Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles Makes 3 quarts Note: You’ll need cheesecloth to make a “bouquet garni”. Simply cut a square large enough to accommodate the pickling spices and mustard seed. Place the spices and seeds in the middle of the square, and gathering up the sides, tie with a piece of butcher’s twine. The[…]
Michael’s Cajun Shrimp with Quinoa
Mary Anne here. My “significant other,” Michael, knows his way around a kitchen. When we first started dating, he actually tried to boss me around, certain that I was inept in his domain. While this preposterous notion tickled me to no end, in truth, he really is quite an accomplished home-cook and, on those nights[…]
Easter Leg of Lamb with Mint and Garlic
Mary Anne here. In my little village, leg of lamb usually carries a hefty price tag and therefore, is not a meat I work with when creating recipes for our blog. Case in point, last year, we touted a wallet-friendlier Easter Sunday Brunch in lieu of lamb, which rang in at $12.99 a pound. I[…]
Hoisin Chicken
Hoisin Chicken Serves 8 Ingredients: 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch cubes – $5.98 ¼ cup cooking sherry – stock 2 Tablespoons corn starch – stock 1 Teaspoon salt – salt ½ Teaspoon sugar – stock 4 Tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil – stock 1 cup sliced mushrooms – $1.98 1 green[…]
Irish Soda Bread
Mary Anne here. If you’re a novice baker and intimidated by the mere thought of bread-making, then this loaf’s for you! Irish Soda bread literally takes fifteen minutes to prepare and under an hour to bake. I whipped up these two loaves right after work and still had time to prep dinner and start writing[…]
Linzer Tarts for Your Valentine’s Day Sweetheart
Mary Anne here. Like most of us, I spend Valentine’s Day indulging in the most delicious, most decadent foods I can find. As a young woman, I loved Valentine’s Day not only for the traditional sweetheart reasons (and promise of gifts with gold and glitter!), but also as another occasion to celebrate the blessing of[…]
Super Bowl Sunday – Get Your Grub On
Mariel here. Until two years ago, I could not have cared less about football…snooore. That all changed, however, when a close friend from college kick-started a girls-only fantasy football league. Fueled by a dual-pronged thirst for victory and the $500 prize, I got into it, really into it. To be fair though, I’m sort of[…]
Old-Fashioned Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes
Mary Anne here. Like many of my baby boomer friends, I rank meatloaf high on my list of all-time favorite comfort foods. It harkens back to my childhood growing up in Levittown when Diners were housed in actual train cars, permanently derailed and kitted out with classic Americana. The very thought of meatloaf brings me[…]
Cornmeal Crusted Cod with Pecans and Coconut
Mary Anne here. While taking stock of my pantry and fridge last weekend, I realized I have an abundance of baking products…and unfortunately, a growing waistline to match! Post-holiday dieting is as much a tradition as the festive meals themselves, but creating appetizing dinners that are both cheap and calorie-conscious can be a challenge…. I’ll[…]
Herbed Croutons
Mary Anne here. ‘Tis the season for cleaning out the fridge and addressing those bits of leftovers too good to toss, but not really all that appetizing in their current condition. This was the case with our leftover breads and rolls from Christmas dinner. And as Michael pointed out, turning bread into crumbs was redundant[…]
White Bean, Kale, and Sausage Soup
Mary Anne here. Our Cassoulet certainly covers the bean and pork superstition that goes hand in hand with celebrating New Year’s Eve, but we thought to offer an alternative, just in case. And, it’s yet again, another soup. Seriously, Mariel and I just can’t get enough of this winter staple! I created this soup after[…]
Rich Turkey Stock – Leftovers
Mary Anne here. In years past, I haven’t had great luck when it came to preparing a homemade stock from the carcass of our Thanksgiving turkey. For whatever reason, my mom’s chicken stock (from her Matzo Ball Soup) works perfectly for chicken, but somehow does not translate when it comes to the mightier bird. I’ve[…]
Turkey Pot Pie – Leftovers
Mary Anne here. After stuffing our Thanksgiving gourds and then relishing 10PM sandwiches piled high with turkey, stuffing, cranberry chutney and even sweet potatoes (a la Mariel – and a new combo for me!), it’s time to make thorough use of the holiday bounty by preparing entrees utilizing our leftovers. There are plenty of recipes[…]
Fig & Olive Pizzettes
Mary Anne here. A couple of weeks ago, we enjoyed one of those perfect autumn days – the sun high enough in the sky to remind us that summer is still close at hand, while the air had that first little nip of fall. Mariel had just returned from her honeymoon, her own glow a[…]
Laurie L.’s Pork “Chops” with Black Currant Reduction
Mary Anne here. It’s unseasonably cold (and even snowing!) here in New York, so I thought the following might warm things up a bit as the sweet scent of the sauce envelops your home. This recipe is truly an oldie, but as delicious in my new version as it was when I indulged in the[…]
Mrs. A.’s Pizzelle Cookies
Mary Anne here. After the spectacular wedding and much-needed vacation for this “M.O.B.,” I’m happy to report that we’re back in full cooking mode and will hopefully make up for the past few weeks of “radio silence.” I can’t wait to try the recipes Mariel has brought back from her honeymoon in South America! She’s[…]
Vegetarian Frittata with Sweet Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Fontina
Mary Anne here. For breakfast lunch or dinner, this filling frittata makes a delicious, healthy, and satisfying meal using whatever is leftover in the fridge. The following recipe utilized mushrooms, spinach and part of an onion that were in quantities too small to be useful for much of anything else. More than ever, I am[…]
The Highs and Lows
The Highs and Lows Feel like Filet Mignon but can only afford ground beef? Or maybe your spouse has invited your new in-laws (or boss, or stuffy maiden aunt…) to dinner on a Saturday night. And as much as you’ve been reining in on the take-out expenses and Saturday night restaurant splurges, we’re all still[…]
Roasted New Potatoes
Mary Anne here. These don’t need much of an introduction. They’re a restaurant menu staple and a real work-horse when it comes to real-live dinner parties. Plus, they’re easy as 1-2-3. Roasted New Potatoes Serves 8 Note: You can make these the day before. If you plan to prepare ahead of time, roast them in[…]