Meats
Meat recipes
Neufchâtel’s Meatloaf
It’s time to address comfort food, and what could be more comforting than meatloaf? My mother used to make a simple, basic meatloaf. We all loved it. Ditalini makes meatloaf too, but hers is fancier: she puts a roll of…
Year-End Wrapup: More Holiday Gluttony
Ditalini and I drove to Las Vegas with our daughter Escargot and doggies Mortadella & Ubracio to spend Christmas with our son Baguette, daughter in law Truffle, granddaughter Biscotto, and grandson Pesce. All the deMenthes together again! Of course the…
Thanksgiving 2012: the Gluttoning
And I’m not even going to mention the deserts: Truffle’s lovely cheesecake, pumpkin pie, apple pie. Nor the appetizers: beer-boiled shrimp, cheese, olives, crackers, homemade giardiniera relish (thanks again to Truffle). Let’s just say we gave thanks for country, company,…
Crouton’s Crockpot Pulled Pork
I had some home-made pulled pork at a friend’s house last month and decided to try it myself. My goodness, even Ditalini liked it. I’ll definitely do this again. Notes This is dead easy, but you need to plan ahead.…
Crouton’s Red Curry with Beef
Lately I’ve kept the cupboard stocked with coconut milk and a supply of red, green, and Penang curry paste. Because if you have those basics — and some rice — you can make a nice Thai curry out of whatever…
Boeuf Bourguignon à la Julia Child
I finally tackled a long put-off project, the famous boeuf bourguignon (beef stew in red wine with bacon, onions, and mushrooms) from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. This is a recipe you’ll need to study and understand…
Best Smoked Brisket Yet
Twice now, I’ve smoked beef briskets, describing the process here and here. Each time I used a slightly different approach: first with a dry-rubbed brisket, second with a combination of dry rub and mop. On the Friday after Thanksgiving at…
Ditalini’s Paprika Schnitzel
Ditalini made paprika schnitzel last night. Served with fried potatoes and salad, this is one of our favorite meals. I’m certain there are schnitzel recipes that are more authentic and difficult to make. This one is easy, and just as…
Crouton’s Taco Salad
Taco salad is pretty generic, and ingredients vary depending on taste and what’s on hand. It’s a great one-dish meal, and easy to make. Here’s how I do it:
Chicken-Fried Steak & Garlic Mashed Potatoes w/Cracked-Pepper Gravy & Green Beans
Guido & Sophia Trattoria gave me a late Christmas present last weekend: A Cowboy in the Kitchen, a Texas-themed cookbook by Grady Spears. When I cracked the covers the very first time, it opened to page 32 and a recipe…