Posts Tagged ‘cooking’

The night of the big sandstorm in mid-July, I was at Rippers. Real Young & Lazy Horse was playing (@realyounglazyhorse). The wind suddenly picked up in fury! Within minutes, the sand was swirling, and the sky had turned to sand. It poured. Someone suggested taking cover on my porch, the closest refuge, so we all made a run for it. It turned into one of those impromptu porch hangs that always seem to be better than planned parties. As the night went on, the conversation got weird, as late-night conversations […]

It’s growing season in the Beach 91st Street Community Garden. Two weeks ago we had our first group clean-up/workday. It was wonderful to see my neighbors that I haven’t spoken to all winter and to meet a few newbies to Rockaway that are now a part of our garden. We overturned our beds, added compost, and weeded. Many gardeners’ kale overwintered, and the plants bolted with flora. The bees were loving the bright yellow flowers that reached two feet tall! Lucy (center) and Riva, (right) several years Back. Lucy won […]

Did you know that Claudette Flatow of Cuisine by Claudette (CBC) has a cooking show on Youtube? It premiered three weeks ago. It’s called Cooking With Claudette. The episodes teach you how to create delicious recipes like a pro — vegan ones too! Claudette is happy to share her cooking secrets and tips on the show, and one of the first things you learn is that it’s all about prep, technique and practice. Besides being instructive, the episodes are downright hilarious. In Episode 1: Moroccan Roasted Stuffed Peppers, Claudette is wearing an apron that […]

I want to share these kitchen hacks with you, especially if you’re a cooking newbie. These tips will make the task of cooking less overwhelming so you can focus on the fun part: cooking, experimenting and eating! And even if you’ve been over the stove for as long as you can remember, I’m hoping some of these tips will be new to you and helpful. — Wear sunglasses while cutting onions. When you slice up an onion, microscopic cells containing enzymes turn into a volatile gas. These gases cause a chemical reaction similar […]

Previously published in The Wave. “Push the dough out from the center, roll it lightly and don’t get too close to the edges,” Nicole instructed. “Can you believe I’m Italian and have never made pizza dough before! I’m so embarrassed” I admitted. “I’m Jamaican and I’ve never cooked oxtail, so don’t worry about it,” Nicole responded with a laugh. The conversation flowed naturally. I felt like I’d been in the kitchen with Nicole Russell for years. Nicole is the creator of Last Dragon Pizza in Arverne. We’ve been meaning to […]

Previously published in The Wave My Grandpa Ralph loved to gamble. One vivid memory I have of us, is when we’d go to OTB.  He used to take me to the one in Bellerose, back when they had brick and mortar locations in the city.  I was around 15 years old, and I would place bets for him. He couldn’t see the racetrack program very well  because his diabetes affected his vision. This was also a good way for me to learn. Grandpa Ralph was teaching me how to bet […]

Ohh hey GT fans! Long time no speak. As most of you know, I had a baby girl this past April, Annie Cassidy Gehrhardt. Yes, she is the cutest baby you have ever encountered. Here she is rocking a Queens onsie. Being a mother is the best job I have ever had and I am loving every minute of it. Since pregnancy, I haven’t been cooking as much. While I was pregnant, I was working the same hours I had been prior to pregnancy and making dinner at night was […]

Any good cook will sometimes have to improvise with the ingredients on hand when preparing a meal. I always try to have all the right ingredients on hand but occasionally I too, have to make changes. I do not remember my mother ever running out of food when I was growing up. She was always prepared to make her food exactly the same all the time. It was amazing how the meals tasted the same, year after year and always delicious. She would plan ahead by visiting the local Italian […]

The below is a dip my mom made for Grandma’s birthday, another hit like her Fusilli Salad. I made the dip this past Saturday for a dinner party. My only recommendation on the below is to get “cocktail” or “baby” artichokes. I read in Cook’s Illustrated once that baby artichokes don’t have those harsh inedible leaves like their grown up brother. (kinda like me !) Sometimes in the marinated artichokes, you can get one of those leaves, which isn’t fun. The reviews were consistent the second time around, delicious! Its […]

I made this recipe I found on Cooking.com a few weeks ago for Grandma’s birthday party. It was a hit! Making pesto is expensive but worth every nickel – it’s scrumptious. As an added zing, you might want to add a cup of chopped black olives to the salad. I always alter recipes to make them my own or cater to my guests. A little hint: you may want to thin the pesto with a little extra water, since it’s thick. Let us know how yours turns out. Enjoy! Serves 4 […]