The Cook’s Kitchen

We do some occasional catering, mostly BBQ. Nothing goes better with BBQ, other than beer, than Lemonade. Okay, Red Cream Soda makes a good partner with smoked foods as well. Nonetheless, we are talking about sweet, puckery lemonade!!
When catering for a few hundred people, you don’t have time to squeeze a few […]

Okay, I admit that these are pretty much the mini pizzas we all made as kids. I call them Italian Nachos is because they are bite sized and use a garlic, parmesan toast instead of tortilla chips. The crunchy little toasts are Nonni’s brand from Costco.

Take some seasoned toast thingies, add marinara, pepperoni […]

If there’s one thing that I absolutely cannot stand, it’s wasting vibrant, perky produce. But when a recipe calls for only 1 tbl of fresh, minced herb and the store only sells them in gargantuan bunches, my palms sweat as I begin planning my week’s menu all around this stupid little herb, just so every […]

Sliders, bombers, or mini man burgers, call them what you want, but a mini burger on a griddle is close to heaven on earth.  Alton Brown featured what he called “Mini Man Burgers” on his Man Food episode.   Fans of White Castle or Krystal’s are familiar with the thin, square burger.  Krystal’s has been producing their […]

Like most sports fans, I try to make something special to enjoy during the big game. Maybe it’s the proximity in date to Mardi Gras, but Cajun has been a favorite most years. We’ve done a lot of jambalaya over the years, but never a gumbo. A great gumbo starts with a great roux.

The roux […]

Arugula has been one of the hip, “it” greens for some time now. I do think watercress could be next. I mean, if arugula was the popular cheerleader, watercress would be the hot, artsy gal who won’t get fat after college/children. Okay, I kid. But really, watercress, with its versatility, has a lot to offer […]

One of the blogs I read on a regular basis, mental_floss, posted an article the other day where the author was reminiscing about sandwiches past. It seems that at one time he was rather poor and had to resort to eating things such as mustard sandwiches — poor fellow! But, that wasn’t even really the […]

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? […]

 
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 […]

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 […]