All posts filed under: gourmet cooking

Pasta For Dinner

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Each evening, while on a time crunch between work-attending meetings and putting out fires and work–to play catch up, I prep a quick meal for the family, which includes Mum. I do the best I can under the circumstances, alternating between chicken or beef for the protein and some starchy side and greens. Not everyone in the household appreciates seafood, so that variation only happens once a month. Last night my mother told me no more chicken and no more beef, and no more spaghetti, and for sure no more hamburger, while I was adding the final touches to her dinner consisting of roast chicken, rice-pilaf and a salad with my own dressing. I think I laughed. So tonight, I am going with this recipe, hoping she’d already forgotten her demands. 1 jar (8 ounce) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes 2 small shallots, sliced 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon spanish or smoked paprika red pepper flakes kosher salt and black pepper 1 pound short cut pasta 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 cup grated parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons salted butter 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh …

Food: Fall Recipes To Consider

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I’ve ran out of ideas, and with the weather inching more towards cooler temps in the bay area, I am craving hearty and rich foods, cakes and all things cinnamon and spice. So to share with all of you my go-to right now for ideas – yummy to the mushroom pasta here – I have included the source you’d need to dabble in all your family cooking: Just to name a few – for the rest go here Are there any recipes you found, that you’d like to share?

Food: Dinner Tonight – Mac and Cheese

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I did an inventory this morning of all things in my kitchen pantry and otherwise for ingredients to create a variety of meals to satisfy my lovely mum’s cravings  – which is cheese, bread, cheese, more cheese and more bread and oh some jam. I found two boxes of organic mac and cheese and figured as a side dish 🙂 I’d make it with the leftover rotisserie chicken I picked up last night from the grocery store on my walk.  Then this recipe happened, and as we all know, I’ll improvise part boxed and part fresh ingredients and serve it up. Now I’m wondering if anyone will eat the chicken.  Here’s the recipe just in case you haven’t the boxed version of M&C. INGREDIENTS 6 tablespoons salted butter 1-2 cloves garlic, grated 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers 1 pound your favorite short cut pasta 2 ounces cream cheese, cubed 2 cups milk 1 cup sharp white cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded Havarti or fontina cheese 4-6 ounces Brie, rind removed and chopped 1/4 cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper use more or less to taste kosher salt and black pepper 1 cup cherry tomatoes, …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chicken Caesar Salad Altered

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There is at least one day a week, I serve a chicken dish to the family – my mother included. However, when I mention that dinner would be chicken related, she cringes – not sure why. I do ask her, and she says, chicken is good. You do what you think is best. So, this pesto chicken Caesar salad recipe it is with a few alterations to fit our dietary needs: INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling 2 cups torn ciabatta bread (no bread for us) 2 cloves garlic, smashed 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size chunks 1/2 cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper 6 cups shredded romaine lettuce 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 8 ounces burrata cheese, at room temperature (this may be mozzarella instead) fresh herbs, for serving, such as chives, thyme, and basil PARMESAN TAHINI DRESSING 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil juice of 2 lemons 1/4 cup tahini 2 tablespoons dijon mustard {toss up on the dijon since family not a fan} 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1-2 cloves garlic, grated kosher salt and black pepper 1/3 cup grated parmesan {continued} Question of …

Food: Dinner Tonight – From Taco to Chicken Skewers

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I spent the entire morning in line, plus grocery shopping with not much luck in finding everything in one store. What I dislike the most about this sort of shopping experience, is that it is difficult to stick to a menu for the week, like I used to when I trekked over to my favorite Trader Joe’s and picked up the same proteins, plus the ingredients for my weekly, taco, pasta, chicken, seafood, salad and soup dish.  Not complaining hopefully, just painting the picture. Anyway, while stuffing my freezer with all the things I bought  on “I think I might need,” since we can’t just run to the store anymore on a whim to pick up missing ingredients, I had trouble settling on what’s for dinner tonight.  So, I’ve included my first and second choices just in case one stands out over the other 😉 Option One – If you are craving chicken Option two – Taco for any day of the week and then some     {recipe and photo source} {featured image source}

