MATZO 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…

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ASIAN 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…

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RAZOR 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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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…

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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…

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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…

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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)…

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SPINACH EGG DROP SOUP

A bowl of soup with shredded cheese, croutons, and greens, served in a blue ceramic bowl on a marble surface.

I’ve been watching this documentary series on NETFLIX, You Are What You Eat, and quite frankly, it’s scaring the bejeebers out of me. Basically, it has convinced me that I eat way too many fatty meats and not enough plant based foods. So, in an effort to balance my foods a bit better, I’ve been…

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PACCHERRI LASAGNA PIE

A pasta dish with a basil leaf on top.

I’m not gonna lie — this recipe takes some time. But it’s quite a fun showstopper for a special occasion. You’ll need a 9” spring form pan and some large hollow pasta tubes like paccherri. And if you make the Bolognese sauce a day ahead, it will make the whole process much easier. The flavors…

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CHICKEN POBLANO SOUP

A bowl of soup with cheese and avocado.

Every week during the cold months I make a huge pot of bone broth. I’m always looking for new soups to make using the broth, and this idea came to me at the end of the summer when our garden had an abundance of poblano peppers. I love these peppers because they give a little…

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