Mini crab cakes baked in muffin tins with a panko-parmesan crust and creamy cream cheese filling. Lemon-orange-scented appetizer bites for cocktail parties, showers, and holiday gatherings.
Whole wheat pizza dough with cornmeal for a nutty, crisp, rustic crust. A double-risen homemade yeast dough that bakes up sturdy and golden, a heartier base for any pizza topping you like.
Easy appetizer, and tastes very well too. Everyone loves it.
Sweet potato ginger rolls with fresh ginger, orange zest, and nutmeg in a soft yeast dough, egg-washed and topped with sesame seeds. Tender dinner rolls with warm, spiced flavor.
Herbed focaccia layered with fresh basil, thyme, rosemary, and sage in the dough plus a topping of olive-oil-soaked onions, kalamata olives, and a cornmeal-crusted bottom for shattering crunch.
Wonderfully fresh kale salad that is so good, even my father enjoyed it-- which is saying A LOT.
Orange beef with sun-dried tomatoes: a Chinese-Italian fusion stir-fry with brandy-marinated flank steak, candied orange zest, sun-dried tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and jalapeno. Restaurant-style technique at home.
A tasty family staple recipe that is easy to make and beats any jarred sauce.
Grilled Greek-style fresh tuna souvlaki skewered with soaked bay leaves between each cube, marinated in lemon, garlic, olive oil, and oregano. A smoky Mediterranean main served with lemon wedges.
Massive pot of black bean cassoulet soup with garlic sausage, Italian sausage, bratwurst, and a meaty ham bone. Simmered for 5 hours with sherry, brown sugar, and lemon. Feeds 16.
Lamb Klephtiko: Greek-style boneless leg of lamb studded with garlic, bay, cinnamon, and oregano, wrapped in parchment and slow-roasted 4 hours until fall-apart tender.
Slow-simmered Indian chicken curry built on 30 minutes of caramelized onions, whole cinnamon, cardamom, and a rich tomato gravy. Rested for maximum depth, this is weekend cooking that rewards your patience.
Authentic Italian ciabatta with fresh yeast, bread flour, and extra-virgin olive oil. A wet, sticky dough rises for hours to produce big holes and a soft, chewy, floury crust.
Whole hard-shell crabs simmered in a garlicky tomato sauce with red pepper flakes, cracked and tossed over spaghetti. Messy, hands-on, and worth every napkin.
Nothing says comfort food like grandma's cookin'. I have simplified the process with canned beans but feel free to use a comparable amount of fresh. I also replaced the lard in Grandma's recipe with (marginally more healthy) butter.
Buttery shortbread bites rolled in paprika, cayenne, curry powder, and cumin. A savory, spice-crusted appetizer that's totally unexpected and completely addictive.