Street between Madison and Park, but sometimes one is on 51st Street between Park and Lex). The service is friendly and competent. I got my order quickly and easily.... -
Lambsquarters
Lambsquarters is such a weird name for a wild green. I spotted it at the Farmer's Market this weekend and grabbed a bunch for $1. The sign...
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Sake Sushi
I road my bike out to Queens yesterday to help Monica with some renovation decisions on her apartment. When it was time for lunch, we didn't know much about the restaurants in the area, so we just did a random pick and ended up at Sake Sushi Sake Sushi. This will be a short post since, it's nothing special, just your average cheap, local Japanese place.The lunch ... -
Tuna Sliders
A long time ago, Angie and I had lunch at Perry Street and the only memorable dish was a Blue Fin Tuna Burger. I've been wanting to recreate it, or at least a simplified version of it. It took me more than 8 months but it was worth the wait. ... -
Home Fried Potatoes and a Cousins' Brunch
My cousins came for brunch today and I asked Lon to make (and write the recipe) for Home Fried Potatoes. My only requirement was that I wanted him to use tomato paste. We agreed that it was a nice touch, adding both flavor and color to the dish. It turned out pretty spicy too but everyone loved it....
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Trader Joe's Yogurts
We've talked about yogurts a few times: Wallaby Organic Yogurt, Siggi's Skyr, and my all time favorite, Fage 2% yogurt. On Friday night, we were at Trader Joe's and noticed that they had their own line of yogurts. No big surprise but it hadn't occurred to me to go look for it. -
Feasting at Flushing Mall Food Court
Most malls that I have been to have terrible food. They focus on bringing interesting stores and the food courts end up with just McDonald's, Wendy's, Nathan's, Pretzel Time, and Panda Express. Flushing Mall Flushing Mall, did it all backwards. Not many people visit the shady, retail stores, but their food court is always a mob scene, and for good reason: the food is good and cheap!We met up with my cousins at the... -
Kelsae Onion
I stumbled across Kelsae Onions at the Farmer's Market today. They are huge! I put it next to a large regular onion so you can see how big it is. The sign said something like, sweet and great for salads, so I was hoping i...
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Sushi Yasuda #17
Another wonderful evening at Sushi Yasuda, and still getting new pieces to try. Tonight, we had Black Drum Fish (the middle piece), which looks like fish, but has a texture much closer to clam. It had that very nice bounce I like, but there was also a strong tendon running through. -
Chocolate: Good or Evil
This post is not what you think it's about. It's not about how I love chocolate and hate the calories. It's about how my precious but mischievous Jack Russell Terrier scared me to death this morning when I woke up and found that she hard torn open the packaging, and eaten a chocolate chip cookie.As much as I love the taste of chocolate, the smell of chocolate, the versatility and pairings of chocolate, I would look at it with an evil eye for the rest of my life it it hurt my little p...
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