What I've been cooking lately


As I've said before, there's almost nothing I enjoy more than the pleasures of good food with good company. I love having friends over for dinner, and I love cooking and serving them dishes that make them moan ... one of several very enjoyable ways to make someone moan. ;^)

It's also always a good way to try out new dishes, ingredients, flavors, techniques, etc. There's always more to learn, whether I'm still in culinary school, between classes, or working making food for a living.

Here's some of the stuff I've been cooking at home over the last several months:


"Little Big Night"

In honor of the dinner served in the film "Big Night".

Green Apple Risotto

Timpano di Maccheroni
A huge pastry filled with ragú Napoletana, pasta, peas, meatballs,
Parmagiano and mozzarella cheeses and more (which took two days to make)

Sweetened Mascarpone Cheese with Strawberries
and a drizzle of Old Balsamic Vinegar


A Going-Away Dinner
for my friend Steve, May 1997

Sweet Potato and Crab Chowder
Lump crabmeat with sweet potatoes, sweet Texas 1015 onions
and cream, flavored with Louisiana tasso ham

Seared Creole-Seasoned Ahi Steaks
Seared rare, stuffed with Truffled Foie Gras
with Roasted Shallot Port Sauce and Steamed Asparagus

Crawfish Mashed Potatoes
with fresh chives, crème fraîche and smoked bacon

Endive, Watercress and Walnut Salad
with lemon-walnut vinaigrette dressing

1994 La Crema Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

Banana, Pecan and Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding
with Mint Crème Anglaise


Thanksgiving Dinner 1997

Maple Butter Glazed Roasted Turkey
(marinated for 48 hours in a brine with maple syrup,
sugar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, red pepper, and herbs)

Turkey Giblet, Sage and Porcini Mushroom Gravy

Shrimp and Andouille Dressing

Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Pears

Green Beans with Walnuts and White Truffle Oil

Roasted Root Vegetables (Potatoes, Parsnips and Turnips)

THREE different kinds of cranberry sauce, including:
Port Wine Cranberry Sauce with Ginger
Regular Jellied Cranberry Sauce that Slides Out of the Can (for my roomie), and
That Shocking Pink NPR Susan Stamberg Cranberry-Onion-Sour Cream-Horseradish Thing

Chocolate Pecan Tart


Other Stuff

Tea-Smoked Swordfish on Thai Red Curry Risotto
with Peas and Peppers

Andouille Cheese Grits Topped with Fried Eggs and Creole Sauce
Bananas Foster French Toast

Pan-Seared Red Snapper on Ancho Corn Chili, with Grapefruit Margarita Sauce
Jicama, Carrot and Iceberg Lettuce Salad with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
Strawberry Pie with Homemade Rhubarb Sorbet

Shrimp Creole

Grilled Ginger-Garlic Marinated Chicken
Sweet Potato Chipotle Gratin
Coconut-Cardamom Custards with Roasted Banana Sauce

Grilled Halibut with Roasted Corn Sauce, topped with
Grilled Basil-Garlic Portobello Mushroom and
Fresh Herb Salad with Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Creole Crab Cakes
Orange-Pecan French Toast

Shrimp and Andouille Gumbo
White Chocolate Bread Pudding

Pasta Jambalaya with Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp

Jokai Bableves (Hungarian Bean and Smoked Sausage Soup)

What's that? You wanna come over? Well, let's see if I can fit you in ... ;^)