Trendy twists for the holidays

December 15, 2011

It’s the same every year. I want to make the nostalgic holiday foods that the season inspires, yet I also want to branch out, jazz things up, and enjoy dishes other than the same-old, same-old.

According to the National Pork Board, I’m not alone. Their recent “Holiday Table Trends” survey revealed that, while tradition is important, it’s continuing to take a back seat in holiday cooking. The survey went on to identify six food trends for the season – and not too coincidentally, they asked me to develop a recipe to celebrate each of them.

Fall project: Preserve something

September 28, 2011

I know I can’t keep time from marching on, nor can I stop summer from turning into fall. But I can make the flavors of summer last all year long. And you can, too. By preserving them.

It’s no special trick. Cooks have been salting, curing, brining, fermenting, canning, jamming, freezing, and drying foods for eons. Home preserving sort of fell out of favor for a while there – mid-century cooks newly had people like Del Monte to can their tomatoes, so why not let them? – but today we know that no Del Monte tomato will ever taste as good as ones from your own back yard.

Video: The hows and whys of brining, turkey or otherwise

November 22, 2010

As I explain in this video that I made a couple of years ago at now-defunct Copia, brining is so simple – and it makes such difference.

It’s basically soaking protein in a saltwater solution to enhance both flavor and texture. The solution can be enhanced with sugar, herbs and spices, and aromatics like onion and garlic, but it’s not necessary. Just salt will do the trick.

What’s an heirloom tomato anyway?

September 15, 2010

It’s getting towards the end of tomato season, but farmer’s markets, supermarkets, and back yards are still brimming with “heirloom” varieties. So you might be wondering, what the heck is an heirloom tomato anyway?