Posts by The Katz Tales
ZEPPOLES
Whenever there is a street fair in town, I go on the hunt for Zeppoles. I purposely wear a dark t-shirt just so I can get it covered with sugar dust. I want people to know I am a Zeppole aficionado. But, there just aren’t enough street fairs each year to satisfy my cravings, so…
Read MoreMOM’S RUGELACH
My mom is not much of a cook and she’ll be the first to admit it. But, thanks to her sweet tooth, there are a few things she can bake. Her repertoire is small, but the few things she does make are top notch. Although this recipe first came to her through a German friend,…
Read MoreDULCE DE LECHE PROFITEROLES
Profiteroles are one of my favorite desserts. Whenever we’re in a French bistro, I look at the dessert menu first just to make sure they have them. Over the years, I’ve put my own spin on them, reserving the right to make them with any ice cream of my choosing. Feel free to substitute your…
Read MoreMAPLE ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
My mother ruined Brussels sprouts for me. I grew up thinking they were boring, flavorless, little mushy cabbages because she boiled them into submission. It wasn’t until I tried one in a restaurant that I discovered the joy of eating those well-seasoned, slightly charred al dente buds. Once discovered, I’ve tried them in a variety…
Read MoreSMOKED BASMATI COCONUT RICE
I love food markets—the more exotic, the better. Wherever I travel, one of my first trips is always to the local market. Luckily, here in New York, we have a few markets that seem to carry whatever obscure ingredient you can imagine. One of my favorite places to shop aimlessly is Kalustyan’s on Lexington Avenue.…
Read MoreRATATOUILLE
We’re big Pixar fans in our house, so when the movie Ratatouille came out, I wanted to figure out how to re-create the famous dish Remy makes for that harshest of food critics, Anton Ego. Although ratatouille is actually a very simple comfort dish made with whatever vegetables come from the garden, the addition of…
Read MoreSALMON POKE BURGERS
I try to eat salmon at least once a week to make sure I get some Omega-3 fat in my system. It seems to be the only fat that’s good for you, so my hope is that it will seek out all the other fats and scare them away. I’ve broiled salmon, poached it, stir-fried…
Read MoreTORTELLONI CARBONARA
Once I’m home for the day, the bra comes off and the fuzzy slippers go on. It takes a lot to motivate me to go out again. So if I haven’t shopped for dinner or I’ve been spending too much money on pizza delivery, we could be left with cereal for dinner. Of course, since…
Read MoreSEAFOOD PAELLA
Everyone needs a great party dish and one of my favorites is seafood paella. One bite transports me to the Spanish seaside town of Torremolinos where I not only had my first taste of paella, but also one magical evening on the back of a motorcycle with a guy named Enrico. But that’s another story.…
Read MoreNO-KNEAD CHEESE BREAD
Whenever we go to visit my in-laws just north of Chicago, we always make a trip to Kenosha, Wisconsin, just to go to the Mars Cheese Castle. It’s this wonderfully tacky, fake castle just off the highway that sells everything from cheese curds to authentic Danish Kringles. My husband is addicted to their cheddar cheese…
Read MoreSALMON ROULADE
My husband and I practically live at the sushi bar across the street. We’ve spent countless hours watching Osamu, the owner and chef, prepare hundreds of pieces of sushi and rolls. Although I’m reluctant to make raw fish rolls on my own, knowing full well they’ll never be as good as Osamu’s, watching him inspired…
Read MoreBURRATA IN THE GARDEN
Every summer we plant an urban vegetable garden on our roof deck. Depending upon the year, we’ve had some success, particularly if we beat the squirrels to our harvest. But by far, the most consistent and tastiest crops are our cherry tomatoes. We plant all different kinds and sizes. I like using small, sweet tomatoes…
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