Posts categorized as Recipes

Below are the Five Commandments of Frying. My Mother taught me these rules, her Mother taught her…. and now I share them with you. 1) Buy a deep fryer. If you’re the person who always hosts the parties (planned and unplanned) I recommend buying a deep fryer. The benefits are countless. You get an even, golden-hued fry that’s restaurant quality with a professional look. It’s fun and fast. In seconds the fish, eggplant, etc. is done.  A deep fryer eliminates the common problems of pan frying (see commandment #4). There are many models and sizes out there. Find […]

My first experience with Indian food was when I worked at Bear Stearns for a Brit. It was never called Indian food, it was “curry”. We used to order curry sometimes when we were hungover or whenever anyone had a hankering for it, which was often. Earlier this year,  I had the privilege of  spending a lot of time in London where I visited Brick Lane, which boast the best Indian cuisine in London. I have grown to love Indian food over the years and especially since I’ve started cooking […]

This was my fourth visit to Rustico cooking classes on 39th St. off of 5th Ave. in Manhattan and once again, it did not disappoint. I have gone to the classes alone and with groups of friends. People often ask me why I bother to go to the cooking class, since I am — as I have been told — a pretty good cook. But what is life about if we do not continue to learn something new? And after every class I have learned new techniques or recipes worth […]

Grandma Mary’s Artichoke Pie is actually quiche. I don’t know why we call it pie, we just do. I never thought twice about it until I asked my Grandmother about the recipe. Grandma Mary worked at the A&P on Jamaica Ave in Belrose for 23 years. By the time she retired, Grandma was making about $20 an hour which was a lot back then. We called her money bags!  She seemed to enjoy her work – she was known as a great bag-packer. She new about the sales first and that pleased […]

There’s food that you just start craving when the weather is vortexing. I turn to soup, hearty meats, red wine and a touch of whiskey here and there. Possible explanations for these cravings… We are less active and less social in the winter, which could increase anxiety and depression and lead to stress eating and overconsumption. (I’m guilty of all mentioned here) Comfort foods are generally sweet, fatty and calorie-dense, which may help temporarily improve mood and alleviate anxiety or stress. In other words, many people may be self-medicating with […]

It’s winter and we may get sick – ugh. Here’s a tip we all forget about, and it’s a cheap alternative to all the drug store stuff. If I feel like I’m getting a sore throat, I immediately grab for the salt. As a kid, I remember my Mom making me gargle with warm water and salt when I complained of  a sore throat or ear pain. And like magic, it absolutely soothed my discomfort. My Grandma Pauline actually rinsed her mouth with warm salt water once a day. I remember her […]

It’s a hit! I’ve been experimenting with dips the past few weeks, in particular a spinach-artichoke. This rendition includes an extra sharp provolone which gives it the “punch” I was looking for. I like using BelGioioso, it’s a quality cheese and it’s reasonably priced  (9 oz. for $6). If you have a food processor this recipe is a quickie (I’ve been obsessed with mine lately). The garlic, onion, tomato and artichokes can be chopped all at once! Add the mixture prepared in the food processor to the spinach, cheese, mayo and […]

  The Christmas songs always start right after Thanksgiving. The car radio would remain on the station playing the festive songs, and as my girls were growing up they would get so excited because they knew what was just around the corner. The weeks up to Christmas were a constant reminder of that special day. We had our annual trip to visit Santa at Macy`s for photos. We would stop and look at the tree at Rockefeller Center, and stop in St. Patrick’s to light candles. Then we would walk […]

UPDATE: My cousin Diane immediately recognized this recipe when I posted it to Facebook a few weeks ago. It’s Great Grandma Florence Capobianco’s “Pizza Chena”  – an Italian Easter dish. And my Aunt Rose Marie thinks it’s her handwriting! Diane, having made this many times shared with me her suggestions for perfecting the Capobianco Pizza Chena. Purchasing pizza dough is a huge timesaver, rather than all the work involved in making the dough from scratch. Diane always par bakes the pie shell. She explains that the bottoms are hard to cook because the filling is […]

Ok the name doesn’t sound appetizing but I swear it’s really good! Maureen gave me this recipe, it’s fast and easy, you just “dump” everything into a 9×13 inch pan and bake. Now you understand the name… This is a great one for experimentation – blueberry could work well as a substitute for the cherry filling. For variety, I want to try different types of nuts – pecans, almonds, pignoli!  I would also love to add fresh fruit toppings. This can only get better and better! We do need a new name […]