Posts by The Katz Tales
MARY’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.…
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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…
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…
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