Posts by The Katz Tales
TAKE THE LEAP
One day while visiting Queenstown, New Zealand, I could swear I saw pterodactyls flying over the skylight in my shower. Granted, without my glasses I’m fairly blind, but there was something huge hovering overhead watching me soap up. As it turned out, I was in the flight path of landing paragliders. As they swooped down…
Read MoreQUATTRO COLORE FARFALLE IN VODKA SAUCE
One of the downsides of my passion for fancy food markets is coming home with a bag of unusual ingredients that I end up sticking in the back of my pantry only to throw out five years later when I get the urge to purge. But I did manage to salvage a bag of four-color…
Read MoreAsian Black Bean and Asparagus Salad
I’m a big Costco fan. Knowing that I’m getting a bargain by buying in bulk is very satisfying, even if that means I have to convert my coat closet into an overflow food pantry. One day, behind the thirty rolls of toilet paper and eleven remaining paper towel rolls, I found an eight-pack of black…
Read MoreSHRIMP LAKSA
One of my favorite Singaporean treats is a steaming bowl of Laksa. It’s a spicy noodle soup that is made throughout Southeast Asia with each country having it’s own spin on it. People will argue for hours over which version is the best, but my vote always goes to this classic Singaporean recipe. To make…
Read MoreSALSA FOR WIMPS
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, here’s a fun recipe from my book, GETTING SAUCED. I had the great pleasure of working with Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken on a special for Food Network. While we were scouting, Susan took me down to the Grand Central Market in downtown LA and insisted I buy…
Read MoreKATSUDON
I find Japanese cuisine to be one of the most difficult to master. The flavors are often so subtle that you really need to balance them perfectly. But that doesn’t stop me from trying. In Japan, Katsudon is not one of the more high-end dishes. It’s actually a comfort food that is almost as popular…
Read MoreKICKED UP THROWBACK COOKIE BARS
Some people call these “Hello Dolly Cookies.” The gang at Eagle Brand calls them “Magic Cookie Bars.” I call them just plain delicious. I’m sure many a mom had these waiting for their kids after school. They are classics with a great combination of textures and flavors thanks to the condensed milk and candy morsels.…
Read MoreEASTER DINNER RACK OF LAMB
Are you thinking about serving lamb for Easter? How about this simple rack of lamb? Rack of lamb can be expensive but try your local Costco. I promise — I’m not getting a kick back from them. Their lamb is grass-fed from New Zealand and it won’t break the bank. It’s a little fattier than…
Read MoreCHEESY BACON POTATO CAKE
Potatoes are having a moment of celebrity thanks to Stephen Colbert’s “Is potato” joke. And why shouldn’t we celebrate them? They are easy to grow, nutritious, inexpensive and delicious when fried, baked, or mashed. I’m always looking for new ways to use them, so here’s my take on a cheesy bacon potato cake. I’ll admit,…
Read MoreMUSHROOM CHICKEN STEW
For those nights when I want something hearty, but I don’t want to fuss too much, I like this one-pot recipe. Mushrooms are always a huge hit in my house and I’m always looking for something new to do with chicken, so I came up with this mushroom chicken stew recipe. It’s great paired with…
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