If we can cook it, you can cook it!

Author: Monte Mathews

Meryl Streep’s favorite Julia Child recipe: Poulet Poele a L’Estragon or Casserole-roasted Chicken with Tarragon

Meryl Streep’s favorite Julia Child recipe: Poulet Poele a L’Estragon or Casserole-roasted Chicken with Tarragon

The Meryl Streep Version of the dish… And mine…talk about falling off the bone. Meryl as Julia           Who doesn’t love Meryl Streep?  With us, it’s degrees of loving Meryl Streep.  Over the weekend we saw her once again in “It’s Complicated” with Alec Baldwin…

Chuck Hughes’ Tomato and Prosciutto Tart

Chuck Hughes’ Tomato and Prosciutto Tart

         As regular readers know, we’re big fans of the Canadian Chef Chuck Hughes, whose recipes we’ve shared here before and whose Le Bremner restaurant was one of the highlights of last fall’s culinary adventures in Montreal.  His food is uncomplicated, fresh as can be and…

The Perfect Turkey Burger with a little help from Cook’s Illustrated

         I am sure you’re aware of “Cook’s Illustrated” that quirky and incomparable publication presided over by a man named Christopher Kimball.  Mr. Kimball is the quintessential Vermonter and his practicality is evident on every page of his strictly-no-advertising-that’s-why-it-costs-$30-a year magazine.  Personally, its attention to…

Not My Mother’s Vichyssoise

         Cold Soup is ideal to have on hand in summer heat.  You can make this soup up, store it in the fridge and then take it out and finish it off for any occasion.  When houseguests first arrive, they’re inevitably exhausted from their trip…

Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Pesto, Mozzarella and Red Peppers and a great recipe for Walnut Spinach Pesto from Daniel Holzman

Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Pesto, Mozzarella and Red Peppers and a great recipe for Walnut Spinach Pesto from Daniel Holzman

         I realize that Meatless Monday was yesterday but yesterday Andrew and I were busy getting back into our house after a week’s absence for the Hampton Classic Horse Show.  We had a wonderful week staying with dear friends who opened their…

The Treats Truck’s recipe for Butterscotch Brownies and memories of Andrew’s Father, Gil Phillips II

The Treats Truck’s recipe for Butterscotch Brownies and memories of Andrew’s Father, Gil Phillips II

         With this post, we remember Andrew’s father, Gil, whose 85th birthday would have been today had he not been taken from us in March of this year.  He was a very fine fellow, a great Father and Grandfather. A former Track and Field star in…

Blackberry and Lime Italian Meringue Pie from Bon Appetit

Yoart Grec avec Mures          Two winters ago, Andrew and I fell in love with a Blackberry Yogurt we bought in St. Barth.  The yogurt or, more correctly Yaourt Grec avecs Mures, even made it onto our “15 Things You Must Eat in St. Barth”…

Grandma’s Melt-in-your-mouth Moroccan meatballs and celery (Krafs ouel Kouari) from Lisa Elmaleh Craig’s “Grandma Elmaleh’s Moroccan Cookbook”, Uncle Earl’s and Cousin Kelly’s Moroccan “Quick Bread” and “Charissa”.

Grandma’s Melt-in-your-mouth Moroccan meatballs and celery (Krafs ouel Kouari) from Lisa Elmaleh Craig’s “Grandma Elmaleh’s Moroccan Cookbook”, Uncle Earl’s and Cousin Kelly’s Moroccan “Quick Bread” and “Charissa”.

         If you love food stories, this is a wonderful one.  It starts with Lisa Elmaleh Craig’s new book “Grandma Elmaleh’s Moroccan Cookbook” (Hesperus Press Ltd., London 2012).   The book takes us on one family’s journey through the ages until they came at last to…

Watermelon Salsa served 2 ways: In Fish Tacos and a Blackened Swordfish Salad

         For the last few summers, one of our salads of choice has been the Watermelon and Tomato rendition first published here in July 2010: http://chewingthefat.us.com/2010/07/watermelon-and-tomato-salad.html.  Nothing says ‘cool off’ like watermelon and this salad combines the sweetness of the fruit with the tang of ripe…

Crab Cakes with Buttermilk- Basil Dressing and Marinated Tomatoes and Corn adapted from Tyler Florence

Crab Cakes with Buttermilk- Basil Dressing and Marinated Tomatoes and Corn adapted from Tyler Florence

            Crab Cakes are one of those dishes that are just about perfect just about any time of year.  They’re a snap to make and you can have them cooked and kept warming in the warming drawer until you’re ready to serve your guests.  …

La Cucina Italiana’s Spaghettini in Little Neck Clam Broth with Cherry Tomatoes or “Umido di vongole con spaghettini e pomodorini”

Clamming, about as Long Island as you can get I am big fan of Linguine with Clam Sauce as our recipe search feature will confirm.  So when I saw this recipe for a variation on the theme in the July 2012 issue of La Cucina…

Neal Hartman’s Baked Butter Beans

Neal Hartman’s Baked Butter Beans

Neal Hartman. Summer 2010          Neal Hartman was an exceptional man.  He was truly and dearly loved and when he was taken from us a year and a half ago, his loss was felt all over his community of Sag Harbor.  Neal was a pillar…

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Filling from One Girl Cookies

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Filling from One Girl Cookies

Our Taster couldn’t get enough of Andrew’s take on these Whoopie Pies           Some of the nicest people on earth are food people.  I realize this every time I do a personal appearance for Monte’s Ham at The Artisan’s Market at Williams-Sonoma. When I do…

Asian Noodles with Roast Pork

Sandra Lee with another plate of SemiHomemade food           My friend Barbara gets practically apoplectic when she hears the name “Sandra Lee”.   Whether this has anything to do with the “Semi Homemade” hostess’ debacle over something Ms. Lee called her “Kwanzaa Cake”, I am not…


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