It’s amazing that I’ve been craving chicken soup in 100 degree weather, but I am — and not any kind of chicken soup but one that is crammed with veggies, pasta, and herbs, and this is what it looks like. And in a feeble attempt to make it healthy, I slid in 2 or 3…
Peach Jalapeno Martini
This comes from Mark and Tony from way, way, WAYYYYYYYY back! Still a super delicious cocktail. Makes two: 4 oz Peach Vodka 2 oz White Cranberry Juice 1 oz Triple Sec Juice of one lime 1 Tsp. Sugar Add ice to shaker and two slices of Jalapeno (take out the seeds). Muddle the ice and Jalapeno a bit – not too…
Quadruple Chocolate Brownies
These are absolutely the best brownies ever — the recipe is by Michael Recchiuti, a chocolatier in San Francisco. I think I’ve been making these since the Christmas of 2005 — for 16 years now. Make them for you family and friends — and you will have them under your control!! Ingredients Ingredient Checklist 1…
Ultimate Bolognese Sauce
I have a handful of recipes that I make again and again again — chocolate chip cookies, Parmesan vinaigrette, beef barley stew, Zuni chicken and this recipe — Marcela Hazan’s bolognese. It is perfect as written — and it is easy to make and so incredibly delicious. In fact, I think I’ll make it again…
Gazpacho
Bread mixture 7 oz (about 1/2 a loaf) French Bread — crust removed — La Brea is a good choice 1/4 cup champagne or white wine vinegar 1/4 cup sherry vinegar Soak the bread in 1 cup water, champagne vinegar and sherry vinegar for 10 to 15 minutes until the bread is completely soft. Vegetables4…
Parmesan Vinagrette
I’m a creature of habit. I’ve been using a standard vinaigrette dressing (minced shallots, olive oil, mustard, and some kind of vinegar) for decades. But, I recently had a revelation when I tried this parm vinaigrette from ATK. THIS is my new favorite. Try it. You’ll LOVE it! Whisk 3/4 cup finely grated (microplane) Parmesan…
Churro Cookies
There’s a cookie store here in the Phoenix area called Crmbl that makes these giant cookies — I always tell myself I’m going to divide them into quarters, but then I eat the whole dang cookie. These are my new FAVORITE cookies (actually second favorite because I truly do love the Milk Bar Chocolate chip…
MilkBar Chocolate Chip Cookies
Okay. I am so very serious when I say that these are the easiest and the most delicious chocolate chip cookies ever! Chrisina Tosi of the Milk Bar in NYC (which I have never been to) SLAYS THESE! One day I’m going to go there — but for now, making these at home is more…
Pasta Ponza
Hungry for pasta? This is my go-to recipe when I need pasta, pronto. Easy to make — most ingredients are in well-stocked pantry: olive oil, pasta, capers, bread for breadcrumbs, and pecorino Romano cheese — or Parmesan in a pinch. Try it — super easy — super delish! DIRECTIONS: Butter for greasing the baking dish2…
So Ramen-tic: Broccoli Beef with Ramen
I am a hopeless ramen-tic. I could absolutely eat ramen noodles three times a day — even with the terrible flavor packets–let the public shaming begin! I’ll add them to anything–in chicken noodle soup, in my Szechuan green beans, and they’re completely delicious with broccoli beef. This is definitely a Tony and Mark…
Diane’s Chicken Wings
Love at first bite! Super duper fingerlicking GREAT! EASY to make — light and crunchy outside and flavorful and moist on the inside. Sweet, sour, salty and spicy–all the flavors of Vietnam. My family knows I have a serious addiction to wings, so much so that I will cook an entire turkey (granted, only once a…
Grilled Lemongrass Pork and Rice Noodle Salad
I am in love with Asian Box, a small chain takeout restaurant in the Pruneyard in Campbell. You HAVE to check this out: http://www.asianbox.com/menu Everything on that menu (except maybe the caramel egg) is so delicious, but it took just a couple visits to find my favorite: Lemongrass pork with chilled rice noodles, bean sprouts,crispy…
Cafe Barber 