A Sad Day in Paris

Posted on January 8, 2015 by brosbottom

We were just finishing lunch with friends when one of our pals checked her email and announced that there had been a terrorist attack in Paris. Stunned, we paid the bill and asked the garçons at the bistro what they knew—not much except that a weekly satirical publication, Charlie Hebdo, had been attacked. My husband and I decided to continue our errands in the city, stopping in a café to watch on a TV screen more details as the tragedy unfolded. On the bus back to our quartier, I noticed how many riders were checking their cell phones—like us, probably searching for more specifics of this terrible act that had claimed a dozen lives.

When we arrived back at our small rented apartment, we turned on the television to once again get an update of the day’s events. What struck us as extraordinary was that thousands of Parisians had already started to gather at La Place de la République in memory of those who had been killed and wounded and also to stand firm for freedom of expression against ideological terrorism. (In fact, such demonstrations were held throughout France.) Continue reading →

Paris Gets Ready for 2015!

Posted on December 31, 2014 by brosbottom

Famous Mont d”Or cheese which arrives for the holidays

Truffles on a bed of rice in my local cheese store–check out the price!!

Countless delicious cheeses–which to choose is the problem

Quatrehomme Cheese Shop

Entry to La Grande Epicerie–the food emporium at Le Bon Marché

Dark Chocolate pastries from Le Bon Marché for our New Year’s Eve dinner

Waters are taken seriously at La Grande Epicerie at Le Bon Marché

A favorite wine shop on rue du Bac

Champagne for tonight!

We’re back in Paris in the familiar Left Bank neighborhood where we’ve welcomed the beginning of many a new year. The quartier where we stay is festooned with lights and bright window displays, and the food shops remind us how important entertaining friends is at this time of year. The French call December 31 le révillon, or St. Sylvestre, and food and Champagne are at the center of every get-together. Here’s a glimpse of a few of our neighborhood stores where we’ve spent the better part of today selecting delectables for ringing in 2015 with friends.

Ringing in 2015 in Paris!

Posted on December 26, 2014 by brosbottom

This year we’ll be in Paris to ring in 2015, but, rather than dine out in one of the city’s restaurants, we’ll be cooking a meal with our friends, Harriet and Philippe, who live there. Our hosts have decided that after marathon Christmas entertaining, we should follow a simpler philosophy of “buy some, make some” for this special night. And, happily, that’s especially easy to do in France.

Harriet’s local boucher displays gorgeous fowl, completely stuffed and oven ready, which she buys and roasts along with chestnuts and vegetables. Our pals love to purchase oysters, a French tradition at this time of year, and a cache of delectable cheeses. I’ll order a dessert from one of my favorite patisseries, and will volunteer to bring champagne and appetizers. Continue reading →

A Great Roast for Christmas Dinner!

Posted on December 18, 2014 by brosbottom

photo by Susie Cushner

Last week my son, Mike, who hosts our family’s Christmas dinner, asked what we should make for this special meal. It took me only a second to answer, “Let’s do those racks of pork from my Sunday Roasts.” He wasn’t convinced so I continued to push my choice, enthusiastically listing the recipe’s merits. Racks of pork are inexpensive, but they look stately and impressive. They cook in far less time that a turkey, and pair well with countless vegetables and sides, I explained. Finally, I got his attention.

This recipe for racks of pork is one of my favorites and is simplicity itself to prepare. The racks are brushed with curry oil (made by whisking curry powder into olive oil) and baked with red onion wedges. I suggest using two racks of five ribs each to serve ten generously, but you won’t find these racks displayed in your grocery’s meat department. You’ll need to call the butcher, and order them ahead. In the original version I served the pork with a fall apple chutney, but for this holiday variation I reworked that condiment adding cranberries for color and replacing cider vinegar with balsamic. Continue reading →

7 Holiday Gifts for Food Lovers!

Posted on December 10, 2014 by brosbottom

If you’re still trying to finish your holiday shopping, here are some suggestions (all favorites of mine!) for the cooks on your list. From $4.99 for a unique little metal pot scrubber that would make a great stocking stuffer to $99.99 for a six pound gift pack of pulled pork barbecue from Corky’s Barbecue in Memphis (where I grew up!), each is special. All are available online–an easy way to shop when the weather in so much of our country is unpredictable!

Stonewall Kitchen Towels

I discovered these towels, which are so soft you could wrap a baby in them, while teaching at Stonewall Kitchen in Maine. They launder beautifully even though they curl along the ends slightly after the first wash. That’s never bothered me (and doesn’t affect their great absorbency). They are white and with a colored border that comes in varying hues.

Stonewall Kitchen Tea Towels. $5.95. Available online and in stores.

Metal Scrubbing Brush

Brushtech’s petit metal scrubbing brush is a tool I use every day to clean my pots and pans. Its scrubbing power is amazing, and It takes up only a small amount of storage (unlike other bulkier brushes or balls). Just don’t use them on your fine china, they’ll take the decorations right off! Great as a stocking stuffer!

