2015

Showing 30 Result(s)
Appetizers Potatoes Seafood

Bite-sized Potato-Apple Pancake Canapés

From Ireland to Sweden to the far reaches of Eastern Europe, potato pancakes of one sort or another are practically universal in traditional European cuisines.  Whether they’re called boxty, latke, placki, rösti or rårakor, potato pancakes are a special dish, proudly brought out for holidays and other festive occasions. Potatoes, apples and onions are frequent companions in many hearty mid-European dishes and they don’t fail to please in this delightful version of the traditional potato pancake. While apples are not …

Black Garlic Cloves and Whole Heads
Appetizers Asian Sauces & Condiments

Black Garlic Tapenade: A New Classic

Black garlic. First things first – what is this mysterious stuff? Perhaps it’s easiest to begin by describing what black garlic is NOT. Black garlic is not a new strain of garlic; it’s not genetically modified, nor is it a recent invention by practitioners of modernist cuisine. Black garlic starts out as regular white garlic (some say that hardneck garlic varieties make the best black garlic), but ends up with a delicately sweet flavor, soft, jam-like texture and striking jet-black color. …

Soups & Stews Vegetables Wild Foods

Velvety Chestnut Soup With Wild Mushrooms

This simple, velvety soup with the aroma of an autumn woodland allows the delicately sweet flavor of chestnuts to shine. Fresh chestnuts are a popular staple in fall soups, both on restaurant menus and in the homes of creative cooks. Since chestnuts are a seasonal delicacy and aren’t available for most of the year, it’s a great idea to enjoy them as much as possible now while they’re fresh and at their best. Most recipes for chestnut soup pair them with …

Mushrooms Soups & Stews Vegetables Wild Foods

Wild Mushroom & Barley Soup

When the weather takes a sharp turn toward the cool side, there is nothing more welcome than a bowl of hot, rib-sticking homemade soup.   This hearty wild mushroom and barley soup is satisfying on so many different levels, that it just can’t miss. First, and perhaps most importantly, it delivers a great, big mouthful of robust flavor.  How can something with just a handful of simple ingredients taste so great?  Let’s give credit where credit is due:  it starts with wild mushrooms. Mushrooms are known for their umami, a Japanese …

Poultry Sauces & Condiments Vegetables

Honey Butter-Glazed Chicken with Radishes

The radish is a vegetable that is typically consumed fresh, at least in this country. But in many culinary traditions, radishes are eaten both fresh and cooked. Daikon, the long, white Asian radish, is an important ingredient in many traditional soups, stews and other cooked dishes, in addition to being eaten fresh or preserved in a pickled form. Like other members of the Brassicaceae family, the flavor of radishes is earthy and pungent, frequently bordering on downright spicy. Cooking tends to …

Meat Sauces & Condiments Wild Foods

Pork Loin Chops with Peppered Maple-Mustard Glaze

Savory. Succulent. Tender. Sweet. We’re talking about pork, but not just any old cut.  We’re talking about thick-cut boneless pork loin chops, in our opinion, one of the best and most flavorful cuts of pork.  Boneless pork loin is essentially a pork loin chop without the bone. When you de-bone a whole pork loin, you end up with baby back ribs and a boneless pork loin.  Pork loin chops are easy to cook, they’re big, meaty and tender – and …

Miso Broth with Crab and Grilled Matsutake Mushrooms
Asian Mushrooms Seafood Soups & Stews Wild Foods

Miso Broth with Crab and Grilled Matsutake Mushrooms

Matsutake mushrooms are in season again. Wild mushroom aficionados look forward to the arrival of the esteemed pine mushroom with great anticipation each year. Matsutake can be prepared in any number of traditional ways, but it’s always a pleasant challenge to create new dishes that highlight their woodsy flavor. Matsutake have an intriguingly spicy aroma akin to a blend of pine, cinnamon and rosemary. Their texture is quite firm and holds up well to just about any cooking method. We …

Porcini Stroganoff with Turkey Mini-meatballs
Mushrooms Pasta Sauces & Condiments Tips and Techniques Wild Foods

Porcini Stroganoff with Turkey Mini-meatballs

  Dried porcini mushrooms do double duty in this healthy new take on a classic recipe. Instead of the usual beef, our stroganoff features plump little mini-meatballs made with ground turkey. Making these turkey mini-meatballs is incredibly easy; instead of frying, they bake in the oven in just minutes. Since they’re made of lean turkey and baked, not fried, they’re very low in fat. Best news of all – even without all that fat, they still taste fantastic! This recipe really highlights the …

Thai Mushroom and Coconut Soup
Asian Mushrooms Soups & Stews

Thai Mushroom & Coconut Soup

This rich and satisfying soup starts with a mixture of dried mushrooms typical of Asian cooking – shiitakes, with their deep and distinctive woodsy flavor; oyster mushrooms, with a light buttery taste that goes well with everything; lastly, woodear mushrooms, which have very little flavor at all, but which contribute a wonderfully crunchy texture. Like all dried mushrooms, this blend requires rehydration before use. A good soak in a hot bath for 20 – 30 minutes is all that’s needed …

Meat Mushrooms Wild Foods

Pan-fried Sausages with Dark Beer and Porcini Mushrooms

Summer isn’t even over yet, but with Labor Day weekend upon us, there’s already a little bit of fall in the air. Shadows are growing longer, nights are cooler and soon, instead of picnicking, we’ll be tailgating. There’s another September tradition worth mentioning: Oktoberfest, the German celebration of beer and all the wonderful food that accompanies it. Everyone loves Oktoberfest. Who doesn’t enjoy drinking beer and eating sausages?  (Not that we really need an excuse.) But why is Oktoberfest celebrated …