Wow… it is Friday. It is the last day of March. The sun is shining and we had a beautiful Spring day in the Pacific Northwest. Now it is cocktail time and I am seeking something robust and interesting. I think a Boulevardier will fit the bill nicely. Rye Whiskey paired with sweet vermouth and Campari makes a simple, clean, yet robust and flavorful drink – a little spice from the rye, a little sweet from the vermouth and a little bitter from the Campari. This cocktail is a cousin to the Negroni (which is…
Today I had an impromptu large lunch and really could not fathom making dinner tonight. So I decided to make an appetizer. Typically this dip is a one I do for parties, but I just wanted a small portion with some baguette slices. This recipe features ingredients from my pantry – which is a double bonus since I did not feel like going shopping either! If you can have breakfast for dinner, why not an appetizer? Save Print Crab and Artichoke Dip Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 35…
Tonight’s recipe is a combination of several Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice recipes I found during my research and of course, my own little tweaks. The primary tweak is adding more vegetables (a the great recipe extender!) providing different textures and flavors to the standard fried rice. Naturally, the key to this dish is the Thai basil. I have read that Italian or regular basil can be substituted, but I cannot imagine that being possible. Thai basil has a very unique flavor and fragrance – which is what this dish is all about! So…
Today I made a simplified beef barley soup – something satisfying without a huge amount of effort. I adopted some of the tricks from both America’s Test Kitchen and this Serious Eats recipe to help this dish not become an all day cooking event. This recipe makes a two healthy portions – perfect for sharing with a friend or saving for delicious leftovers. Since the cooking is done in a covered dutch oven or stock pot in the oven, the likelihood of drying out is minimized. I paired this soup with a few slices…
Tonight’s cocktail is another tequila based tipple – the Tequila Old Fashioned. Simple to make and easy to drink, this cocktail is muddled orange slices, agave nectar, Grand imperial, and tequila – preferably a reposado or anejo tequila for maximum flavor. The reposado and anejo tequilas will most closely match up with the whiskey in an original Old Fashioned, so you will be rewarded by using a good tequila (my favorite – Herradura Anejo). This cocktail can be made with any oranges, but think of the stunning color and flavor a blood orange would…
Tonight’s dish was created to support the side dish I wanted to make. Sounds backward, right? Well, it is but let me explain. Recently I had a friend extol the spice blend known as Berbere. This spice blend is a key ingredient in Ethiopian cuisine and I was thoroughly intrigued. Recently, I bought some to taste and use in new recipes. Berbere is spicy and robust… and wonderful! Now my mind was in overdrive as I contemplated ways to use this unique combination of flavors. I settled on tonight’s side dish…
I was recently exposed to this Ethiopian spice blend and just had to find a new way to use it. This spicy and robust blend of chilis, coriander, cumin, etc. just screams to be used. But I was stumped for a little bit on how to incorporate it into the ingredients and way I cook. Then I had that lightning strike epiphany… use it like a curry powder and kick up some vegetables. First up, broccoli. And I was not disappointed! The flavors enhance and deepen the sweetness of the sautéed broccoli and the…