I’ve become a serious deadbeat in the kitchen. Apparently my culinary inspiration has gone the way of the Walkman and every week I scratch my head over what to make for Feast. Stew Leonard’s prepared foods have become my new bestie – ditto for Progresso soups and frozen ravioli – and gone are the days[…]
Spiced Cheddar Cheese Twists
Spiced Cheddar Cheese Twists Makes about 3 ½ dozen Note: You can see in the photo some of these are twists while others were fashioned as the straw variety. I was simply playing with length, width and shape and found that a 6 or 7-inch long straw works best as the longer ones tend to[…]
Montrachet and Walnut Quesadillas with Apple, Fig, and Date Salsa
Mary Anne here. At Feast on the Cheap, we’ve written our fair share about enjoying breakfast for dinner. And Mariel realized recently that when I broke out the pancake batter for our night-time repast when she was just a little girl, it was more an act of…ummm…laziness, rather than altruistic, motherly benevolence. Busted by my brood,[…]
Potato, Leek and Prosciutto Parcels for Secret Recipe Club
Mariel here. Since I spent last week camping out in the Adirondacks, I didn’t get a chance to sample my mom’s amazing-looking Potato, Gruyere and Canadian Bacon Galette. In fact, the description of this tasty creation seemed to burrow itself into my brain and lodge there, so much so that I did the unthinkable on[…]
Shrimp Po’ Boys with a Spicy-Sweet Remoulade
Mary Anne here. It would seem we’re on a sandwich roll here – get it? Oh whatever. From Mariel’s Crispy Chicken, Fried Egg and Prosciutto Sammie and my Classic Lobster Roll to these ridiculously rich Open-Faced Peach and Prosciutto with Brie and Arugula Sandwiches, we could practically open a deli! Thanks to the steamy temps outside, I[…]
The Classic Lobster Roll
Mary Anne here. It has always astonished me that the scavengers of the sea command such ridiculous market prices. A century or so ago, these hard-shelled crawlers were actually considered peasant food, but you’d never know it if you’ve bought Lobster Rolls on the eastern tip of Long Island. Last year, fresh shelled lobster meat[…]
Open-Faced Peach & Prosciutto Sandwiches with Brie & Arugula
Mary Anne here. As I cruised my grocer’s aisles this past weekend, the plump, softly furred peaches captured my imagination. I wanted peaches, and I wanted them right then and there – even in their unripened form. Given their immature state, I began daydreaming this “cooked salad” on bread and the following ingredients somehow landed[…]
Spicy Cheddar and Chutney Palmiers
Mary Anne here. It would seem that I’m on a puff-pastry binge these days, but I’ve got a pretty good excuse. Mariel and I are busy with a flurry of catering activity, whether it’s dishing up cocktail fare or composing menus for clients for everything from buffet dinners to week-long private chef requests. No wonder[…]
Puff Pastry Bites with Stilton, Fig Jam, and Candy-Glazed Walnuts
Mary Anne here. Living in the Northeast, this wickedly wild winter left me wanting to hibernate. And while our spring has certainly had its fair share of dark and dreary days, we’ve also enjoyed intermittent bouts of sunshine and warmth. I am SO ready for real spring weather that I’m determined to dust off the[…]
Beer-Battered Coconut Shrimp with Orange-Ginger Marmalade
Mary Anne here. While we normally don’t pay much attention to the “suggested” recipes sent our way – we have to eat what we make, after all – Sam’s Club recently passed along a shrimpy serving suggestion that struck my fancy. Unlike the pay-for-play Panera and Nutella craze that you’ve seen splashed about the internet,[…]
White Pizza with Sweet Pears and Balsamic-Glazed Figs
Mariel here. I’m at a loss for words today – back-to-back deadlines and a few weeks of working straight through the weekend have all but sapped my capacity to think. Thankfully, a plethora of writing assignments has only stoked my appetite, so whenever I’m looking for a break from my laptop, I’ll pop into the[…]
Crab-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Mary Anne here. From the time he was a little boy, my eldest son has been wild for Portobello mushrooms, whether they’re grilled, sauteed in oil and splashed with Balsamic vinegar, or just plain raw. This past week ushered in a flurry of frantic activity in my nursing job, so my boy came home to[…]
Dressed-Up Shrimp Quesadillas with Mango and Gouda
Mary Anne and Mariel here. Recently Mariel and I enjoyed a few days alone at our little family abode and, per usual, food was at the forefront of our conversation. As we pondered what to have for dinner one night, Mariel requested that we make my “fancy quesadillas,” the ones with shrimp and Gouda cheese.[…]
Smoked Salmon Challah Bites
Mary Anne here. As I’ve mentioned before, the Ellicott clan was raised in a Christian-Judeo household. We were confirmed Catholics but our step-dad, George, was a devout Jew. And as he embraced our Christmas and Easter traditions with all the enthusiasm of an excited toddler, we honored his religious holidays as well – and none[…]
Jalapeno Corn Fritters with Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish
Jalapeno Corn Fritters with Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish Makes 18 fritters Ingredients for Sweet Pepper Pineapple Relish: ¼ cup sweet onion – $0.89 2 ½ cups fresh or canned pineapple. If you use canned, opt for the type in natural juices – $2.39 1 small red bell pepper – $1.22 ¼ cup fresh cilantro –[…]
Watermelon Bites with Feta, Fresh Spinach and a Cilantro-Mint Pesto
Mariel here. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but this month’s crop of watermelon seems to trump any melon I’ve relished in years past…that or I’m suffering from seasonal amnesia. Inspired by a particularly tasty treat I enjoyed this past holiday weekend, I decided to try and incorporate this juicy summer staple into a non-dessert[…]
Ahi Tuna Poke
Mary Anne here. At our most recent family chow-down, my niece, Heidi, whipped up this smashing appetizer in about 10 minutes. Initially I didn’t deem sushi-quality Ahi Tuna Feast-worthy (given its high price tag), but when I saw how far it went in my family of gastronomes, I quickly changed my tune and sweet-talked my[…]
Tips for Crowd-Pleasing Chicken Wings
Mary Anne here. If you’re just learning to cook, chicken wings may just be your easiest and most gratifying entree into the world of home cooking. Whether you prefer sweet, spicy, homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce; fresh or dried spices; Asian-inspired, Basque, or Tex-Mex, whatever region, season or spice your palate prefers, the tiny wing[…]
Tapas-Style Chicken Wings
Mary Anne here. Cilantro, Jalapenos, garlic, and freshly squeezed lime juice give these chicken wings a south-of-the-border flavor and they’re a popular addition to any buffet or cocktail party. Serve with Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce on the side. Oh, and they’re born to be accompanied by a frozen Margarita. Tapas-Style Chicken Wings Serves[…]
Sweet and Spicy Red Hot Buffalo Wings
Sweet and Spicy Red Hot Buffalo Wings Serves 6 Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice – stock 1 Teaspoon cayenne pepper – stock 1 Teaspoon garlic powder – stock salt and freshly ground pepper – stock Tabasco sauce: 10 to 20 “hits” – stock 2 Tablespoons honey – stock 1 cup favorite BBQ sauce plus[…]