Thursday, August 13, 2008 Potato gnocchi can be lumpy, doughy, stodgy and heavy or they can be as they should be, soft fluffy pillows of goodness. I’ve made both types and learned from my mistakes. They key is to use cooked potatoes that are as dry as possible, to use as little flour as possible […]
VDP: Basil Gnocchi with Eggplant Sauce Read More »
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 Having a bounty of basil in the backyard gives me more of an excuse to eat pesto. I love the stuff on almost anything. Here as a pasta sauce for cauliflower. I was hoping to make some fresh pasta for this dish, but on a Tuesday in a busy week, I
VDP: Penne with Cauliflower and Pesto-Ricotta Sauce Read More »
Friday, August 1, 2008 This is one of those dishes that sounded much better that it turned out. It was not bad, per se, just ok. I envisioned a light but very flavorful dish of stuffed eggplant. I’ve had similar versions that included ground beef or sausage and it was delicious. This was a bit
VDP: Stuffed Eggplant Read More »
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 One of the few cold “soups” I enjoy a lot is Gazpacho. I put quotes around the word soup because this refreshing summer treat is more like a beverage. It is best poured in a tall glass and chugged. On the other hand, Gazpacho is quiet filling and makes for a
VDP: Classic Gazpacho Read More »
Saturday, July 26, 2008 This is the first risotto I made without using chicken stock. Instead if the customary butter in there I also used olive oil. The result was quiet good, but I did miss the goodness of a rich stock in there. Instead, I used some fresh vegetable stock to cook the risotto.
VDP: Summer Risotto with Pesto and Ricotta Read More »
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Eggs. Is there anything they cannot do? From savory to sweet, the egg is the undisputed queen of the kitchen. Without it we have no custard, no quiche or crème caramel, no egg-pasta and no omelets. Without the whites of the egg we have no fluffy meringue preparations, no macarons and
Saturday, July 6, 2008 I’ve written before about Saj bread (or Lebanese Mountain bread) in more detail in my post about Labib, the wonderful little pie shop in Beirut. So, I am not going to repeat the same info again. Suffice it to say that I got a major craving for this delicious bread and
VDP: Saj (Mountain) Bread with Labneh and Greens Read More »
Saturday, July 5, 2008 Focaccia is easier and less forgiving that pizza to make at home and could be just as satisfying. I do not like it when bakers attempt to turn focaccia into pizza by piling a crap load of toppings on it. It should be a simple flat bread, flavored with olive oil
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 I’ve never had an eggplant dish that I did not at least like and I doubt I will. IF I do, it will probably be due to pure execution or pure conception. I am sure it will in no way shape or form be the fault of this divine purple fruit.
VDP: Asiah’s Eggplant Curry Read More »
Sunday, June 15, 2008 I love a good steak or pork chop (or chicken or ribs for that matter) cooked over natural wood charcoal as much as the next guy. Let’s face it, the reason we light up our grills is to cook meat. It is the ultimate pleasure that hot charcoal can provide. However,
VDP: Vegetarian Grilling Read More »