Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Double Gloucester and Stilton Grillers

Grilled Gloucester and Stilton Sandwiches

I would guess that the first grilled cheese sandwich you ever ate was made with white bread and pasteurized, processed American cheese. This is not that sandwich!

First, we do away with the tissue paper white bread. There’s nothing wholesome about that! Next, the cheese needs some updating or should I say it needs a change of locale. Now we need to add a little adult taste, but still keep something for the kids.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Roasted Garlic Roasted Breast of Chicken

Roasted Chicken with Roasted Garlic

I like perfectly roasted food. Meats of all types taste like they should. Vegetables, especially root vegetables, become stars in their own right. And any excuse to cook with or otherwise consume Roasted Garlic is a noble and virtuous thing! The taste is amazing, and not nearly common enough, which I suppose is what keeps us from getting bored but who could get bored with that! So saying “roasted”, twice in the name of this recipe is not a typo.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

I Got the Chicken Cordon Bleu(s)

Chicken Cordon Bleu

I don’t usually use this space to describe a dish to this extent, but since Chicken Cordon Bleu is often considered pedestrian, I want to entice you to try this one. From this dish’s humble Swiss schnitzel beginnings, came a rise in popularity in the late 1950’s, advancing to stardom in the 60’s. A period when the term “blue ribbon” meant the tops! Typically a cutlet topped with a slice each of ham and Swiss cheese then folded, breaded and fried, we’ve seen many variations on this theme.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Pollo Pepperazzi

Chicken and Peppers

Braising is magical! This cooking method, whether fast or slow always imparts terrific flavors. When roasting or grilling chicken parts and pieces I usually recommend leaving them as intact as possible and always end up with juicy results. But occasionally, and it’s always recipe dependent, I do like to separate the meat from the bone. Sometimes it’s purely esthetic, but in this case it is all about even cooking during our first few steps as we build up the layers of flavor that will contribute to the braising liquid.