Once Upon A Chef

Big Italian Salad

 

I’ve always believed that a good salad is the mark of a good cook. It makes sense: a well-made salad must have a pleasing combination of textures and a perfect balance of salty, sweet, bitter and sour…that’s cooking school 101. So with that in mind, it’s good to have a few standouts in your repertoire. This one is my family's favorite; it’s perfect with Spaghetti and Meatballs, Lasagna or anything else in that Italian comfort food realm.  It’s a little fancier than your standard “house” salad but, rest assured, it will still put you in the mind of your favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

When it comes to making meatballs, most people wing it with a little bit of this and a little bit of that...sometimes they come out perfect and sometimes they don't. I happen to like a sure thing, so I came up with an easy recipe that yields flavorful, tender yet hearty meatballs every time. You might be surprised to see what's in them.

Golden Roasted Cauliflower with Pecorino Romano Cheese

Poor cauliflower...such an under-appreciated vegetable. Everyone passes over it at the grocery store, not quite sure what to do with it; it's more colorful neighbor, broccoli, gets all the attention. I admit, I'm guilty too, though not at all because I don't like it...I do! It's the kids...whenever I make it, they walk around the house holding their noses. Subtle, right?

Apple Rum Raisin Bread Pudding

It’s taken Michael and me almost ten years of marriage (and lots of gentle hinting) to figure out Valentine’s Day. He finally understands that half-wilted roses from the grocery store – no doubt purchased on his way home from work – are not the key to my affection. And I finally realized that he appreciates a homemade dinner, dessert, anything way more than a gift that eventually shows up on our credit card bill. That's my guy :) and that’s where this insanely good bread pudding comes in.

Savory Cornbread with Cheddar & Thyme

When it comes to cornbread, there are two devout camps: the Southerners and the Northerners, and both are passionate about their cornbread. Southerners, of course, are a bit more opinionated on the matter...cornbread is their specialty and they take it very seriously. I’ve lived most my life in the DC area – right smack in the middle – so I could really go either way.

Chicken Chili with White Beans

Chili is a staple at every Super Bowl party but, let's face it, most versions made with ground beef and store-bought seasoning mixes will leave you feeling guilty and stuffed, and desperately searching for a TUMS. Not this one...this is a hearty and healthy chili that you can actually feel good about eating. It's made from scratch, loaded with veggies, and chock-full of protein rich chicken and beans. And let me tell you, this is no girly chicken chili, even your manly football fanatics will love it.

Chocoholic Muffins

 
The men in my life all have one thing in common: a strong, deep-seated penchant for chocolate. Growing up, my dad lived on a steady diet of Nestle Crunch bars and Oreo cookies. These days, I live with chocolate lovers of a more discriminating sort (no offense, dad:)) – my husband and son, who know that a little begging and praise is all it takes to get me in the kitchen, covered in cocoa powder. These tender muffins with a double hit of chocolate are one of their favorites...and just as true chocoholics would, they eat them for breakfast. 

Let's Get Cooking! This Sunday at Bloomingdale's Tysons Corner 1-2 pm

  

 

Hi Everyone! I'll be at Bloomingdale's Tysons Corner on Sunday from 1:00-2:00 pm doing a cooking demonstration in the housewares department. Please come by and say hello!

~Jenn

Thai Ginger & Sweet Red Chili Shrimp

When Michael and I were newly married and living in the city, we used to go out to dinner almost every night. We worked long hours, had an apartment with a teeny-tiny kitchen (we kept our bicycles in it!) and were a stone’s throw from tons of great restaurants.

Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

 

This comforting side dish is like a rustic version of mashed potatoes. To make it, simply boil a few pounds of baby red potatoes (unpeeled), smash them with a dinner fork, and mix them with butter, Parmesan cheese and seasonings. So easy…and everyone loves it.

Banana Bread with Coconut and Pecans

I just came back to freezing cold reality after a long and relaxing vacation surrounded by palm trees. So you can hardly blame me (despite this being the season for virtuous New Year's resolutions and all) for craving something warm and comforting, something with a hint of tropical flavor, to ease the transition. I'm talking about this heavenly banana bread...I've been making it for years, but it's never tasted better than right now.

Leek and Parmesan Quiche

This is so much more than your everyday quiche. The recipe was inspired by my semester abroad in France, when everyday for lunch, I would walk to the pastry shop near my university and treat myself to an individual quiche fromage…a delicious little habit that quickly cost me all my skinny jeans.

Postcard from Longboat Key, Florida

 
Greetings from Longboat Key, everyone! Hope you're enjoying the holidays and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2010!

~Jenn

Crispy Ginger Cookies

This is my all-time favorite ginger cookie, and believe me, I've tasted my fair share.  Over the past month, I've tried at least eight different recipes, all of which yielded cookies that were either too hard, too soft or overpoweringly spicy. This one is perfect. It's got just the right balance of spices -- think ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and black pepper -- and a wonderfully, buttery crisp texture.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Cooking for people you don't know is easy, but cooking for friends -- especially those who knew you before you could cook anything -- now that's pressure!  So when I offered to bring dessert to a holiday party for my high school friends, the heat was on. It had to be good, it had to be fun, and it had to look like I didn't try too hard.