Pikliz – Haitian Pickled Cabbage

You guys - I'm not even going to try to come up with some kind of story to put in front of this recipe, but there is nothing I could come up with that would do this recipe justice. It's just a fact, so please forgive me. Pikliz (pick-lees) is the Haitian style of pickled …

Epis – Haitian Marinade and Cooking Base

Let's just jump right to the good news - Andy started watching True Blood! I know that most of you don't really know me well enough to know my tv preferences, but let me just tell you that anything HBO-related is a pretty safe bet. And True Blood is certainly no exception. I'm not really …

Loaded Green Curry

With all of this time on my hands from the Shelter-In-Place, I've been having a lot of fun making different things in the kitchen! Some of them are new ideas, some are old faves, and some are trying tweaks and substitutions. Last week I needed to go to the store and stock up on a …

Cast Iron Care and Maintenance

Just like many home-cooks and chefs around the world, cast iron holds a special place in my heart. It's inexpensive (when it's not enameled), durable, amazingly effective, and truly a workhorse in the kitchen. Cast iron cookware comes in just about any size and type of vessel you would want, most popular are Dutch ovens …

The Five Flavor Profiles and How To Master Them

Some of you might know what I mean when I start talking about flavor profiles, and some of you won't. But I bet that just about all of you are familiar with the ideas of them without even knowing it. A lot of times when you eat something, you just know that it tastes good, …

Perfectly Perfect (Braised) Garlic

Hey guys! I just wanted to post this quick, little recipe for some of the most amazing braised garlic! You've probably heard of roasted garlic, and you've probably even had some dishes with it. It adds a lovely, deep, wonderful garlic flavor, while stripping away all of the harsh aspects of the taste. It can …

Braising and Roasting: What’s the Difference?

Roasting and braising are both integral techniques to have in your cooking arsenal. They are both perfect for larger or tough cuts of meat - the ones that you usually get for a little cheaper, but that you have to put more care into to make them really shine. They can make even the toughest …

Perfectly Perfect Roasted Potatoes

Potatoes - everyone loves them, there are a million ways to cook them, and even if you somehow mess them up, they still usually end up tasting pretty damn good. I remember when I was growing up, my mom would somehow find a way to put a potato in at least half of the meals …

Pink Lady

You know how sometimes you just want a refreshing cocktail at the end of the day? Just relaxing on the patio, with a beautiful drink, sparkling conversation, and waiting for something amazing to finish cooking in the oven... It's basically a perfect picture. However, living in an apartment complex right off the freeway with a …

Olive Oil Cake with Champagne Grapes

I love Trader Joe's. Andy and I end up going there probably two or three times a week because we're not very good at meal planning, and because I have an obsession with wine that is pretty good, but also dirt cheap. So after I picked him up from Bart last night, we stopped by …

Marinated Cannellini Beans

This last week, we have been running around like it's a madhouse. Friends coming into town, Pride, work, going to a grad party and a concert over the span of four days can really take a toll on you. In case you missed it - I am exhausted. But please don't think that I didn't …

Rainier Cherry Mojitos

Everyone loves summer. The days are longer, the nights are warmer, and the farmers market is in full swing. Andy and I went last weekend, and I was ecstatic that cherries were in season - rainier cherries to be specific! There's just something about the little white and pink fruit that I absolutely adore, while …