High Tide

Fish intimidates some cooks because it varies so much from species to species as to flavor profile and appropriate cooking techniques. Recipes: Pan-Seared Salmon with Bacon-Braised Lentils and Porcini Cream; Grilled Bluefish with Tomato Basil Salad and Roasted Garlic Polenta; or Pan-Seared Flounder with Lobster and Crimini Mushroom Cream Sauce.

This month it is time to sink my teeth into a juicy subject. Roasting meat. Roasting meat is probably the most ancient form of cooking. Forest fires and slow deer combined to give our ancestors their first taste of roasted meat. In the 20th century roasting came to mean cooking in dry heat in an… Read more »

The egg has often been called the perfect package. Delicate, yet sturdy. Encased in the porcelain white shell is a bundle of flavor and texture. No single food is as versatile as the egg. A staple for breakfast, it is also a key component in sweet and savory dishes. Recipes Avgolemeno, Coconut Custard Pie, and Angel Food Cake with Seven Minute Frosting

For specialty kitchen equipment, thinking outside the box can save you money. After your trip to the hardware store, head into the kitchen with these recipes for Crème Brûlée and Cedar-planked Salmon.

Greening our kitchens can be relatively painless. Buying local can be as simple as stopping at Duckies on Broadway or other local farmers’ markets to buy what is fresh and in-season before you drive off the island to hit the local grocery store chains. Spring Peas and Pearl Onions with Amish Bacon, Pan Seared Scallops and Leek Potato Hash with Beet Horseradish Puree, Mushroom Vinaigrette Salad, and Poached Local Eggs Florentine using Jersey Spinach

Bread has long been a symbol of life. Wheat from which bread is born has a unique attribute in the plant world. This month try these recipes for Basic Baguette and Brioche.

Our best food holidays are in winter. No matter your ethnicity or holiday traditions, this Christmas season enjoy a taste of Italy with these recipe for Struffoli, Cenci, Almond Macaroons and Cannolis.

This month have a Persnickety Thanksgiving with my recipes for Cranberry-Orange Relish with a splash of Grand Marnier, Silky Smooth Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes and Mom-Mom’s Holiday’s Pumpkin Pie with old-fashioned lard pie crust (optional but worth the effort to find the lard).

In the course of a hectic life, transitioning from summer jobs back to teaching and numerous side projects I have neglected some old friends. Some have been with me since the early days in Mom’s kitchen. My cookbooks. [Recipes: Coq au Vin, Beef Bourguignon]

Cream sauces curries, mustard and horseradish all work with the versatile scallops as well as a variety of starches from pasta and polenta to grits and potatoes. This month enjoy Jersey on a Plate as well as my spin on ceviche.