If we can cook it, you can cook it!

Author: Monte Mathews

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…

Tate’s Bakery’s Fresh Blueberry and White Chocolate Tart

Tate’s Bakeshop, Southampton’s finest          If it’s summer in the Hamptons, it’s time to head to Tate’s. This charming bake shop lights up the Village of Southampton with its incredible array of scones and muffins, cakes and cobblers. And then there are the pies!  Delicious…

Dubliner Chicken with Pasta, Pancetta and Arugula

            Have you ever bought one of those massive bricks of Dubliner cheese at Costco and then gotten home and thought how on earth can I use all this?  Not that Dubliner isn’t a robust choice: Its flavor has the sharpness of a great aged…

Martha Stewart’s Strawberry Galette with Basil Scented Cream

           It’s full-on strawberry season on Long Island and Andrew’s taken another opportunity to wow us with this exquisite galette from Martha Stewart. The flavor and texture of this wonderfully flaky pastry covered in just-picked berries is irresistible.  But the ambrosial whipped cream topping–scented…

Out of Africa: Two Marcus Samuelsson recipes: Bobotie with Mango Sambal

The Cape of Good Hope, the very tip of Africa          In my past life I was fortunate to travel to six continents for work.  And of all the places I’ve been, South Africa is at the top of my list for sheer physical beauty. …

“Trionfo di Fragole” Strawberry and Cream Cake

“Trionfo di Fragole” Strawberry and Cream Cake

         The local strawberries on Long Island could not be more beautiful this year—even if they’ve arrived earlier than usual due to our incredibly mild winter.  There has to be some upside to Global Warming for more than just the population of Canada!  These berries were…

Fresh Tortellini with Asparagus, Peas and Mint

Fresh Tortellini with Asparagus, Peas and Mint

         Alright, I am aware that many readers have come to believe we simply do not eat any meal that does not feature asparagus.  And to look at our most recent posts, you wouldn’t be that far off.  We just love the vegetable at this…


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