Friends, hello. This week, I became obsessed with the idea of making giant sandwich rolls for giant sandwiches. Inspired by Jim Lahey's bread recipe, I cut back the yeast, changed the hydration, and used cold water in an old overnight sandwich roll recipe. And after the first rise, I let the shaped loaves rise for 3 more hours before baking them. For the effort, the crumb is surprisingly light and airy: And it made a great giant sandwich: But I'm still fiddling with the recipe. If any of you...
8 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello. Last Saturday, I wrote about my Great Aunt Rene's chicken recipe and hoped many of you would give it a go for its ease and deliciousness. I noted that I always serve it with rice made in my rice cooker, and this past week, I received several emails about that rice cooker. It's this Cuckoo Rice Cooker, and before buying it, I had embraced my Instant Pot for cooking rice. I love that the Instant Pot shuts off when the rice is done and keeps it warm (as opposed to a stovetop that...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Friends, This week, as I found myself making my Great Aunt Rene's chicken for the millionth time, I found myself wishing more people would make it. It has become such a staple for me, not only because my family loves it, but also because I can make it ahead of time and leave it out — it tastes delicious at room temperature and also reheats beautifully in the microwave. The sauce is so, so tasty and so good with rice, which I make in the rice cooker, and which I find myself relying on more...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Friends, hello. Yesterday I found myself in the checkout line at our little co-op behind an old man, moving slowly and sweetly grumbling about not wanting to pay for a paper bag for his groceries. And then, when the cashier, Linda, told him he was short a few cents, he sighed and, looking defeated, pulled out his wallet and handed over a larger bill. After giving him his change, Linda began helping him load his bags into his cart, saying assuringly, "Take your time, there is no rush, you're...
29 days ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello. This week, I spent a few days in Philadelphia for a pizza class I was teaching at The Bread Room, the recently opened bakery by Ellen Yin, the owner of Fork, where I worked many years ago. During class, we made the Neapolitan-style pizza dough from Pizza Night and topped it with four different topping combinations: 3 from Pizza Night and one with crème fraîche and persimmons, which I will write more about soon. It was a blast to be back in the city, highlights including the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Friends, hello. As you read this, I am heading back north with my family for an early hockey game, of course. We had a wonderful few days with my sister's family, most of which included lounging and drinking coffee, with the downtime broken by brisk walks and cooking for the many little hungry mouths. Last night, my sister served chili (basically this recipe with a bag of frozen corn added) aside peasant bread, and it was everything I was craving — warm, hearty, beany, and loaded with...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Friends, As noted over the weekend, tomorrow morning I'll be heading to my sister's, and in additon to the dog, a hockey bag, 6 humans, and many suitcases, the car will be transporting a bowl of rising dough, for focaccia of course, and a tub of ricotta to make the above-pictured whipped ricotta, which gets drizzled with both honey and olive oil, as well as crushed pistachios. It's exceptional. Later that evening, we'll sip on David Lebovitz’s tangerine spritzes while making resolutions in...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Friends, hello. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, filled with delicious meals, lots of family time, cozy fires, snowy skies, and maybe a nap or two. If you're gearing up for a New Year's Eve gathering, I hope you feel rested... I'll be spending it in sweatpants on my sister's couch, and I am so looking forward to it. Yesterday, the day after Christmas, I made turkey tetrazzini with leftover braised* turkey leg meat. A few weeks ago, just after Thanksgiving, I shared the tetrazzini...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Friends, I didn't think I'd pop in here till after Christmas, but as I began drafting my shopping list, I found myself thinking about Christmas morning and how, in addition to having something sweet on the table, it is so nice to have something savory, like this, this, or these. Also, I can't tell you the number of times Christmas morning has rolled around, and I have opened the fridge to find zero eggs. Stewart's to the rescue! Below you'll find 10 favorite holiday brunch ideas, both...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
