Crouton’s Chateaubriand
When Ditalini and I were first married, young, dumb, and desperately poor, my mom and dad would treat us to a monthly Friday night dinner at the Von Steuben Hotel in Wiesbaden, Germany. We always ordered chateaubriand for two. We…
Slow-Braised Short Ribs
This dish is from Hugo Ortega’s Backstreet Kitchen cookbook. I prepared it for a cooking club dinner the other night, and it was a hit. Although it may appear complicated, it’s actually easy to prepare (if you don’t count peeling…
Ditalini’s Crockpot Beef Enchiladas
Here’s an easy beef enchilada recipe Ditalini picked up from her friend Cherie, with slight modifications to make it her own. Notes Serve with green salad (chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and onion), salsa, and chili beans.
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…
Sarma (Stuffed Grape Leaves) & Pilaf
More years ago than I care to admit, Armenian-American friends shared their family recipe for stuffed grape leaves and pilaf with us. Ditalini’s been making the dish ever since, and whenever our kids come to visit they always ask her…
Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
So you’re asking yourself, “Who needs a pressure cooker?” You know what? This dish alone justifies buying one!
Crouton’s Easy Beef Stew
This is a simple one-dish stew you can prepare in the afternoon and serve for supper. Notes Any kind of stew meat will do for this recipe, as long as you trim off the fat & gristle. For tough meats, increase…