Brushtech Same as Steel Wool Brush. $4.99 (most retailers). Available online and in specialty cookware stores such as Sur la Table. Continue reading →

Pistachio Brownies—A Hit at the Party!

Posted on December 4, 2014 by brosbottom

One of my favorite parties of the year is the late fall dinner my husband and I host for his freshman seminar class at Amherst College. The students, bright, lively, and engaging, come from around the country as well as from several continents. This year the group hailed from New York to California and from cities in Ethiopia, Uruguay, and Viet Nam. So, I decided to plan a menu with global accents, and offered as openers baked Medjool dates filled with Gorgonzola Dolce and almonds, followed by vegetarian Greek moussaka and French daube de boeuf à la provençale. All-American brownies, prepared with an unexpected flavor combination, made a fine finale.

The dark chocolate, fudgy brownies, studded with chopped pistachios and scented with fragrant orange peel, quickly disappeared and were given a thumbs up by the crowd. I was delighted since I had spent several days tweaking the recipe, replacing traditional nuts with pistachios and omitting vanilla in place of grated orange zest. Extra festive touches included decorating the brownies with a zigzag pattern of ganache and adding a sprinkle of finely chopped verdant pistachios.

These brownies are petite and slim perfect for a holiday indulgence. A single recipe yields 16 squares and can be stored for several days in the fridge. I was so pleased with their popularity that I’m making another batch for a neighborhood potluck this weekend!

Continue reading →

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 26, 2014 by brosbottom

Candles can add warmth to your centerpiece.

Young family members can help decorate the table-my grandkids designed my place cards.

Seasonal flowers (like lilies, eucalyptus, and berries) make a great centerpiece

Gourds on lemon leaves made a good side arrangement.

Break out whimsical pieces (like this small ceramic terrine) for your feast—now’s the time to use them.t!

Votives with Lady apples and Seckel pears.

Pull out your good china and silver for the big day!

From my table in New England to yours, Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! Just click on any of the photos for a quick slide show!

Pumpkin Panna Cotta for Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 19, 2014 by brosbottom

A few weeks ago my long-time assistant, Emily Bell, suggested that I offer readers a chance to end their Thanksgiving feasts with silky smooth pumpkin panna cotta in place of the traditional pumpkin pie. She had a favorite recipe for this Italian specialty–typically a mixture of cream, milk, and sugar bound with gelatin–and quickly convinced me that we could rework it, adding pumpkin puree and spices. My mouth was watering just thinking of this confection, so I wasted no time heading into the kitchen.

It took several tries before the flavors were balanced and the texture perfectly creamy, but finally we had a winner. I proposed that we add as garnishes dollops of softly whipped cream and crushed pecan brittle. The snowy white cap of cream contrasted nicely with the dusty orange hue of the “cooked creams,” while the glistening pecan brittle with its crunch was a great foil for the smoothness of this dessert. Continue reading →

Cooking Smart –A Delicious Soup to Make Ahead

Posted on November 13, 2014 by brosbottom

This fall has seen the coincidental publication of my Sunday Casseroles and When Paris Went Dark—The City of Light During the German Occupation, my husband’s new book. As a consequence, the past two months have been a blur of travel for us. I’ve been to Maine, Boston, and Ohio for book events, and tagged along with my spouse to New York, Washington, and Connecticut for his talks and signings. This chaotic schedule has meant that I’ve had to cook smart, and make plenty of dishes in advance. Soups, it turns out, have been my salvation since they are so easy to do ahead. One of my favorites has been a comforting Italian –style “zuppa“ of tomatoes, fennel, and sausage.

This hearty soup is made by sautéing slices of sweet, fennel-scented Italian sausage along with leeks and then gently simmering the duo in chicken stock and tomatoes. Simple seasonings of basil, red pepper flakes, and garlic round out the robust flavors, while a sprinkle of grated Parmigiano provides a fitting garnish.

Continue reading →

A Rustic Fall Stew of Chicken and Chanterelles

Posted on November 6, 2014 by brosbottom

After a spell of unseasonably warm weather, it’s turned cold, damp, and overcast in western New England. But rather than bemoan the change outdoors, I use it as an impetus to spend time in my kitchen cooking warming, comforting dishes, like a rustic ragù of chicken with chanterelle mushrooms.

Here is a stew that will take about 45 minutes to prep, but then needs only to simmer gently on the stove top about an hour. For this hearty dish, I season chicken thighs with herbes de Provence, coarse salt, and freshly ground pepper before browning them. Onions, carrots, and brown mushrooms are sautéed next and combined with garlic, bay leaves, and tomatoes. Then the chicken and the vegetables are simmered in stock and wine until the poultry is fork tender.

What really gives this dish its star power, though, is some dried chanterelle mushrooms. After being soaked in hot water until reconstituted, the mushrooms (along with their flavorful soaking liquid) are added to the stew, providing a meaty, autumn taste to the humble chicken and vegetable mélange. Continue reading →

Betty Rosbottom

Food Writer, Cookbook Author, Cooking Teacher

Category Archives: Food News