Pesto is a creamy green herb sauce you can make by hand in about ten minutes. Classic pesto is a combination of fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nut kernels, grated parmesan cheese, salt, and olive oil. But pesto is not a specific dish, but the name for a style of sauce; so substitutions for the […] More
Risotto—the creamy Italian rice dish—is simply made from rice, butter or oil, onion, stock, Parmesan cheese, and technique. Serve risotto as a first course, part of a larger meal, or make it its own main course by adding meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables and serving it with a salad. Limitless ingredients can be added to […] More
Just cooked English peas, sautéd spring onions and roasted, salted almonds are a delicious combination of tender sweet, sweet pungent, and crunchy just salty. You can set this side dish next to grilled fish or chicken or mashed potatoes and a roast. It’s not too filling yet will holds its own. English peas and spring […] More
Artichokes are always eaten cooked. Once cooked, they can be served hot, warm or cold. Pull off each leaf; dunk it in the sauce; put it in your mouth and pull, scraping the tender flesh through your teeth. Cut the tender nut-flavored bottom into bite-sized pieces, dunk in sauce and eat. Serve with béchamel, butter, […] More
The portobello mushroom is a large brown mushroom. It’s immature self–a small brown mushroom–is called a crimini mushroom and sometimes baby bella. In France, the portobello is called champignon de Paris. Champignon is the French word for fungus. In the wild the common brown mushroom can have a cap that grows 2 to 4 inches […] More
The oyster mushroom gets its name from its cap which, some say, resembles an oyster. The stem of the oyster mushrooms is perhaps more distinct; it unfurls something like one of those old-time paper lady’s fans. The oyster mushroom has been cultivated in Asia for centuries. Today it is very popular in Japanese and Chinese […] More
Here is a simple recipe for les haricots verts à l’ail or green beans with garlic. Serve this simple side dish with pasta, chicken, steak, or salmon. This recipe comes from La Cuisine du Comté de Nice by Jacques Médecin. Médecin was the mayor of Nice and also a chef in that city for many […] More
Look around and you will find a dozen or so ways to make “authentic” succotash. The bottom line on succotash is that this cooked dish always includes lima beans and corn kernels—unless it doesn’t. You see, sometimes “real” succotash doesn’t include lima beans but green shell beans instead (just ask Fannie Farmer). So, at least […] More
Sautéing will keep the crispness and flavor of fresh vegetables intact. Sautéing is a technique very similar to Chinese stir-frying. Fresh vegetables that lend themselves to sautéing include mushrooms, thinly slice carrots, zucchini, onions, green peppers, and corn kernels. Print Sautéed Corn Author Steve Albert Yield 1 serving Ingredients Fresh corn kernels: 1 cup […] More
Avocado has a sweet grassy flavor and the texture of butter. Match avocado with mild and subtly flavored partners. Avocado will add richness to a dish. Match avocado with bacon, scallions, tomatoes, basil, red onions, chiles. The recipe here matches avocado with shellfish–lobster and crab. PrintAvocados with SeafoodAuthor Steve AlbertYield 4 servings Adapted from Henri-Paul […] More
Stephen Albert