TIP OF THE DAY: Breadcrumb Topping On Pasta

TOP PHOTO: Mac & cheese, crumbed for crunch and glamour. Photo courtesy Morgans Hotel | NYC. BOTTOM PHOTO: Linguine tossed in olive oil, Parmesan and herbs, topped with bread crumbs. Photo courtesy All’onda | NYC.   If you peruse recipes for mac and cheese, you’ve likely noticed that the better recipes—certainly those by name chefs—regularly…
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Boston Cream Pie Recipe & History For National Boston Cream Pie Day

October 23rd is National Boston Cream Pie Day, but don’t let the name fool you. Boston Cream Pie is a layer cake: two layers of buttery sponge cake sandwiched with crème pâtissière (pastry cream or vanilla cream filling) or custard filling and topped with a glaze of chocolate ganache. The history and recipe follow, but…
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HALLOWEEN: Jack O’Lantern History & Macarons

Yummy jack o’ lantern macarons from Williams Sonoma. Here’s the history of macaroons and macarons. Photo courtesy Williams-Sonoma.   We love these jack o’lantern macarons, made exclusively for Williams-Sonoma by Dana’s Bakery. We asked ourself: We know the history of Halloween, but not how the jack o’lantern got its name. So we researched it, and…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Top 10 Pasta Cooking Tips

It seems like a no-brainer to boil pasta, yet there are several “best practices.” For National Pasta Month, here are some basic pasta tips that many people—including our interns—don’t know. 1. USE A LARGE, LIDDED POT. Pasta needs room to cook without sticking: 4-5 quarts of water per pound of pasta. Although it may seem…
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Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) Are In Season: Recipes & History

Fresh from California, sunchokes are in season. They’re typically harvested in the fall, around October, after the plant’s flowers have died back. Their flavor gets even better after a light frost. Their autumnal availability makes them a seasonal ingredient for many fall and winter holiday dishes. This brings us to the question: What are sunchokes?…
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