Changes at The Cook’s Kitchen
A few months back, we made a radical change at Well Fed. Instead of updating our 12+ individual sites on the network, all new content is going on our main site, www.wellfed.net. So if you love all things kitchen, fear not. You can still find updated, fresh content from our folks from The Cook’s Kitchen on the main site. See you there!
Mysterious Mangoes
Mangoes are heaped in every grocery store, and priced to buy in bag loads right now. Ataulfo mangoes are the best to use in many dishes. They are also known as Honey Mangoes or Manila Mangoes, but they are in a mango class all their own. The reason is their fabulous sweet flavor, and their string-less flesh. They are smaller than the regular mangoes, with a slimmer pit, the fruit yielding a great deal of juicy flesh.
Tasting an Ataulfo mango for the first time often elicits the response, “That’s a mango? What is that stringy mess I’ve been buying from the grocery store?”Their flavour resembles the love child of peach, banana, pineapple and butter.
They’re incredibly sweet (24 grams of sugar per 165-gram serving) and loaded with vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Tourists stop and kibbitz at markets and grocery stores over the selection of a single mango, those in the know buy them by the case so quickly that shops are perpetually unloading and packaging.
Gluten Free Red White & Blue Pavlova
There are a lot of things to love about Australia; the spectacular Sydney Harbor, the Great Barrier Reef, those fabulous Australians and Pavlova. Pavlova is a dessert every gluten-free cook should have in their dessert repertoire. It is naturally gluten-free, easy to make and utterly delicious.
I decided to make an all American Pavlova for this Fourth of July. Decked out in red, white and blue this native Australian can become a new American classic.
Making Calamari Without the Grease
Friday nights have been a pizza night in my family since I was born. My very religious Catholic-Italian Grandfather, Sabatine, didn’t eat meat on Fridays year round so we always either bought delicious pizzas from Rubino’s, a wonderful little pizza place in the small town were I was raised in upstate New York or we made them from scratch. As much as I love pizza and we still get or make it every Friday night, I have added calamari to our Friday night menu. If my husband and I go out or have friends over this is so easy to make for my kids to enjoy or to put out as a little appetizer for my friends. I like to serve this with a cold white wine from the Loire region of France.
I take a ride down to the Denville Seafood market Friday afternoon and purchase a couple pounds of their delicious squid. It comes breaded, so I don’t even need to bother with that and it is so tender, fresh and delicious.
I don’t care for overly greasy fried foods so I use the Fry Daddy deep fryer to cook our calamari. I’m telling you it works perfectly every time. It is never ever greasy and it comes out golden brown and crispy. When you are finished frying you really should have almost all the oil you started with remaining in your fryer/pan. That makes for a crispy not greasy food.
First Take: Making Popovers
Until this morning, I had never had a popover in my life. The crusty little hollow creations are somewhere between an easy bread roll and an eggy delight. I was hoping for something crusty and tender, dry but moist … the recipe I made had hints of those qualities, but still fell a little short.
The recipe I am seeking for these will be buttery (this had no butter) and will use the two temperature process where the popovers are cooked at a high temperature and then browned at a lower temperature. This will produce the appearance I am seeking in the popovers. I would also like to experiment with add-ins like garlic and fresh herbs.
Easier Cake Decorating?
I love the idea of decorating cakes and cupcakes and cookies, but hate having to manage the pastry bag. It’s my ultimate nemesis. Whenever that darn pastry bag and I come in contact, frosting ends up all over me, my counter, my floor … and last time it was even on my dog’s head.
That’s why I was psyched to see these Decorating Squeeze Bottles at Crate and Barrel. The description says that they are so easy even little hands can use them — sounds like a gadget for me! They come with tips already on the caps (yea! no fussing with complicated attachments!) and retail for about $5 each.
I’ve got to try me some of that!
Make Herb Mincing Easy
This past weekend I made a creamy, delicious, fantastic (or so I was told) Artichoke and Herb Risotto. The fresh herbs took this comforting, creamy dish from good to great. But halfway through chopping, my one-year-daughter woke up and tears and demanded to be held…so I set about to chop the remainder of the herbs with one hand. Not easy.
But I discovered a tool that could make it a breeze. The Oxo Rolling Herb Mincer is a one-handed device for quickly and easily chopping herbs. It’s like using a pizza cutter (another good one-handed tool), except better since there are four blades to speed through the chopping.
It’s available at Williams-Sonoma for $14.
Make a Statement with Your Plates
When I was young, my grandmother had a book of Andy Warhol’s work that I would leaf through. I found him fascinating — and his art intriguing. I loved his use of repetition and color to make statements.
When I saw the Andy Warhol plate collection at CB2, which feature a Warhol image and quote, my eyes lit up. These would make fabulous conversation pieces for a dinner party. And, at the sale price of $0.95, they are an undeniable bargain.
The only downside? They are made of melamine, which I avoid when possible … but for cold appetizers maybe I could make an exception.
Photo: CB2
Honey Sticks For On The Go
After coming across these honey sticks in the store, I instantly knew my girlfriend would enjoy them. An avid tea drinker, she only takes her cup with honey and the sticks are perfect for her on-the-go schedule. Then I thought, what about me? I enjoy a good cup of tea every now and again, especially in the office. So, I bought a box for myself.
Once arriving to work, I unpacked my bag and placed the box of honey sticks on my desk. Like everyday upon my arrival to work, I was inundated my questions, visitors, and ringing phones. I had forgotten about the honey sticks. It wasn’t until I called a student in my office for a discipline referral that he brought my attention to them sitting by my water bottle.
“Honey and water? Not very tasty, Dr. A.” (How can you not love 8th graders? They always have something to say.)
“Don’t knock it until you try it. Hot water and honey isn’t totally bad. But, no. They’re for when I make hot tea.”
“I thought you always drink coffee.”
Great Tray for Patio-side Relaxing
Table for two?
If you love enjoying a snack and cocktail on the porch or patio as much as I do, then you might just love this wicker serving tray from Pottery Barn. The round tray can hold all the snacks you want — and drinks too — in a classy, fashionable way. And it’s got some durable leather handles to boot.
Available at Pottery Barn, $69.
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