May 2013
5 posts
6 tags
Avocado Coconut Milkshake
I’m going to Thailand in less than a week and words can’t describe how excited I am. I can’t wait to shop at all of the food markets and eat lots of crazy and delicious things. I’ll be posting pictures on here so stay tuned. My sister has been living there for a few months now and she tells me there are tons of delicious coconuts everywhere so in spirit of my trip...
5 tags
Fish Tacos!
Summer is just around the corner y’all! On sunny warm days all I want to do is sit outside and eat tacos and burritos and drink Mexican beer and margaritas. Yes! Lately I’ve been thinking a lot and reminiscing over Rockaway Taco and all of the beautiful days spent at the beach last summer. I hear it’s endured some major damage during hurricane Sandy but I’m hoping it will...
6 tags
Spring Salad with Fiddleheads, Ramps, English...
During this spring bounty, I picked up some ramps, fiddleheads, English Peas and some of the other great produce items that you can find within the short window of springtime. This salad combines different textures and flavors in a tasty ramp and garlic lemon aioli.
Recipe after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Spring Salad with Fiddleheads, Ramps, English Peas & Purple Artichokes
Makes 4 servings
...
7 tags
Rhubarb Margarita
Happy Cinco de Mayo. Now please make yourself a margarita. Delicious, springy, refreshing and just the right amount of tart. And please, please, whatever you do, don’t ruin this drink (or any drink) by using Jose Cuervo Gold. It is garbage, pure and simple. If you can find Espolon near you, I highly recommend this inexpensive and quality tequila for all of your cocktail making needs. And...
7 tags
Rhubarb Syrup
Recipe after the jump.[[MORE]]
Rhubarb Syrup (original recipe by Mallory Lance)
Ingredients:
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup water
3-4 heaping cups of rhubarb, diced
3 strawberries, halved
1. Combine sugar, water, rhubarb, and strawberries in a large heavy pot.
2. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer.
3. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the rhubarb is very soft.
4. Strain out the...
April 2013
7 posts
6 tags
Eggs Florentine
You know when you’ve had something so delicious one time that every time you order it from a place it never holds up to that one time and you’re always disappointed so you just stop ordering it altogether? That’s how I felt about Eggs Florentine.
Jordan made it for us one morning in Minneapolis before we had to leave for the airport and it was perfect- perfectly toasted...
5 tags
Apricot Black Tea & Lemon Cake
This dense, moist pound cake, made with infused apricot black tea and lemon, is a sweet treat that gets better the next day, and is perfect for slicing up and serving with tea or just for dessert.
Recipe after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Lemon & Apricot Black Tea Cake(recipe adapted from Fudge Ripple Lemon Lavender Cake)
Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk
2 tbsp apricot black tea
1 cup (2 sticks)...
5 tags
Aperol Spritz
This drink reminds me of summer. We’ve had our first few days of perfect spring, and it’s just a taste of the warm summer days spent outdoors in a back garden of a restaurant or bar in the neighborhood. On those days the Aperol Spritz is a go-to. Aperol has similarities to Campari but I prefer its versatility in cocktails and unlike Campari it’s not as sickly sweet, but rather...
4 tags
Spring Pea Pasta Shells
I have been fixated on making this for over a week, and naturally when I left work at 9pm on Friday and went to find fresh English peas, all four of the grocery stores in Manhattan I went to did not have them or were freshly sold out. The following day I went to the farmer’s market (wishful thinking) and three more grocery stores in Brooklyn before getting my hands on some. Luckily...
8 tags
Herb Ice cubes
This is one of the crafty things I learned on Pinterest. I had a ton of herbs that I didn’t have time to use up and I didn’t want them to go bad. So I stuck them in an ice cube tray and covered the herbs with olive oil (for the thyme, sage, and rosemary) and water (for the dill and mint). This way, the herbs stay fresh for longer and you can just pop out an ice cube when you’re...
8 tags
Rosemary Bites with Onion Jam and Creme Fraiche
These little biscuit bites are tasty, presentable, and great for a party- one recipe makes 40. Because they’re so small, they’re super easy to share and they can be eaten in one bite. I adapted the recipe from Food 52, swapping out their prescribed store-bought onion jam for my home made, and using home made creme fraiche instead of their ricotta cream. The result is a tangy, tasty...
