Saturday, February 16, 2013
A cookie with a fruit filling, how can you go wrong?
Purim, which begins next Saturday (Feb. 23) at sundown, is my favorite Jewish holiday. For children, it is a time to wear costumes and enjoy carnivals. For adults, it is a time for heavy drinking. You are actually required to get drunk on this holiday (how drunk is up for debate). It was a very popular holiday on my college campus. While religiously mandated binge drinking can lead to some memorable moments, my greatest memories of Purim come from making the holiday's official food—hamantaschen. These are triangle-shaped cookies with a filling made of fruit, poppy seeds or various other edible items. Here is a hamantaschen recipe from my grandfather Albert Friedman. I am especially proud to share the recipe this week because my grandfather…
Sunday, February 10, 2013
This dish wil warm up your winter.
That was quite a storm we experienced! While the snow has stopped falling (for now), it is still cold outside. And what better way to warm things up than a hot meal? One of my favorite cold-weather dishes is my girlfriend Pammy Ross' Portuguese chili. Pammy is nearly full-blooded Portuguese (with a little Irish in the mix) on her mother's side and Italian on her father's side. She is proud of her ethnic background (with a healthy habit of ancestry research) and likes to use traditional recipes and then tweak them to create her own dishes. Enjoy and tell us what you think! Portuguese Chili 1 red pepper Half a yellow onion 3 stalks of celery 1 can of dark red kidney beans 1 can of baked beans 1 pound linguica 1 large can of crushed …
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Enjoy the big game with big flavor.
I know you're upset the Patriots aren't playing in the Super Bowl, but stop claiming you're going to skip the big game. You have to watch, or you aren't an American. Besides, now that your team isn't playing, you can relax and enjoy the party without having to worry about every play. Your blood pressure will rise because of all the snacks, not because of iffy calls by the refs. The best features of the Super Bowl, in order, are watching the commercials, eating party food, hanging out with friends (just don't talk while the commercials are playing), making ridiculous bets and actually watching the game. Unlike other media members, I'm not going to spoil the commercials for you, it's too late in the week for me to find you friends and I am …
Saturday, January 26, 2013
One of the world's favorite desserts is honored on Sunday.
Did you know this Sunday (Jan. 27) is National Chocolate Cake Day? If you did, award yourself by making a chocolate cake. If you didn't, award yourself for learning something new by making a chocolate cake. To help you with the process, we have a recipe for you. The following recipe comes from Kathi McNeil, who shared her mother's formula for chocolate cake with Mount Vernon Patch in Virginia. Ingredients Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and baking soda. Mix dry ingredients well and make two small holes and one large hole. Pour the vinegar into one small hole and the vanilla into the other small hole. Pour the vegetable oil into the large hole. Pour two cups of …
Saturday, January 19, 2013
This recipe will make you the life of the football party.
I'm not a psychic, but I know what you will be doing Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to about 10 p.m., at least most of you. You will be watching the big game between our New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens, as the teams battle on the gridiron to determine who will go to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Whether you are going to a big party or watching the game alone in a secret room so nobody can see your emotional reaction to every play, you need snack foods. You'll have to find the chips on your own, but here is recipe for a chili-cheese dip to go along with those chips. This recipe comes from Judy Putnam , editor of the Peachtree Corners Patch in Georgia. Enjoy the snacks, and Go Pats! Ingredients Directions Layer the ingredients in the…
Saturday, January 12, 2013
It has a good flavor and it's easy to make.
I have no idea how this has happened, but meatloaf has gained a reputation of being boring. Shame on the person who started that rumor! If you flavor it the right way, meatloaf can be the best meal of the week. As a proud meatloaf fan, I am happy to share this recipe. The following recipe comes from Leann Pettit, food writer for Plymouth-Whitemarsh Patch in Pennsylvania. Ingredients Topping Directions
Saturday, January 5, 2013
It tastes good and it's good for you. What a combo!
You may have noticed that the temperature has gone down significantly in recent days. Winter has arrived. There are many reasons to enjoy winter, and one is the food. Here is a quinoa casserole that will warm your taste buds while it's cold outside. Not only does it taste good, it's also good for you. This recipe comes from Lindsey Smith, a certified health coach who writes for Dormont-Brookline Patch in Pennsylvania. Ingredients Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees 2. Prepare quinoa as directed. Use the vegetable broth instead of water. 3. Once sweet potatoes, peppers, and onions are prepared, toss them in a bowl with olive oil and salt and pepper. 4. Add vegetable mixture into a casserole dish and cook for 25 minutes or until …
Saturday, December 29, 2012
When you're done drinking, start souping to begin 2013.
Who doesn't want to be wealthier in 2013? To get started toward your financial upswing, be sure eat a big bowl or two of lentil soup. For Hungarians and various other cultures, lentil soup is a New Year's Day favorite because it symbolizes wealth and the hope of a good year for personal finances. Here is a recipe for lentil soup from Victoria Hart Glavin, blogger for the Patch site in New Canaan, Conn. She says the ham bone is optional, so vegetarians can also enjoy this meal in a bowl. Ingredients Sort and rinse the dried lentils. In a large size soup pot add the water, lentils, ham bone, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaf, kosher salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook for 2 1/2 hours making sure to …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Eating is fun, but drinking is more fun.
Christmas is almost here. If you're celebrating, hopefully you've bought all your presents by now. You probably already know what you're doing food-wise. But did you figure out what you're going to drink? If not, we've got a couple drink recipes that are perfect for Christmas. Just make sure you're over 21 and have a designated driver. The following recipes from Eureka-Wildwood, Mo. Patch were created by Suzanne Corbett, an award-winning writer/producer, culinary teacher and food historian. Lemon Drop Champagne Punch With a vegetable peeler, remove zest from each lemon in a long, continuous spiral. Juice lemons, and strain pulp (you should have 3/4 cup juice). Set aside. Heat sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Here are some recipes that add flavor to gift opening.
When you wake up Christmas morning, you have a big smile on your face and head straight to the tree to open those wrapped presents that have been sitting around for a few days or even a few weeks. But you can't open presents on an empty stomach. It would ruin the fun. Make sure the family has the energy to get through Christmas Day with a few of these simple breakfast recipes from Kristi Palmer, a food columnist from the Patch site in Dacula, Ga. MONKEY BREAD 3 cans buttermilk biscuits (1o per can) 3 tsp. cinnamon ½ cup raisins (or more if desired) 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 stick margarine or butter ½ cup or more of chopped pecans Directions: Place white sugar and cinnamon in large Ziploc bag. Cut biscuits into fourths and …
Carol Bragg
9:40 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Thanks so much! This reminds me to pull out my Latkes and Hamentaschen cassette tape and enjoy the songs. more ›