If we can cook it, you can cook it!

Author: Monte Mathews

Claudia Fleming’s Apple Crostata with Bacon Toffee

Claudia Fleming’s Apple Crostata with Bacon Toffee

For such a relatively small corner of the world, the East End of Long Island is long on extremely talented chefs.  Proximity to New York has led many a city chef to, if not abandon the city, set up a second home out in the…

B’Soffener Kapuziner, an Austrian Family favourite nut-based cake, liberally doused with Gluhwein from the Stracey Family Cookbook

         When I was growing up in Montreal, my family had an endless stream of visitors, most of whom had some connection to my parent’s time in Britain during the Second World War.  They were both volunteers—my father was a Major in the Canadian Army…

Spicy (Rotisserie) Chicken Soup from Bon Appetit

Spicy (Rotisserie) Chicken Soup from Bon Appetit

         Let’s face it: this time of year begs for recipes that you can get on the table in no time. This wonderful soup takes all of 15 minutes to make and it’s a perfect warmer for a winter night.  With a tossed green salad and…

Faith Middleton, NPR’s "The Food Schmooze", shares her Thanksgiving Recipes with a little Monte Mathews on the side.

         Recently, I was a guest on National Public Radio’s “The Food Schmooze”.  The show, which originates in New Haven CT, is heard twice a week on WNPR’s stations in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York including the East End of…

Two from One: Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Goat Cheese and Roasted Cauliflower Soup

On a recent “Chopped”, the Food Network TV show that pits four chefs against a basket full of incongruous ingredients, a very sad fact was served up to the audience.  Americans throw away 40 percent of the food they buy!  The dollar amount is staggering: …

Gratin of Nantucket Bay Scallops and Prosciutto

                    The other day I saw the sign pictured on the left announcing the annual arrival of Nantucket Bay Scallops.  Like local asparagus, there are only a few weeks a year when these little sweet morsels make their way into our market.  It’s…

Mason’s Kid-Friendly Favorite: Pop Pop’s Sticky Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing on the Side

Mason’s Kid-Friendly Favorite: Pop Pop’s Sticky Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing on the Side

Photo by Alex Mathews       Mason William Mathews       Just in case you somehow missed it, I  spent 5 of the happiest days of my calendar year visiting my son and his family in California.  Surprise, surprise, I cooked.  I have a…

Melissa Clark’s Penne with Brussels Sprouts, Chile and Pancetta

Brussels Sprouts in Winter on the North Fork of Long Island As a boy, I cannot think of a vegetable I detested quite as much at the Brussels Sprout.  These nasty little cabbages were about as appealing to me as damp pair of socks. I…

Spaghetti Western: Bison Meatballs in a Spicy Tomato Sauce

Spaghetti Western: Bison Meatballs in a Spicy Tomato Sauce

A few years ago, I witnessed the arrival of Bison or Buffalo in my local supermarket.  At the time, a Day-Glo printed sign heralded its arrival in the meat case.  Not only had it arrived but also it was billed as ‘the meat of the…

Just in time for Halloween…Tim Burton Cupcakes

        Our god daughter, Olivia is very special to us.  We were there the night she was born and she’s been a wonderful part of our life ever since. She’s lovely to be with, so much fun and so full of personality. …

A Fish Story: Gemelli with Spicy Scallops and Snap Peas

A Fish Story: Gemelli with Spicy Scallops and Snap Peas

You might want to hide after what I turned up… read on… Here’s a food writer’s dilemma for you:  Say you discovered a great recipe so full of flavor and so easy to make, you literally jumped on your MacPro and started to extoll its…

Lamb Shanks with Vegetables and a Mint Gremolata

         Confession time:  I made this dish just as Spring was arriving. But by the time I got around to writing up the post, Spring had sprung and with it temperatures that suggested getting out of the heat and out of the kitchen.   But now…

Chicken Fricassee with Shiitake Mushrooms and a salute to Chef Jason Weiner of Almond Restaurants and Outstanding in the Field.

         Jane, Jason and John About a month ago, my friends, Jane Maguire and John Quigley of Long Island Mushroom Inc., invited me to attend a special event.  It was a dinner held at the EECO Farm in Easthampton.  It was hosted by a group…

Fish in Crazy Water and a tribute to the woman who introduced me to it and countless other Italian recipes, Marcella Hazan

Fish in Crazy Water and a tribute to the woman who introduced me to it and countless other Italian recipes, Marcella Hazan

Marcella and Victor Hazan, as loving and giving a couple as one could ever hope to know. If I’d never been introduced to Marcella Hazan, my cooking would have been so much poorer for it.  Marcella died last week at her home in Naples, Florida…


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