March 2013
7 posts
5 tags
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Spring time is here, which means baby asparagus and lots of other nice delicious things like morels and peas and fiddlehead ferns. This is a good Easter recipe- delicious as a side or perfect on its own with a poached egg on top. The crispy prosciutto and the crunchy asparagus make for excellent texture and the recipe is so quick and simple it should almost not even be called a recipe.
Recipe...
7 tags
Lemon Custard Tartlets with Lavender Whipped Cream
These little tartlets are so pretty and great for spring and Easter. Custards are usually so temperamental and it takes a lot of practice to make a smooth custard, but this recipe from Tartine bakery, using a double boiler method rather than tempering, is super easy and produces the smoothest, creamiest lemon tart filling you can imagine. Adding the cool butter at the end and blending it in...
5 tags
Proscuitto Bites with Fig Jam, Pear and Goat...
These little bites make a good party snack as they’re presentable and easy to pick up. The sweetness of the pear and the fig jam balance the saltiness of the prosciutto. The crispy crunch of the prosciutto cup contrasts nicely to its contents. A little sprinkling of nutmeg over the pears gives them a hint of spice that works really nicely and the thyme is not only a great garnish, it adds...
8 tags
Creamy Home Made Ricotta
Making ricotta at home is super easy, fast, and really so much tastier than store bought. Unlike making some other cheeses, all you need to make it are simple household ingredients: milk, cream, lemon juice and salt. You can dress it up like I did while it’s still warm and add lemon zest, smoked salt, pistachios and honey for a simple and decadent breakfast.
Recipe after the...
6 tags
Crunchy Kale Salad with Orange Ginger Dressing
Looking for a healthy salad with a satisfying crunch? Look no further. The base of the salad is shredded kale and red cabbage but it also has the added crunch of green apples, cucumbers, and pecans. The addiiton of avocados and currants round it out nicely and the sesame orange ginger dressing is just amazing. Don’t be afraid to dress the whole salad even if you’re saving it for...
7 tags
Onion Soup with Sage and Irish Cheddar
This soup is so decadent and delicious. The use of aged Irish Cheddar instead of Gruyere goes it a nice bite and flavor, and the presentation is impressive, but it’s insanely simple. If making for a group, you can make the soup ahead of time, then reheat and top with bread & cheese, stick it under the broiler and you have a great starting course in no time. Although I’m really...
4 tags
Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions, Bacon Jam...
Oh mah gawd this is the most decadent and delicious sandwich. Sweet and savory flavors complement each other so well and the Nutella adds something extra and makes the flavor unexpected. The two cheeses melt into each other for a gooey and delicious center while the sourdough crisps up to a golden brown.
Recipe after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions, Bacon Jam and...
February 2013
7 posts
2 tags
Bacon Jam
[[MORE]]
Bacon Jam (original recipe by Mallory Lance)
Ingredients:
16 oz cider cured applewood smoked bacon
1 small red onion
1 tsp brown sugar
2 tbsp bourbon
1. Render the bacon. Cut into small uniform pieces.
2. Reserve the bacon pieces. Dice red onion finely.
3. In the pan with the bacon grease, simmer the onion until translucent and soft. Remove from heat and add cayenne...
5 tags
Blackberry Smash
This easy and visually impressive cocktail is great for small gatherings and is customizeable based on liquor preference. It goes super well with vodka but also with whiskey. You can keep it basic and use a plain (1:1 sugar to water ratio) simple syrup or you can go flavor your simple syrup with herbs or vanilla beans. I’ve also made this drink with wonderful results by using ginger syrup...
2 tags
Montreal Weekend
I took the train up from NYC to Montreal this weekend. The train ride was very long but beautiful.
More pics after the jump.[[MORE]]
They have these maple candies which are made by pouring hot maple syrup onto fresh snow until it hardens up a bit, then you roll it up with a popsicle stick and eat it off the stick. The first time I went skiing in Mont Tremblant I tried this and...
7 tags
Pear Strawberry Pie
Oh my god I LOVE this pie. It’s a great alternative to my absolute favorite, Strawberry Rhubarb when rhubarb isn’t in season and is impossible to find. The flavor is multilayered, bright with a hint of spice but the stand out flavor is the strawberries, perfectly balanced between tangy and sweet. Make it for your sweetheart (or for yourself) this Valentine’s Day.
Recipe after the jump.
...
