Imagine this: creamy polenta, roasted baby bella and shiitake mushrooms, crunchy walnuts, pungent blue cheese and a big ol’ ribeye steak. That is our idea of a simple, elegant steakhouse meal at home, and this mushroom polenta is the perfect side dish for the occasion! A lifetime ago, before kids, my husband and I enjoyed a dish reminiscent of this at Union Square Cafe in NYC. It’s a bunch of humble ingredients, but they come together in a show stopping way. We love to enjoy this on cool fall and…
Continue ReadingPan Fried Fish Cakes (Made With Fresh Cod)
These Classic Fish Cakes have all the same great flavor as a Maryland crab cake, but at a fraction of the cost. With big pieces of fresh cod in every bite, they’re bursting with flavor thanks to Old Bay seasoning, Dijon mustard, and lots of fresh herbs (parsley, dill, and chives). Fish cakes make a quick and easy appetizer, main course, or snack. Once pan fried, serve them with a quick and easy homemade tartare sauce, the perfect complement for both cod cakes and crab cakes alike! Enjoy alongside a…
Continue ReadingSoy Sauce Eggs with Jammy Yolks (Shoyu Tamago)
What Are Soy Sauce Eggs? Soy sauce eggs (also called shoyu tamago) are slow boiled, 7 minute eggs with a jammy center that marinate in a soy sauce and garlic mixture overnight. Once peeled, the eggs infuse with the marinade and take on a deep brown color. This is total chef’s food, and exactly the kind of meal I’d want to eat after a long night working in a kitchen. If you’re a ramen lover, you’re likely already familiar with soy marinated eggs, which are often served halved on top….
Continue ReadingLemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Lemon Glaze
Bright, Citrusy, & Ready In Just 30 Minutes! There’s something irresistible about biting into a warm, bakery‑style lemon poppy seed muffin: the golden, gently domed top gives way to a moist, tender crumb that bursts with fresh citrus. Tiny poppy seeds add a delicate crunch, while a tangy Greek‑yogurt base keeps each bite light (never greasy) and softly springy. A quick lemon glaze drizzled over the still‑warm muffins amps up the zing and adds just the right touch of pastry‑shop gloss—perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a mid‑afternoon pick‑me‑up. I am…
Continue Reading20-Minute Shirred Eggs with Asparagus
Ingredient Notes How to bake eggs Baked eggs come in many forms, but shirred eggs are a real showstopper. Something magical happens when you combine eggs, heavy cream, and fresh herbs. The word that comes to mind is luscious. Think impossibly creamy, yet light; elegant, yet homey. They’re the best of all possibilities, and while they take a little more forethought than making scrambled eggs or a perfect fried egg, I assure you they are worth it. How long to bake eggs Let’s start with prep time. A mere 5…
Continue Reading35-Minute Tandoori Oven-Roasted Carrots
What is tandoori? Tandoori can refer to both a method of cooking (in a tandoor, or a large clay pot), as well as a flavor profile. In this recipe, I use a tandoori spice blend — comprised of paprika, cumin, coriander, garlic, ginger, and cardamom — to flavor oven roasted carrots. Is it spicy? Tandoori is not spicy, but rather has a lot of warm notes. However, when it is mixed with yogurt (as it is here), I find it to be extremely mild. It’s full of flavor, but not…
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