Posts by The Katz Tales
BACKYARD PASTA SALAD
So you’ve been invited to your neighbor’s house for a backyard barbecue and they’ve asked you to bring a side. You’re tired of making salads that no one eats, and want something that won’t spoil quickly in the heat. Ah ha! How about a pasta salad? You’ve got tons of tomatoes and cucumbers in your…
Read MoreGOAT CHEESE AND DRIED FRUIT DIP
It’s always good to have a great hors d’oeuvre to set out while people begin to gather. This has proven to be a great crowd pleaser and I can just set it out and forget about it. You can even make most of it a day ahead and just leave the baking part for right…
Read MoreINDIAN SPICED COD
After having a blow-out weekend of way too much food and wine, I wanted to dial it back for dinner tonight. I always put fish in the “not evil” category, but my husband and I have very different preferences when it comes to fish. I’m not a huge fan of firm white fish—which he likes—but…
Read MoreEMPTY THE FRIDGE SALAD
If you’ve been following my blog, you might notice a theme that runs through many of my recipes—I hate to waste food. And with the cost of fresh produce skyrocketing, it pains me to have to throw away things that might be a tad close to the edge. My solution—stir fry leftover veggies, throw in…
Read MoreSIMPLE SUNDAES
I don’t know about you, but I have a boatload of people coming over for the holiday and I’m running out of time to get things ready. Here’s a really simple idea for dessert that celebrates the day and gives you time to actually enjoy it. INGREDIENTS (Serves 6) 2 pints vanilla ice cream 1…
Read MoreCREAMY CHICKEN AND ORZO
I love one-pot dishes and this is one of my favorites. It’s great cooking the orzo in with all of the other ingredients so that the flavors really meld with the pasta. It’s a great dish for company, or even for a mid-week quick dinner. And the leftovers are even better the next day. INGREDIENTS…
Read MoreSAUTEED CHINESE GREENS
I’ve become obsessed with Chinese greens. I often find myself wandering around the produce section in Asian markets or Chinatowns trying to figure out what to do with all the glorious exotic vegetables. My particular favorites are the choy family; choy sum, gai choy, bok choy, yu choy and ong choy—all variations on greens, some…
Read MoreLATKE ENCRUSTED COD
I know what you’re thinking, this is a weird one, right? Well, why should latkes be just for Hanukkah? I was planning on making a simple fried fish dinner when the light bulb went off—why not try to encrust the fish in grated potatoes and onion and then fry it? The coating came out nice…
Read MoreA GRAND MARGARITA
When it’s hot outside, there’s nothing like a good old frozen margarita to take the temperature down a few notches. Here’s a refreshing take on one that uses Grand Marnier rather than triple sec. I find it gives the drink a touch more elegance. I always drink mine without a salted rim, but feel free…
Read MoreMATZO BREI WITH PECANS
For those celebrating Passover, the one consolation of giving up all that bread for a week is having an excuse to make Matzo Brei. This egg/matzo omelet is a sweet treat when doused in copious amounts of maple syrup. People will argue about the egg to matzo ratio, but it really depends on how you…
Read MoreASIAN MARKET SOUP
Like most New Yorkers, I’m used to small grocery stores where you have to back your cart out of the aisle if someone is coming towards you looking for peanut butter. So, when I’m in the burbs, I’m always astonished by the sheer volume of food on the shelves, not to mention the wide aisles…
Read MoreRAZOR CLAMS
One of my favorite seafood treats is the razor clam. They’re tough to find, although your local Chinatown fishmonger might have a stash somewhere. Whenever I see them I grab them and make this simple dish. It’s full of flavor and has a really nice kick for those of you that are chili heads. INGREDIENTS…
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