I've always read and heard great things about using a grill pan, but I've been too scared to use one. Why, you ask? Simple. I have a relative who is a huge fan of the grill pan, but everything they've ever cooked on it has come out dry and overcooked. [Let us all take a moment now to say a collective prayer that said relative doesn't actually read my blog.] Let's go on. So I left the grill pan in the back of the cabinet, opting instead for the outdoor grill, the George Forman grill, or in a pinch, the broiler. Then the blackout happened. And for three days I faced very limited cooking options. 30 degrees and a foot of snow meant no outdoor grill, the lack of power eliminated the … [Read more...]
Barbecue Flavored Roasted Corn Kernels: a Healthy Snack
I've been real quiet lately, I know. But I have a good excuse. No, a great excuse. Lets start with the month of Jewish Holidays, in which I cooked and fed a monstrous amount of food. No time for pictures, no time for writing up posts. No time to breath, really. All the while, I thought to myself "well, as soon as the holidays are over (they are now) I will be cooking up a storm, photographing everything I make...after all, I will have so much time." I must have forgotten ab0ut *work* when I formulated those thoughts. My company closed for the entire week of Succos, which is very nice on Succos. Then we all came back, and the reality hits. It's not like one person going on vacation, when … [Read more...]
Party Treats Round Up
I've promised a post with some pictures and ideas of things I made for the party a couple of weeks ago for my new baby niece, and I think it's finally time to deliver. First, some background for my non-Jewish readers. The party is a traditional Jewish celebration in honor of the birth of a baby girl. In most cases, including this one, the party took place on Sabbath afternoon, just after prayer services. This party was attended by mostly neighbors, as observant Jews don't drive on Sabbath. My brother lives in a very young neighborhood, with what often feels like two million kids. When planning the goodies I made, I tried to balance pretty (for the women) and kid-friendly. Here's what I came … [Read more...]
Puff Pastry Apple Pie Cups with Crumb Topping
Lets try a little pop quiz, shall we? 1) Are you one of those people who is terrified of making real old fashioned pie crust? 2) Do you simply not have time to make a pie crust, roll it out, and prepare a proper pie? 3) Do you have an over-abundance of delicious fresh apples this fall, and need a great way to use some? 4) Do you enjoy simple, easy and seasonal desserts? If you answered yes to one of more of the above questions, you will love this recipe. It's as simple as buying some puff pastry, peeling and dicing some apples, and making a simple crumb topping. Really, it's that simple. Besides, who doesn't love single serve desserts? Puff Pastry Apple Pie Cups with Crumb … [Read more...]
Sweet Lemon Lukshen (Noodle) Kugel
I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to describe a kugel to my non-Jewish readers. I know I am not the only one. I guess Kugel is one of those quintessential Jewish foods that have slowly seeped into the non-Jewish culinary world, but not nearly enough. A kugel is generally a side dish of sorts. It can be sweet or savory, and served with almost any meal. In some observant Jewish houses, (such as mine!) it doesn't feel like Shabbos (Sabbath) without potato kugel (a casserole of sorts, featuring finely ground potatoes). In many cases, especially for a holiday like Rosh Hashanah, where the tradition is to eat sweet foods, a sweet kugel is a great accompaniment to a meal. For my Jewish … [Read more...]
Bakery Style Cookies
A recent comment on Twitter by my friend pointed out that the last three cookie recipes I posted involved rolling the balls in something before baking. "Too complicated", she complained. "How about a cookie recipe that uses 4 or five ingredients?" As soon as she said that, I knew I'd be posting these delicious cookies. The dough involves just three ingredients, and takes minutes to throw together. The end result is a soft, almost flaky cookie that will make you nostalgic for the sprinkle covered bakery cookies of your childhood. These cookies are endlessly versatile. While they are hot out of the oven, they are soft and somewhat pliable, so you can press something into the cookies (as I … [Read more...]
Healthy Orange Carrot Muffins
When I posted the recipe last week for my Healthy Chocolate muffins, I received a far better reception than I'd have dreamed. I mean, post some kind of decadent cookie recipe and you know people will like it, but it's a surprise- albeit a pleasant one, to discover that people are so fond of delicious yet healthy recipes. At work too, people loved my muffins. And why not? They are delicious, and they don't make you want to avoid your scale. So I decided to take those muffins and make some other versions. Why should chocolate get all the fun? Let's invite some other flavors to the party! I'm not sure why, but I've always been tempted by the non-dietetic carrot muffins I made for my family … [Read more...]
Two Colored Squash with Shallots and Herbs
So it turns out this Overtime Cook idea is harder than it sounds. Does it sound hard? It's harder. I get home at about 7:30 pm on a good night. By the time I cook and eat supper and start my baking, it's late. I finish at a ridiculous hour, then try to photograph my food, clean up, shower and get a few minutes of sleep before I wake up at 6:30 the next morning for another round of this. Whew. Just typing my schedule is getting me tired. Time for another super easy recipe, don't you think? Let's talk squash. Zucchini, to be precise. I'm pretty sure zucchini is my all time favorite vegetable. I love it's versatility; one vegetable can turn into a delicious side dish off the … [Read more...]
Honestly Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Muffins
I've been baking for years now, but have never tasted any of my baked goods. Until Thursday. Yep, you read that right. Tray after tray of mouthwatering cookies coming out of the oven, fresh hot aromatic garlic bread, delicious potato knishes...and I don't taste it. I enjoy them through the enjoyment of my family and friends, but not on my own. It's kind of sad, really, but I have been dieting longer than I have been baking. Occasionally, even a hard core dieter needs a dessert, and that's when I would turn to my local bakery. They sell whole wheat, sugar free, low fat muffins that are... well, ok. Barely. I didn't buy them often, so I wasn't all that concerned. Until last week, when I went … [Read more...]
Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower
I know I give off the impression here that I spend every at-home waking hour in the kitchen, tinkering with recipes and creating all kinds of exciting delicacies. But that isn't always the case. Occasionally (okay, very occasionally) I have a life. I come home from work and gasp do thing. Non cooking things. And when I get home late, the last thing I want to do is spend a ton of time preparing lunch for the next day. Lunch? Why is that a big deal? It is. Let me explain. Yes, my coworkers order in daily (or so it seems). Every time I step into the elevator to leave the building, three (or more) delivery men are coming up to my floor. But I don't order in. Never have, hope never to. It's … [Read more...]