Posts by The Katz Tales
KOHLRABI SLAW
One of my favorite things to do is wander through our weekend greenmarket. I like to pick up unusual vegetables and figure out what to do with them. Kohlrabi, with its weird tentacles, is one of those challenging vegetables I just can’t resist. It’s part of thecabbage family, so it’s perfect for grating, and it…
Read MoreFIVE INGREDIENT MARINATED SKIRT STEAK
I’m not a huge red meat fan, but when I do eat it, I tend towards the cheaper cuts. If you marinate it, skirt steak is pretty hard to screw up. Because it’s such a thin cut, it holds the flavors of the marinade throughout, even if you over cook it. But try not to…
Read MoreTHE SPICE MARKET
It took me over four months to discover the most incredible spice market on full display just three blocks from my flat. I had been living and working in Singapore, but was so busy that I would often eat or pick up groceries near my office, rather than my own neighborhood. On a rare day…
Read MoreSTRAWBERRY MARGARITA
Sometimes the easiest things are the best. If you’ve got some ripe strawberries that are begging to be used, try this simple margarita. Just make sure you’ve got your Uber account up-to-date. No driving after downing one of these. INGREDIENTS 6 large (or 12 small) strawberries, de-stemmed and rough chopped 4 oz tequila 2 oz…
Read MoreDIM SUM DISASTER
There’s nothing better than a hot, steaming char siu bao to start the day. I’ve written about my love for them before, having consumed my fair share of these delectable barbecue pork buns while living in Singapore. It was common for me to pick one up with a cup of kopi on the way to…
Read MoreMARY’S GUACAMOLE
My next-door neighbor, Mary, makes the best guacamole in all of Brooklyn. It’s always perfect and no matter how many times I’ve made it, it’s never as good as hers. I think it’s a salt and cumin ratio issue. I tend to have a light hand when it comes to spices, but Mary is fearless.…
Read MoreLINK BY LINK
For years I’ve been passing by the local Polish butcher shop in my neighborhood. Through the window I could see long links of sausages dangling above the counter waiting for a chance to enhance a soup or stew. I could hear the Polish-speaking customers ordering oddly named meats as the men behind the counter wrapped…
Read MoreSIMPLE SALAD
I never think of myself as a great salad maker. Somehow I never get the oil and vinegar ratio quite right. This recipe, inspired by Patricia Wells’ Cheesemaker Salad, uses cream instead of oil, which gives it a lighter and richer flavor. I serve it with mixed greens, but you can substitute spinach or your…
Read MoreDAN’S HULI HULI CHICKEN
Although a Hawaiian Huli-Huli Chicken is often marinated with brown sugar, ginger and soy, I like Dan’s twist using molasses, orange juice, and chipotles. To me, the test of a good Huli-Huli Chicken is that you can’t stop eating it. And there are never any leftovers with Dan’s version. Huli means turn, and although you…
Read MoreTAKE 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…
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