When you brew a giant batch of saké with a master Kombucha scientist, you end up with a lot of saké. I'm not talking awesome saké, but table saké – the kind of saké that I'm happy to make friends taste, but won't crave after a long day. So what do I do with approximately 10 … [Read more...] about Booze-tacular Turbot, and Other Fish Tales
Main Dishes
Slow-Cooker Lamb Neck Tagine with Chickpeas and Cinnamon
If you think lamb is too expensive, this is the recipe for you. Whereas a leg of lamb will usually cost you ~$30-$40, a deboned lamb shoulder costs maybe $15, and cheaper still is the lamb neck. Yes, there's more fat, and a lot of it is bones, but they're easy to pick out, add a … [Read more...] about Slow-Cooker Lamb Neck Tagine with Chickpeas and Cinnamon
Cider-Braised Turkey Thigh and why the Oven is Better than a Slow Cooker
How could anything be better than the fix-it-and-forget-it mentality of slow cookers and their resulting fork tender meat? you ask. Excellent question. In a slow cooker, the skin (if you use it) ends up flimsy and gelatinous, even if you sear it beforehand. The only work around … [Read more...] about Cider-Braised Turkey Thigh and why the Oven is Better than a Slow Cooker
Masters Sunday Masterpieces and What to Cook for a Potluck
My dad has an annual tradition of inviting all of his golf friends and their partners over to watch the last day of the Masters, the annual golf tournament that ends with someone wearing a green jacket. It's the only time of the year my dad orders catering – he usually gets a … [Read more...] about Masters Sunday Masterpieces and What to Cook for a Potluck
Baby it’s Cold Outside: The Best Soups, Stews and Slow Cooker Recipes
This should be illegal, this cold weather. My nose thought it was done almost freezing off for the year. But it got a nasty surprise the other day when the cold snap came. Now my nose hates me. And all it wants is soup. Fortunately, that's something I can get into. Homemade … [Read more...] about Baby it’s Cold Outside: The Best Soups, Stews and Slow Cooker Recipes
NuPasta: Low Carb and Gluten Free Konjac Pasta
Love pasta but can't do gluten? Or do you hate the idea of empty carbs? Or maybe you miss ramen as much as I do. Here's a solution: NuPasta. It's made with konjac, a mountain plant whose root is a bit like taro but instead of starch contains tons of fibre. Which is why each … [Read more...] about NuPasta: Low Carb and Gluten Free Konjac Pasta
Shui Zu Yu: Spicy Boiled Sichuan Fish
This is a typical Sichuan dish that's quick, light and tongue-tingling. Make sure you find real Sichuan peppercorns. If your mouth doesn't go a little numb, they're not real. You want the burn, because it's not really heat, per se; it's numbing. And sometimes we all need a little … [Read more...] about Shui Zu Yu: Spicy Boiled Sichuan Fish
Sweet and Spicy Slow-Cooker Turkey with Pinto Beans
I kind of cheated on this one. Instead of making a sauce, I just threw in a bunch of my frozen Heinz on Crack (sweet and spicy tomato jam). So if you make this recipe, don't replace it with ketchup or salsa. It won't be the same. The bones you see are the ones I took the meat … [Read more...] about Sweet and Spicy Slow-Cooker Turkey with Pinto Beans
Indian White Bean Coconut Curry
I have a secret. I'm a lactose-free eater who hates coconut. "Oh my God! What ice cream do you eat?" you ask – the obvious question. Either Solo Fruit Sorbet, So Delicious almond ice cream (though for legal reasons it's called "non-dairy frozen dessert") or I make my own almond … [Read more...] about Indian White Bean Coconut Curry
There’s More Than One Way to Cook a Chicken: On Brining and Spatchcocking
So it turns out I had my aphorisms all mixed up. How embarrassing. It turns out that the old saying actually goes: "There's more than one way to skin a cat," which has nothing to do with roasting chickens. And when you type "There's more than one way to roast" in a Google search … [Read more...] about There’s More Than One Way to Cook a Chicken: On Brining and Spatchcocking