I’m a big fan of the 4th of July. It’s a holiday with few expectations: good food, great company, and of course, fireworks. The 4th of July might very well be the only day when I prefer to eat a polish dog over a filet mignon, and a handful of potato chips over a homemade gratin.
To recover from a not-so-healthy weekend of eating, I was determined to find the perfect 4th of July “detox” recipe. Last night, I wanted to cook a dinner that was light, citrusy, but still filling. I had just picked up a bag of avocados from Trader Joe’s a few days ago. I also had a large grapefruit lying around, and recalled seeing a salad recipe that included both of these ingredients. I hit up the Google recipe gods, and found that searching for “avocado and grapefruit” was the first step to a very delicious dinner salad. read more…
After living in Paris for a short time, one of the most common questions I get asked is, “So, how was the food?” This is often asked rhetorically, as it is a well known fact that the French know how to eat very well. Indeed, my meals in France were delicious – rich, hearty, and thoughtfully prepared. And the truth is, while I miss the flavorful beef bourguignon, the slow-cooked cassoulets, or even the streetside crepes, what I consistently long for and crave, is le Croque Monsieur sandwich.
Yes, I’ve heard it before: “It’s just a fancy grilled ham and cheese sandwich, right?” Well, not quite. What makes this sandwich so special is the béchamel sauce, which consists of a flour-butter roux, hot milk, nutmeg, and cheese. The sauce is poured over the toasted sandwich, then topped with grated Gruyere cheese. Then the magic happens - the sandwich bakes for 5 minutes, during which the sauce soaks into the top layer of bread, creating an undescribable texture that is creamy and satisfying. read more…
I’ll admit, cooking during a busy work week can be a quite a challenge. This week was no exception with tight work deadlines, evening events, and, well, laundry. Sometimes there are days, weeks, or even months when one needs to fall back on the “safeties” - recipes that are quick, simple and delicious. One of my favorite go-to dishes is Grilled Shrimp Scampi. The recipe doesn’t involve a lot of ingredients, and the bulk of them are fairly common in most kitchens (garlic, olive oil, pasta…) Just a quick trip to the store for fresh shrimp, and I’m 30 minutes away from a dinner I can be proud of, even during the busiest of times. read more…
Earlier this week, I began craving some good ol’ falafel. Growing up in a Persian household, I was used to my Mom making it often, but I never really paid attention to the process. I was primarily focused on the end result :) Many years later, I find myself in my own kitchen with a desire to replicate my Mom’s falafel. In retrospect, it would have made sense to call for her recipe, but that wouldn’t be as exciting, right? Instead I jumped right to the websites of my favorite chefs to see their take on the Middle Eastern fare. read more…
Not only is today Father’s Day, but it also marks the first day of Summer. For me, this means eating especially well for the next few months. I plan to take full advantage of grilling season, and what better way to celebrate Father’s Day than to grill, baby, grill.
This year, I hosted my family for a Father’s Day lunch. In an effort to keep the menu fairly healthy, I originally planned to make grilled halibut tacos. However, I caved in at the last minute to my carnivorous tendencies and added carne asada to the menu. I’m a Daddy’s girl, what can I say.
It had been awhile since I last dabbled in Mexican cuisine. However, today I was reminded of the “labor of love” that graces the preparation of many dishes. There was lots and lots of chopping, leaving a nice glitter of cilantro on about every corner of my kitchen counter. But it was well worth it. read more…