Recipes
The Smoothest Mashed Potatoes
I’ve made mountains of mashed potatoes in my little life by faithfully adhering to the method I learned in cooking school. And I’ve always been reasonably happy with the results. But really, how far wrong can you go with potatoes, butter, and cream? Who cares if the mashed potatoes are…
Very Very Crispy Chicken Thighs
This is a loose technique recipe. You can make 2 chicken thighs or 8 chicken thighs following these instructions and then top the thighs with a sauce of your choice or no sauce at all, perhaps just a squeeze of lemon. Skin on, bone in chicken thighs Kosher salt Freshly…
Fried Catfish
Yield: 6 servings Rice bran oil for frying the fish (or any high heat oil) 6 (7 to 9-ounce) US farm-raised catfish fillets 2 cups buttermilk 1 recipe fish fry mix (recipe below) Heat the rice bran oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven over high heat until it reaches 350…
Fried Rice Puppies
1 cup long grain white rice 2 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper 1 can (10.5 ounce) French onion soup 1 tablespoon butter 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup dry bread crumbs oil for frying, preferably rice bran oil In a…
Chef Airis Johnson’s Jambalaya
NOTE: This recipe can be cut in half and all proteins don’t have to be used (i.e. shrimp can be omitted) but are highly recommended.Serves 6 to 8 2 tablespoons butter 1 small onion, diced 3 celery stalks, diced 1 small green bell pepper, diced 4 garlic cloves, minced 1…
Butternut Squash, Date and Blue Cheese Crostata
Start to finish: 2 hours Hands-on time: 45 minutes Servings: 6 1 small butternut squash (about 1 ¼ pounds), peeled, seeded and cut into slices about ¼-inch thick 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 large leeks, white and light green parts sliced, halved, sliced 1/2…
Sauteed Fish with Gazpacho Vinaigrette
Fish needs a little acid, even just a squeeze of lemon to perk it up. I have gone a little further here with a gazpacho vinaigrette. Gazpacho is a Spanish soup with many variations but the basic one as we know it is a cold chunky tomato vegetable soup. I…
Skillet Apple Cranberry Pie
Start to finish: 3 hours 15 minutes (45 active) Servings: 6 Pie Dough (recipe below) or 12 1/2 ounces storebought pie dough 2 ½ pounds mixed apples (your choice) peeled cored and sliced ¼-inch thick 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice ¼ teaspoon table salt ¼…
Bahamian Soup
Serves 8 to 10 2 ounces diced slab bacon, rind removed if any is on it ¼ cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced 1 Scotch bonnet, seeds and stems removed, minced 1 medium sweet onion, peeled and diced medium 4 celery stalks, cleaned and diced medium 1…
Cut Up Salad
Serves 8 1 ½ cups avocado, peeled and cut into medium chunks, chilled 1 ½ cups papaya peeled and cut into medium chunks, chilled 1 ½ cups ripe mango, peeled, pitted and cut into medium chunks, chilled Feel free to add our substitute the fruits as nature avails them! Bibb…
Pesce all’Acqua Pazza (Fish With White Wine and Cherry Tomatoes)
Yield: 4 servings Easy enough for a weeknight, this simple, simmered fish dish originated along the Amalfi coast, where seafood is eaten regularly. Acqua pazza, which means “crazy water” in Italian, is derived from the way Neapolitan fisherman used to cook the day’s catch; in seawater, imbuing it with salty…
Two Minute Eggnog
Ingredients Serves 4 to 6 2 pints premium-quality vanilla ice cream 1/2 cup rum, cognac, or bourbon or more to taste Pinch freshly grated nutmeg Place the ice cream in a large covered glasss or stainless steel bowl in the refrigerator to thaw. Stir in the rum or desired flavoring…
Duck Fat Popovers
Start to finish: 40 minutes plus 1 day and 1 hour resting time Hands on time: 10 minutes Servings: Makes 10 to 11 popovers 4 large eggs 2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons melted duck fat, divided 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon table salt Whisk the eggs in a…
Two Minute Eggnog
Serves 4 to 6 2 pints premium-quality vanilla ice cream 1/2 cup rum, cognac, or bourbon or more to taste Pinch freshly grated nutmeg Place the ice cream in a large covered glasss or stainless steel bowl in the refrigerator to thaw. Stir in the rum or desired flavoring…
Peking Style Duck Wraps
Makes 8 wraps, 4 servings Hands-on time: 25 minutes Total preparation time: 25 minutes Ginger Hoisin Sauce (recipe follows) 1/2 medium napa cabbage 1 medium jicama 1 medium red bell pepper 4 medium scallions 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon hot red…
Bistro Duck Breasts
Makes 4 servings 6 Peking duck breast halves Kosher salt 1 shallot, minced (about ¼ cup) 1 cup chicken broth ¼ cup dry red wine 2 teaspoons coarsely crushed black peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 teaspoons water 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon unsalted butter Score the skin…
Turkey Keema with Sweet Potatoes and Stuffed Peppers
Note: we did a double recipe for 8 people because we were -re-using the leftovers later in the week. The recipe for 4 and for 8 are below. You should make the recipe for 8 if you are planning on preparing the stuffed peppers later in the week. For 4…
Fresh Ricotta Cheese
The first time I ever made ricotta cheese was in my dining room at Gourmet Magazine. It was based on a family recipe from the magazine’s art director Richard Feretti. And it was amazing. Not only did it taste so much better than the supermarket version (anything homemade tastes better…
French Onion Soup Burger
If you’re a fan of traditional French onion soup – and who isn’t? – you’re going to love this burger. It’s kitted out with all of the ingredients that make the soup such a treasure – tender, browned onions, beef broth, red wine, Gruyere cheese, and French bread – and…
Alsatian Cheese and Onion Pie
Start to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes Servings: Makes three 10- x 12-inch pizzas 6 ounces bacon, sliced thin crosswise 4 cups thinly sliced onion salt and black pepper 8 ounces crème fraiche 1 large egg yolk pinch nutmeg 3 ounces coarsely grated gruyere cheese Pizza dough (recipe below) or…
Here’s a Tasty Little Hors D’oeuvres!
My cousin Josh, a very fine chef, made up this hors d’oeuvre when we were both at the family farm in September and he noticed an excess of very large sage leaves– fontina, wrapped in prosciutto, sandwiched with sage, dipped in flour and fried. I improved on it slightly by…
Buttermilk Pork Chops
The key to this recipe is the buttermilk, a great tenderizer. On the inside the chops turn out very juicy. On the outside the panko breadcrumbs create a wonderfully crispy crust. It’s almost as if you had deep-fried them. Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: 30 minutes Total preparation time: 1…
Lemon Cheese
Makes 6 – 8 small servings of lemon caciotta Hand on preparation time: 20 minutes Total preparation time: 40 minutes 1 half gallon of fresh cow’s milk 2 teaspoons of rennet 1 lemon, zested In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat to 98 degrees (body temperature). Add…