Lobster! 55 Fresh & Simple Recipes for Everyday Eating by Brooke Dojny

From the moment I first heard about Brooke Dojny’s new book, Lobster! 55 Fresh & Simple Recipes for Everyday Eating, I couldn’t wait to get a copy and cook from it. A long time contributor to Bon Appétit and the author of more than a dozen cookbooks, Brooke, who lives on the coast of Maine, gives readers 55 mouthwatering ways to prepare America’s favorite shellfish. Lobster pasta bathed in a rich tomato cream sauce, pizza topped with lobster and arugula, lobster and corn risotto, and much more will tempt you to pull out your lobster pot! Continue reading

Corky’s Barbecue, Memphis, TN

I grew up in Memphis, considered by many to be the barbecue capital of the South. My husband, a fellow Southerner, raised in nearby Alabama, is as crazy about pulled pork barbecue and ribs as I am. So, for his birthday last month, I organized a party for a few friends and picked up the phone to call Corky’s, the 28-year old barbecue restaurant that has been voted #1 in Memphis more than 22 times! You can order online or call, but either way, you’ll discover an array of products. I always opt for the six one-pound packages of pulled pork that cost $99 (including shipping) and feed 18 to 20. Continue reading

Almond Pound Cake with Peaches and Mascarpone Cream

Peaches and cream are a celestial pairing, and make sublime garnishes to the almond pound cake featured here. The cream in this particular duo is extra special, enhanced by the addition of some mascarpone cheese, while juicy summer peaches are simply peeled and sliced.

Butter, sugar, eggs, and flour plus a touch of almond (from chopped nuts and extract) are all that are needed to assemble this delectable pound cake. It can be baked two days ahead and easily serves 12, making it an easy finale for a summer cookout for a crowd! Continue reading

Summer Vegetable Galettes

Mid to  late summer is the season for exquisite produce at my local farmers’ market. There are bins at each stand brimming with vegetables in vibrant hues. This irresistible produce was the inspiration for the following recipe for savory vegetable tarts. The tart shells are made with purchased puff pastry sheets that are cut into squares. A creamy spread of goat cheese and Parmesan is smoothed over  Continue reading

Sunday Brunch by Betty Rosbottom

Guess what’s in my basket this month—my newest book, Sunday Brunch, published  by the wonderful people at Chronicle Books. This is the third in a series and follows Sunday Soup and Sunday Roasts. You’ll find a cornucopia of delectable dishes in this collection that should make you rush to the kitchen and invite friends over for brunch. There’s a chapter devoted to eggs–scrambled, pan-fried, poached, baked, or in omelets—and another that features Continue reading

Salmon Burgers with Easy Remoulade Sauce and Watercress

When July arrives, cooks everywhere know that it’s prime time for burger cooking. My husband, a devoted fan of any type of ground meat or fish patty cooked over an open fire, refers to this season as “burger heaven!”

Although I prepare my share of classic ground beef rounds and top them with grilled onions and good melting cheeses, I also love to try new creations like the delicious salmon burgers featured here.

Created by my friend and talented chef, Matt Sunderland, these burgers are especially light in taste since they are prepared with fresh salmon fillets that are roasted quickly, then Continue reading

Blauw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Blauw Amstelveenseweg 158-160, Amsterdam 1075 XN, The Netherlands, 020 – 675 50 00

Rijstaffel at Blauw in Amsterdam

I’ve been to Amsterdam at least a half dozen times, and although the Dutch capital now has a cornucopia of note-worthy Dutch and ethnic restaurants, I always opt for Indonesian fare. My husband and I adore rijstaffel (that translates as rice table), a spread of Indonesian dishes all served with rice. During a brief two-day visit last month, we went with several friends to a new Indonesian place called Blauw. Continue reading

Potato Salad with Chorizo and Chives

This potato salad is a new and delicious twist on tradition. Small red skin potatoes, boiled in their skins, then quartered, and chopped hard-boiled eggs form the base, and are accented by bits of chorizo, a smoked Spanish sausage available in many supermarkets. It is the chorizo with its subtle smokiness that makes this potato salad so distinctive. These three ingredients are tossed together in a mustard and shallot vinaigrette, then sprinkled with snipped chives. Continue reading

Jacques Pépin in the Pioneer Valley

Jacques Pépin Comes to The Pioneer Valley on July 9, 2012

Come and see Jacques Pépin and daughter Claudine Pépin; purchase Jacques’ new book, Essential Pépin and have it signed from 1 to 3 PM at the The Odyssey Bookshop. There will be special seating for book purchasers and VIP ticket holders. (Books from home can only be signed with a purchase at the event.) Tickets available at Odyssey Bookshop. Click here for all the details and to purchase tickets for A Gala Tribute to Jacques Pépin: A Chef for All Seasons at the Hotel Northampton, also on July 9, 2012. All proceeds benefit WGBY.

Markets of Paris Second Edition by Dixon Long and Marjorie Williams

If you or your family or friends have a trip planned to Paris, you’ll want to purchase a copy of Markets of Paris Second Edition by Dixon Long and Marjorie Williams. First published in 2006, this paperback, with insider information on the legendary food, flea, antique, and other markets of France’s capital, has just been reissued with fabulous updates and additional information. Just the right size for travel, this petit livre with gorgeous photos, can easily be tucked into a purse, a tote, or a backpack. Organized by arrondissement, it’s also a snap to use. The authors lead you to Paris’ celebrated outdoor food markets Continue reading