Your first question is what the heck is a vegetable garbure? Short answer: a ham and vegetable French peasantry stew. Long answer: a French stew I found in Ruhlman’s Twenty which enabled me to use up the bacon rind I’ve been saving in the freezer from the last time I made bacon. Doesn’t it alwaysContinue reading “Getting Colder Outside, Make a Hearty Vegetable Garbure!”
Tag Archives: salt
Homemade Garlic Sausage – No Turning Back Now!
I did it. I made some sausage. The old saying goes something like: “you never want to watch laws or sausages being made.” Having lived and worked in our nation’s capital for over a decade before moving to Chicago I can honestly say making sausage is much easier than making laws and absolutely tastier. IfContinue reading “Homemade Garlic Sausage – No Turning Back Now!”
Pumpkin Risotto – Another Flavor of Fall
It sure has gotten cold recently here in Chicago. Time for a hearty warm dish which reflects the autumn season upon us: pumpkin risotto. Yes, pumpkin risotto. The great pumpkin’s time is now (just ask Linus). My unofficial pumpkin season starts in late September and ends at Thanksgiving. That Thanksgiving pumpkin pie is usually theContinue reading “Pumpkin Risotto – Another Flavor of Fall”
Curried Apple Fritters – Fall Flavors
We’re all moved in and the kitchen has been unpacked so I’m back! We’ve changed seasons since we closed on our new home at the beginning of September and I couldn’t be more happy about it. I love fall. One of the reasons I love it so much is apples. Nothing says fall to meContinue reading “Curried Apple Fritters – Fall Flavors”
Spanish Tortilla – Another Delicious Treasure from our Barcelona Adventure
A couple of weekends ago Cheryl and I were in San Francisco for a wedding and we were reminded of many good memories from our joyous day. My thoughts usually end up thinking about our honeymoon and inevitably about what we ate. I’ve previously posted about a cooking class Cheryl and I took while onContinue reading “Spanish Tortilla – Another Delicious Treasure from our Barcelona Adventure”
Pesto: An Easy Summer Sauce
If your back porch basil plant looks anything like mine then it means you have a bush instead of a plant. The plant seems to grow back two leaves for every one I use. What to do with all this basil? Make some pesto. Pesto is a delicious summer sauce and your basil plant won’tContinue reading “Pesto: An Easy Summer Sauce”
Stuffed Cabbage – Comfort Food the Way Grandma Made It
I know I’m in the minority here but stuffed cabbage is my all time favorite comfort food. I could eat it all day every day for a month and not get sick of it. I kid you not. Like the Porlos Testa and the Green Bean Salad this is my grandmother’s recipe which she probablyContinue reading “Stuffed Cabbage – Comfort Food the Way Grandma Made It”
Simple Homemade Dill Pickles Using Basic Brine
As you may have been reading, lately I’ve become a bit obsessed with curing food. I’ve made bacon (and successfully done it a second time) and duck prosciutto which both turned out well. From reading through Ruhlman’s Charcuterie I’ve found it amazing what salt can do. Behold the power of salt! Ok, next up inContinue reading “Simple Homemade Dill Pickles Using Basic Brine”
Couscous Salad (don’t worry, summer’s almost over)
Ok, back to summer salads! This particular couscous salad is Cheryl’s favorite. I’m not sure if there’s a special ingredient in it she really likes or if it’s the combination of everything, but whatever it is she gets very happy when I make it. As with most of my summer creations, this couscous salad isContinue reading “Couscous Salad (don’t worry, summer’s almost over)”
Summer Squash Quiche
Summer Squash Quiche Zucchini and yellow squash are flooding the summer markets so here’s another good light, summery dish to bake for a brunch or dinner. Making a quiche is much easier than you think. It’s really a savory tart but with a bit more custard which makes it good enough for an appetizer orContinue reading “Summer Squash Quiche”
The Roaming GastroGnome 