Sirloin Cheese Burger with Yam Fries & Salad
This dish was inspired by my favorite burger from a place called Zaitzeff. Their burgers are delicious, but what really makes them special are the Portuguese buns that they use. I have looked long and hard for these buns, twice finding substandard versions. A few days ago I finally found them at Citarella and so came to be this very “summery” dish in the middle of winter. It was perfect… I just can’t wait until I... [Read More...]
Cucumber Farro Risotto with Steamed Salmon
Farro is a whole wheat that is usually found dry and then cooked like a pasta. I can’t possibly explain how much I love this little grain and how often I use it as its applications are somewhat endless. If you are someone who has never tried farro, I plead with you to try it. It is so delicious. Farro has incredible flavor and texture and can be eaten cold or hot. While it is a healthy ingredient, it doesn’t taste “healthy”.... [Read More...]
Grown-Up Fish Sandwich with Scallion Aioli
What a wonderful sandwich! I really enjoyed this. Its a fried sea bass patty on a potato onion bap topped with endive, radish, avocado, and onions with a scallion aioli spread. The flavors and textures were delicious. And while it’s an enormous sandwich, my taste buds were saying “more” when there was none left. It was a year ago that I found a recipe for fish sticks with a ramp aioli in Food and Wine Magazine by Shea Gallante.... [Read More...]
Sole Meuniere with Avocado Salad
This is a very healthy dish that literally takes 15 minutes start to finish. In fact, its one of those recipes where there isn’t a need to follow the recipe. Read it once, and you’ll be able to make it over and over again. It has incredibly well rounded flavors, and while it’s light, it very filling. This is one of my favorite week-night dinners. The sole recipe is from Ina Garten. I have added the avocado salad myself and found... [Read More...]
Roasted Salmon Nicoise Platter
Ladies Lunch (cont.) … As I discussed earlier, yesterday I had lunch at my friend, Christina Sethi’s, house. Our other friend Amanda was there as well, and we had a wonderful day of cooking and eating. While we were all baking, Christina made this beautiful lunch for us. It is an Ina Garten recipe and its simplicity truly let all of the ingredients shine. The marinade on the salmon made it pop and the champagne vinaigrette was a... [Read More...]
Avocado & Salmon Stack
It was lunchtime and the avocados in my kitchen were perfectly ripe. I wanted to make something light for my husband and I to eat, and after thinking for a little, I came up with this stack. Its incredibly simple. You can have it for lunch or as an appetizer. It can even be a canopy if made in a smaller size. Avocado and Salmon Stacks by Natalie of the BITES site 1 avocado ¼ lb smoked salmon 2 pieces bread (whole wheat or bread of choice) ½... [Read More...]
Shrimp & Scallop Wonton Soup
I would have never thought I would be able to make Wonton soup myself. I have always loved wonton soup - well from Chinese Take-Out, but home-made… That never crossed my mind! It was from an episode of the Take Home Chef on TLC with Chef Curtis Stone that I stumbled onto what seemed to be a good recipe. Would I end up getting in way over my head? Not exactly. In fact, these tiny little delectable food purses are indeed somewhat easy to make.... [Read More...]
Tandoori Hamachi with Pickled Cucumber Salad
Part of learning how to cook, is of course, making it practical for my day to day life. You’ll notice that most of the time, I am cooking recipes that are fairly easy to make. Through this learning process, I have realized that in order for something to taste really really good, it does not have to be entirely complex in its preparation and creation. The other part to this is that it doesn’t have to be entirely unhealthy either. It seems... [Read More...]
Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado Coulis
My friend, Christina, made this dish for me. I was able to watch her cook it, and once I took my first bite, I had to have the recipe. This is the quintessential dinner party dish - it is unbelievably easy to make, most of it can be made/prepared in advance, it has a beautiful presentation and presence, and of course most importantly, it is so so yummy… you’ll find yourself eating very slowly just to make it all last longer (does there have... [Read More...]
