Posts by The Katz Tales
CAPRESE SALAD
Quality ingredients make all the difference in a dish. And the better the ingredients, the less you have to fuss with them. Take a classic dish like Caprese Salad. It’s simple—fresh slices of tomato, fresh slices of mozzarella, some basil, oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. Easy peasy, right? But think about the difference in…
Read MoreOVEN BAKED BABY BACK RIBS
Recently, I was having guests over for a barbecue, but I could see the weather wasn’t going to cooperate. So I knew that ribs could go either way — cooked on the grill or in the oven. The weather gods decided that I had only one choice, so in the oven they went. I have…
Read MoreSAUSAGE, POTATOES & MUSHROOMS
I had a few grilled sausages leftover from a barbecue, so I thought they’d be good with some potatoes and mushrooms. I used kielbasa, but any cooked sausage should work, so use your favorite. INGREDIENTS (serves 4) 4 dried Chinese mushrooms ½ cup mushroom water ¼ cup olive oil 1 lb Yukon gold potatoes, cut…
Read MoreQUICK ROASTED GARLIC BREAD
Lately I’ve noticed a lot of recipes using cottage cheese in bread and cake batters to lighten the dish. I thought I’d give it a shot and try a quick bread. The only thing that really takes much time is waiting for the garlic to roast. Other than that, you can have fresh bread in…
Read MoreGRILLED TURKEY THIGHS
Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving. I love to make it year-round. We’re dark meat lovers in our family, so I buy bone-in thighs for the grill. Marinated and grilled just right, they come out juicy and delicious. Plus the leftovers are great to slice up for sandwiches. You get a lot of bang for your…
Read MoreCHOCOLATE MOCHA CUPS
My husband makes a wonderful chocolate silk pie that has a graham cracker crust, but we were having guests that had gluten issues, so he pivoted to this chocolate mocha cup idea. It was perfect for a big party we were giving, and everyone loved them. If you’re looking for what to serve them in,…
Read MoreHAMBURGER CASSEROLE
Whenever I make burgers for myself and my husband, I’ll often make more than I know we’ll eat just so I can use the leftovers in something else. It’s a great way to save time and not waste food. This is a very simple recipe, but it packs a lot of flavor. It works with…
Read MoreSWORDFISH KEBABS
I love quick and easy and this dish is perfect for a July 4th celebration. It makes for a fun presentation and is always a crowd pleaser. I like to use swordfish because it’s a firm, tasty fish that won’t fall apart when you turn the skewers. INGREDIENTS (serves 3) 1 lb fresh swordfish 3…
Read MoreASPARAGUS & ORZO
Asparagus was on sale this week, so I grabbed a few bunches. I thought they’d be great in a risotto, but I was too lazy to stand and stir, so I opted to use orzo instead. It worked out perfectly. This is a great dish for a starter or a main course. INGREDIENTS (serves 6)…
Read MoreICE CREAM BOMBE CAKE
In my family, it isn’t a birthday without an ice cream cake. For years we relied on Carvel and then eventually upped our game to Haagen Daaz for those special occasions. They certainly do a fine job, but one year my husband was determined to customize it especially for me. And boy, he came up…
Read MoreFRENCH 75
When it comes to cocktails, I go through phases. When I was younger, I loved a strong Mai Tai, but now I find them too sweet. For a bit, I was obsessed with ice cold martinis, but now I seem to pay for them in the morning. Lately, I’ve been leaning into the French 75.…
Read MoreWHITE BEAN CHILI
Here’s a nice variation on the classic chili dish. I love the corn flavor the pozole adds to the dish, not to mention a nice kick from a poblano pepper and some chipotles. It’s got just enough heat to make you feel it in the back of your throat without having to reach for any…
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