FOOD FUN: Potato Smashers

Potato smashers—tasty and fun to smash. Photo courtesy PotatoGoodness.com.   The name “smashed potatoes” has already been claimed for roughly mashed potatoes with the skins on. So this recipe is called Potato Smashers. We love smashing the potatoes (or the kids will enjoy doing it for you). And the prep time is just 5 minutes,…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Turn Leftovers Into Ragout (Stew)

The term ragoût (rah-GOO) may sound fancy, but it’s the French word for stew. When you make a quick-and-easy version from leftovers, it’s certainly more tempting-sounding than “leftovers stew.” The word origin is a bit more glamorous: ragoûter, meaning “to revive the taste.” And yes, it’s etymologically related to the Italian ragù, a sauce for…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Antipasto Salad For Lunch Or Dinner

Given the attention our recent Greek salad recipe got on Twitter, we’ve decided to follow up with an antipasto salad. You don’t see these on menus too often, because it’s not an authentic Italian dish. It takes traditional antipasto ingredients and layers them atop romaine: an Italian “chef salad.” It’s a hearty lunch or dinner…
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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery

In 2002, Kee Ling Tong left a career on Wall Street to create artisan chocolates in SoHo. Kee’s Chocolates have garnered fans worldwide. In 2003, international investment banker Joan Coukos launched Chocolat Moderne in Chelsea. More recently, Umber Ahmad traded finance for flour (and plenty of chocolate) and opened Mah-Ze-Dahr, an online bakery. Her wares…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Match Your Vinegar To Your Food

Apple cider vinegar is a versatile favorite. Photo courtesy Heinz.   Vinegar begins life as alcohol. Through fermentation, alcohol is converted to full-strength vinegar, which is then diluted with water to achieve a 5% acidity level for cooking and table use. (Here’s the history of vinegar and how it is made.) How many different types…
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