6 tags
Hot Chocolate
It’s a snowy day in Greenpoint, and what better way to warm up than a nice warm jar of decadent hot chocolate? After melting chocolate chips in heavy cream and making a sort of rich ganache, I added cocoa powder, whole milk, some vanilla, and of course these home made marshmallows I finally perfected. You can whip this up in no time and it’s so much tastier than that watery stuff...
6 tags
Homemade Marshmallows
This was quite the project. After having some delicious hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows while I was in Halifax, I have been dreaming about it ever since. Alas, it it a bit more difficult than one might imagine, and it requires some very specific equipment, but the recipe I was working from was a bit backwards and I ended up with a curdled mess (recipe after the jump) BUT! I...
January 2013
8 posts
8 tags
Spicy Korean Chicken Wings
These wings are super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They’re the perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and savory and they’re a necessity for game day. They blend the best parts of Korean fried chicken with the best parts of Buffalo wings. The trick is double-frying the chicken for ultimate crispiness. You can do the first step a few days ahead of time and then do the final...
7 tags
The Perfect Brunch Cocktail
GIn, grapefruit juice, dill, lime, blueberries. So delicious, a little tart, and slightly herbal. Looking to upgrade your mimosa? Here’s the answer.
Recipe after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Perfect Brunch Cocktail (original recipe by Mallory Lance)
Ingredients:
2 oz. Hendrick’s gin
1 oz. fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
1/2 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 sprig...
7 tags
Endive Arugula Fennel Salad with Dill Lemon Aioli
This salad is SO PRETTY and goes so well with the butternut squash galette. With dill lemon aioli it is super delicious and healthy. With lots of textures and a satisfying crunch, not only is this salad really presentable and great for company, it’s just flat out perfect.
Recipe after the jump.[[MORE]]
Endive Arugula Fennel Salad with Dill Lemon Aioli(original recipe by Mallory...
4 tags
Butternut Squash Galette
This might be one of my favorite new things to make. Once it’s prepped and in the oven it basically hands off which makes it great for entertaining guests, which I did for brunch with a salad and (theoretically) poached eggs. This pie crust is one of the most flaky and delicious things and the sage butternut squash gryuere and caramelized onion center
Recipe after the jump.[[MORE]]
...
6 tags
Steamed Pork Buns (Baozi)
I LOVE steamed pork buns. I work close to Chinatown and luckily that means I’m walking distance to some of the best steamed pork buns at Mei Li Wah, which (until recently) were 80 cents apiece. Now they’re 90 cents. But they’re filling and warm and fluffy and full of sweet delicious pork. I always thought it would be impossible to make these at home, but lo and behold, if...
6 tags
Ginger Syrup + Candies
This ginger syrup is excellent in cocktails and is very versatile, for use with whiskey, gin, vodka, rum or tequila drinks and is fun to experiment with. You can also add it to club soda to make a spicier version of ginger ale that almost resembled ginger beer. In the process of making it you can either process the ginger finely and strain it out, or cut the ginger into little cubes and make...
4 tags
Arugula and Roasted Asparagus Soup
Now that the new year has begun, it is inevitably time to get back on track after the decadence of rich holiday food and incorporate more vegetables into the diet. This soup offers the rich deep taste of roasted asparagus with the peppery bite of arugula and is best served hot and with toasted bread.
Recipe after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Arugula and Roasted Asparagus Soup(recipe adapted from A...
Halifax, Nova Scotia
We went to visit our friends in Halifax for New Years. It was the best. Fresh delicious seafood and lots of cooking. And I learned how to shuck oysters!
More after the jump.[[MORE]]
One of the first nights we made delicious ribeye steaks with brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and baby potatoes smothered in duck fat and sprinkled with truffle salt.
We went to the farmer’s market.
We...
December 2012
9 posts
11 tags
Crimson Crush
This cocktail is great for the winter, and would be perfect for New Years Eve. The vodka, St. Germaine, lemon base are simple and delicious on their own but the addition of crushed ice, seasonal grapefruit and pomegranate add a bit of complexity and make it really pretty. It’s also easy enough to prep for in advance by getting the fruit ready ahead of time. If you don’t have crushed...
5 tags
Sweet Corn Spoonbread
This Spoonbread is a great breakfast item. It’s more like a warm custard than a cornbread and can be served warm in slices or scooped into ramekins, topped with Demerara sugar, and heated under the broiler.
