Luxurious foods are always on Valentine menus: lobster, crab, scallops, oysters, and other fish and shellfish, which inspired the fishmonger to comment, “Nothing says true love like dead fish.” Nor is killing the live lobster a prelude to a kiss. Be kind to your sweetheart and shell the seafood before serving. Lobster meat is easily […]

Yes, we all love to eat tortilla chips with guacamole at next Sunday’s party, but how about thinking outside the bag? I like to serve a variety of vehicles for eating party dips. Try some of these new crunchies at the next TV party: Fried Chips (cooking in 350-degree vegetable oil and immediately sprinkled with […]

On cold and blustery snowy days, I like to eat brightly-flavored food that will warm me up. This Thai-style chicken dish features a strong citrus taste and is delicious served over rice cooked with peas. The turmeric gives the sauce an attractive color. The heat of the chile peppers will warm you up! Lemon-Lime Chicken […]

The short answer is no. Most foods taste best when freshly made and served. But when preparing for a big meal, we get lots of questions: Can I freeze mashed potatoes? Can I freeze apple pie? I don’t have time to make everything on Wednesday and Thursday! Many foods change their texture after defrosting. The […]

The favorite recipe from yesterday’s cooking class was the balsamic sauce on seared salmon. The sweet and sour qualities of balsamic vinegar are a wonderful compliment to many foods. Plus, the capers add saltiness and the raisins add sweetness. I also use this sauce on roasted vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, onions, or any […]

I am often asked, “Do you really cook every day?” Yes, because cooking and baking offer so much pleasure! Yes, we do bake every day in the kitchens of Kitchen Conservatory. Stop by and taste some of our delicious samples of wonderfully-aromatic baked goodies. This week features a tropical version of the classic banana bread, […]

Not all quick breads are sweet. Quick breads can also be savory appetizers, such as cornbread, or aromatic side dishes, such as bread pudding. This sausage-nut bread is delicious with a bowl of soup for a hearty lunch. Mexican chorizo is a spicy, raw sausage that needs to be cooked before using (Spanish chorizo, which is used […]

Whether you call them scones or biscuits, warm and buttery pieces of bread are irresistible. Stud the scones with chocolate and cherries and a simple dough is a beautiful gift. Stop by Kitchen Conservatory to taste a sample of these yummy rolls. This scone recipe is courtesy of store manager and pastry maven Hilda Willman. […]

When liquids are reduced — and the excess water boiled away — the flavor of the liquid is concentrated and wonderful. All kinds of liquids can be reduced and used as a very flavorful addition to food: chicken or beef stock, balsamic vinegar, port wine or other wines, or heavy cream. A wonderful liquid to […]

Garlic is a bulb, which is planted in the fall, to be harvested next year on July 1. Garlic is a wonderful addition to your garden, because it is a low-maintenance plant that delivers delicious results. To plant garlic, separate the heads into individual cloves. There is no need to peel the cloves. Plant each […]