Onion & Anchovy Pasta
This is based on a recipe from Bon Appetit that Ditalini and I both like, modified to our taste (less butter, oil, and onion; more anchovy).
Chorizo-Stuffed Potatoes
Ditalini only invented her chorizo-stuffed potatoes a few days ago, so here’s a brand-new recipe for you: Correction: I misunderstood what Ditalini told me about this recipe. She saw it on the Food Channel (she doesn’t remember the exact show)…
Party Food
We hosted a birthday party last night. The friend whose birthday it was requested we serve our salad with grilled salmon. We also had steamed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, and carrots), roasted chicken, and a corn casserole. Here’s the…
Crouton’s Easy Dry-Rubbed Ribs
Holiday Cooking
In keeping with DeMenthe family tradition, we’ve invited friends and family over for Christmas Eve. We’ll serve them boiled shrimp, clam chowder, and cheddar cheese biscuits. They’ll bring appetizers and desserts. In a break with tradition, Ditalini decided this year…
Thanksgiving Dinner with Crouton & Ditalini
As always, Crouton and Ditalini had a big crowd over for Thanksgiving. We had traditional turkey, smoked turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, Waldorf salad, and apple and pumpkin pie. Everything was…
A Birthday Dinner with Friends
In these recessionary times, sharing dinner at home with friends is becoming a larger part of our social life. If it’s a friend’s birthday, so much the better. Our buddy Rudy from Las Vegas came to visit this weekend; since…
Work Less, Cook More
I retired a few days ago, so Ditalini has put me in charge of the kitchen. We fend for ourselves at breakfast and lunch but I’ve been cooking dinner at night. Readers of this blog, if there are any, will…
Baking Potatoes on the Grill
This works well with baking potatoes, sweet potatoes, or yams: Under running water, scrub dirt off potatoes and rinse, then pat dry. Leave skin on. Pierce potatoes lengthwise with shiskabob skewers, then wrap in foil. The skewer does two things:…
Hallowe’en Dinner
Who ever heard of a Hallowe’en dinner? It’s not that kind of day . . . unless it’s your birthday, and also the day you retire from the 9 to 5 grind. We fed ten or so guests last night,…