SAUTEED 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 More

LATKE 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 More

A 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 More

MATZO BREI WITH PECANS

Blueberry pancake with syrup topping.

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 More

ASIAN MARKET SOUP

Delicious noodle soup with fried onions.

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 More

RAZOR CLAMS

Here's an alt tag for the image: Delicious razor clams, seasoned and served.

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…

Read More

BUCATINI WITH SHRIMP AND SPINACH SAUCE

A plate of linguine pasta with pesto sauce topped with grilled shrimp and sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese.

I always have my go to pasta sauces, but every now and then I like to experiment. I had an extra bunch of spinach on hand, and I thought I’d play around with it to see if I could turn it into a tasty sauce. This worked on the first try. It’s a great way…

Read More

SHOVEL IT!

Snow-covered tree branches over a red brick wall background.

There’s nothing like a great big Brooklyn snowstorm. We used to be able to count on at least one big dump each season, but now these storms are far more infrequent here and less severe, no doubt due to global warning. In the old days, I remember for a few wonderful hours, everything stopped as…

Read More

ONE POT CHICKEN AND MUSHROOMS

Two bowls of chicken and mushroom risotto garnished with green onions on a patterned tablecloth.

It’s the middle of winter, it’s freezing in my kitchen and I just want something to throw together quickly that’s tasty and uses the least amount of dishes and bowls so that I can get downstairs as fast as possible where it’s warmer. And bonus – it makes a lot, so there will be leftovers…

Read More

GAME DAY CHILI

A bowl of chili topped with cheese and sour cream, with tortilla chips and a bottle of rolling rock beer in the background.

I love this dish because it’s great to make the day before, it feeds a crowd, and it leaves me free to watch the game with everyone else. And if you have leftovers, you can make nachos the next day. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS (Serves 8) 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey (or beef)…

Read More