What Has Placed A Smile On My Face This Week

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I went for a long walk across the city, through neighborhoods I assumed would be less crowded. But I think I’ve seen more humans walking about the city during the social distancing then I used to in the past years, doing the walk. It was the most invigorating feeling to see families walking together, talking, and while wearing masks, keeping their distance. I prepared lunch for myself, thinking I might eat while I walked, since the park I normally go to with these walks might be closed. Instead, there were signs at every entrance to the park, simply asking that we keep six-feet apart, but take our time to enjoy the park. So I sat on a bench, ate my sandwich and grapes, and stared out to the views of the ocean. The most interesting gatherings in the park were families, or friends, who met up, and sat six feet apart on blankets, and enjoyed catching up in person. I suppose this was a good idea or one that’s been happening for the duration? I …

Food: How To Dice and Slice And Clean

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My mother marvels at my style of cooking, cutting and even baking. To put it bluntly, she doesn’t understand why I do the things I do. So we talk about it of course, while I nearly slice my finger off, from all the stress of her scrutinizing my technique. But you know what? At least I’ll have many fond-ish memories of this time together in the kitchen. I need to stop and explain here for  second.  Cooking in our culture is a ritual, and each recipe is managed in the most artistic of ways to create a meal – where my mother, her mother and I’m sure her mother before – would remind the impatient generations afterwards that  ‘a woman must cook with her meal’ – which I never agreed with as a young child or a teenager. But now I get it. Although, I still prefer quick methods and easy recipes to follow.  BUT! since we are on lock down and I’ve chosen to revisit or refresh all of our cultural recipes during this …

Food: Chicken and Garlic Noodles

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Some ingredients are hard to find at the grocery store, so I’ve been improvising – to create meals I’be been craving from evenings out with friends at a local Asian fusion restaurant.  Mind you, these are not my recipes, but ones I find online with the ingredients and ease of prepping ideal.  Because for me – time is valuable – and spending too much time over a hot stove takes away that much time from the eating ritual in my home – with spirits and loaded conversations – fun ones of course – since who wants to be brimmed with anxiety over a meal? For dinner tonight – I will make this chicken and garlic noodle dinner with a few minor adjustments – due to shortage of ingredients or some I don’t care for. INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons corn starch or flour 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper 3 tablespoons sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce   – I will use Worcestershire  Sauce, since allergic to …

Food: Cooking Helps – Especially Cheesy Chicken Enchilada

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I’ve always found cooking to be therapeutic, so I opt to make dinner every night and take the leftovers for lunch to work. That’s been the standard in my household for a few decades. So, I do recommend the exercise while forced to stay home the next couple of weeks – cook, or bake, and then wash the dishes by hand rather than placing them in the dishwasher. The idea of doing something you can control has a positive affect – trust me. Tonight’s dinner – leaning towards much comfort food also – is this Cheesy Chicken Enchilada skillet – which I never thought of doing – I normally leaned towards the traditional over-baked version.  This one is easier for sure. INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 (16-ounce) jar medium red salsa 1/2 cup sour cream, plus more for serving 4 corn tortillas, torn into quarters 4 cups shredded cooked chicken (from 1 [2 1/2-pound] rotisserie chicken) 1 (15.5-ounce) …

Food: Corned Beef and Cabbage Pie Altered

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A Topic very difficult to avoid right now is the concern and fear over COVID-19, which is naturally on all of our minds . Even if we pretend a strong front, the worry about spreading the disease or contracting it, has become part of our daily routine, as we figure out ways to adapt to a new lifestyle. The only thing I want to ask, is that we don’t freak out, nor become obsessed, but rather do our part through legitimate sources online to help contain the spread of the virus. Not to say that I am downplaying the situation, but panic is the worst enemy in times of global threat or affliction. For the time being I keep my family engaged in much cooking, and alternative conversations to help distract – and finding interesting recipes to consider fits both of my efforts. INGREDIENTS 2 lb. russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 2″ pieces 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided 1 head of Savoy cabbage 3 thick-cut bacon slices (about …