The Cook’s Kitchen

Odds are, you’ve probably heard of Colin Cowie, the fabulous designer to the stars.  Counting Oprah, Jerry Seinfeld, Demi Moore and Jennifer Lopez among his client roster, it’s safe to say that the man knows his stuff.  He recently released his latest book, Colin Cowie Chic: The Guide to Life as It Should Be, so for […]

I enjoy all varieties of seafood.  Salmon is high on my list because of its availability and versatility.  Salmon can be baked, stuffed, poached, smoked, used in a souffle or made into patties … but when was the last time you had it pan-fried?  You know, with some french fries and maybe cole slaw on the side? […]

Every couple of years, I go through my kitchen cabinets and do a massive purge of my cookie pans.  Between getting beat up, bent, dinged, darkened or even rusted, I like to replace them and start anew.  All the better for a perfectly baked cookie, in my opinion. 
If you’re on the prowl for a new […]

In college, my flatware was the cheapest set I could find at The Christmas Store. I think I spent a whopping $2 or $3 on it. And when you spend $2 or $3, it shows. The cute black handles didn’t attach well to the metal part, and the knives were like cutting with a frayed […]

 
Winding down at the end of a hectic week doesn’t have to mean settling for take-out in a cardboard container.  Instead, treat yourself to this ridiculously simple, yet luxuriously elegant dish.  Go on.  You’re worth it!
Smoky Seared Sea Scallops
1 lb. “dry” sea scallops*
3 tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp sea salt salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 […]

I am a big fan of Domino magazine … whether it’s decorating ideas, interesting recipes or advice on entertaining or going green, they’ve got you covered.  Because we frequently entertain, I am always on the lookout for more tips and tricks to make the shin-dig more pleasurable for everyone. 
In a recent issue of Domino, they […]

Baby Greens with Grapefruit and Avocado

Every Monday, at the beginning of each work week, I tell myself that this is the day that I’ll start, once and for all, eating and living right. Of course, by mid-week, I’m like, “bacon is good for you, right?”
The citrus season is perhaps the most happy aspect of winter for […]

 
This is a hearty main dish that is both quick and easy to prepare. Also, its ingredients are very forgiving, and it can be modified to suit almost anyone’s dietary parameters. Vegetarian? Switch out the sausage and chicken broth for white beans and vegetable broth. Gluten-free? Use rice, spelt or one of the other many […]

I love salt and sweet together, and caramel is one of my favorite things in the world, so I wanted to mix the two worlds, and I made some fleur de sel caramels.

I got a basic recipe from Gourmet and then changed it a bit. The original recipe called for white sugar and unsalted butter; […]

Bò Kho is a Vietnamese beef stew that my mother made for us all the time growing up. Not as thick as American beef stew, it’s more like a hearty soup with carrots and spices. My husband says it tastes like Asian-y boeuf bourguignon. It’s quite possible to me that this dish has its origins […]