I first read about this recipe on Serious Eats - according to them it’s supposed to make a perfect Christmas morning breakfast - and after making a few tweaks here and there,...
7 tags
Bourbon Old Fashioned
My favorite cocktail: the old fashioned. It’s a classic. The subtle flavors of orange, cherry, and bitters complement the whiskey, which is the real star of the show here. I like to make my old fashioneds with demerara sugar cubes, a generous dose of Angostura bitters, homemade old fashioned cocktail cherries, and an orange twist with a splash of soda. It’s simple enough to make when...
8 tags
Pumpkin Cinnamon Pecan Rolls
If you have a few hours to spare, make these. They’re not the easiest thing to make and it requires lots of steps, but they’re well worth it. You can also do all the prep the night before and bake them in the morning.
Pumpkiny, warm and gooey right out of they oven they are the bomb. I ate five in a row. I felt like Louis CK. On that note, let’s get to baking…
...
4 tags
Potato Latkes
My favorite latkes are crispy, more fritter-like than potato pancakes. To achieve this texture, it’s all about squeezing the moisture out and forming thin rounds by pressing them between your palms before dropping them into the skillet to fry.
Recipe after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Potato Latkes(recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen)
Ingredients:
2 lbs. baking potatoes, peeled
1 medium...
6 tags
Mushroom & Sauerkraut Pierogies
One of the big perks about living in Greenpoint is the accessibility to amazing Polish food. My favorite spot is Lomzynianka— delicious food, very affordable, and BYOB. And it has a warm welcoming vibe and only a few tables. Lately I’ve been going there a lot and I just love their mushroom and sauerkraut pierogies. I ventured to make my own. And damn were these good. The use of sour...
5 tags
Old Fashioned Cocktail Cherries
These booze soaked cherries are the secret ingredient to making a killer old fashioned. Soaking dried tart cherries in Grand Marnier for a couple of weeks makes them plump, flavorful and full of alcohol. I also add some aromatics to give them a subtle spice. They’re perfect for cocktails and even great to snack on— but be careful, after eating a few of these you’ll start to...
November 2012
9 posts
Roasted Chestnuts
Now that Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season has officially begun, it’s time to get the chestnuts roasting. Here’s a quick and easy way to do it.
Instructions after the jump.
[[MORE]]
Roasted Chestnuts
1. Rinse the chestnuts under cold water. Pat dry.
2. Score the outer shell in an x. This shouldn’t be too deep as you don’t want to split the nut inside,...
4 tags
Grandma's Stuffing
Thanksgiving is around the corner! And stuffing is one of my favorite parts of the meal. My grandma always made the best comfort food and her stuffing is always a hit. Last year I had Thanksgiving at my house for the first time and I made her stuffing. This year I adapted it here and there— I used sweet sage sausage instead of Jimmy Dean’s and I added some pomegranate seeds for some...
6 tags
Brining a Turkey
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about getting your turkey and your brining method in order. The benefits of brining a turkey have gained popularity in the past few years and there are lots of ways to do it, but basically it starts with soaking your bird for 12-24 hours in a combination of salt, sugar, and water. From there any combination of aromatics...
7 tags
Bourbon Pecan Pie
I’ve been doing a little practice baking for Thanksgiving, which is my absolute favorite holiday. I had a great pecan pie recipe from years ago and lost it, so I looked all over the internet trying to find one similar to my tried and true recipe. I remembered that I liked light corn syrup, and a mix of light brown and white sugars for the center, and that 4 eggs were the way to go. I ended...
7 tags
Savory Hand Pies
These little hand pies are filled with a really nice fall apple-sausage-mushroom and (of course) butternut squash and sage center. The crust is super flaky and made with butter, leaf lard, and sharp cheddar. I got the idea for these pies after tasting a really delicious sage and sausage apple pie at the Enid’s Apple Pie Bake-Off. I love me some savory and I love me some pie. I was inspired...
6 tags
Lamb Butternut Squash Stew
I have been dreaming about making this stew for nearly a month now. At the first sign of fall, the flavors of lamb and butternut squash combined in a stew have been a point of obsession for me. I was finally able to execute it while being shut in for hurricane Sandy. Luckily, Greenpoint was mostly spared— even though I live a block away from Evacuation Zone A, I live in the 5th floor of a...
