Archive for Great Blogs
Cooking ‘Round The Web
Posted by: | CommentsSome great posts to spotlight this week:
- Ess Eppis brings up some valid points in her post, “Does Eating Local Really Make a Difference?”
- Kathy at Panini Happy has cut out the middleman and does her panini pop-tarts.
- Michael Ruhlman gets practical in his video on parchment paper technique (Note: I was a circle trace girl, no longer!)
- Food Network’s Sunny Anderson is back in the studio as she starts filming her EIGHTH (yes EIGHTH) season of Cooking for Real. Congrats Sunny!
- Coco, of Coco Cooks had dinner at Top Chef Winner, Stephanie Izzard’s new Chicago restaurant, The Girl and the Goat. At this rate, I’m ready to book a quick flight to Chi-town and drag Hotfessional and Kristabella out for dinner there!
- David Lebovitz is, imo, one of the baking masters! I can sit there and leaf through is Ready for Desserts book and go “I CAN DO THIS!” and then I remember, “Lys, your baking skills – definitely need some practice first!”. His recent post on Baking Ingredients and Food Substitutions has been bookmarked and, eventually, I hope that, with practice, I can make my desserts look almost as delectable as his.
- Butter My Kitchen has a great recipe for refrigerator pickles which will help lead one into that lovely canning season.
- White on Rice sundried their own tomatoes – how cool is that?!?!
- And, finally, one of my absolute fave people, Chef Manouschka, spoke at a recent Hollywood event about her revalation and what put her on her current path towards a culinary entertainment career. Take a minute please and check it out – it really showcases the “right place at the right time.”
Back to receipes, spotlights and more next week – bring on the fall!
Cooking In Stilettos Is Featured At The Chic Life
Posted by: | CommentsNow THIS is fab!
Many thanks to Diana over at The Chic Life for featuring yours truly on her Featured Reader Friday!
You can check the post out HERE and if you haven’t bookmarked her blog, you should – you’ll love!
Fab New Blog Alert – SingleServingBytes.com
Posted by: | Comments
Recent Guest Appearance at How To Simplify
Posted by: | CommentsIf you haven’t been reading Jen’s blog "How to Simplify", seriously, what are you waiting for?? I recently guest posted over there with a "Mushroom Salad with Meyer Lemon Honey Vinaigrette" and it’s a recipe that I just adore.
You can read the post and get the recipe HERE and while you are at it, make sure to put "How To Simplify" on your "must read" lists.
Cool New Blog Alert: Melly’s Kitchen…
Posted by: | CommentsIndulge me a bit would ya – my gal Mel has decided to jump feet first into the foodie blog world and, of course, having some of the best readers on the planet, I was hoping that you might be able to drop by her spot and welcome her to the Foodie world… She’s one heck of a spunky gal and, from what I hear, can throw down in the kitchen…
You can find her spot here: Melly’s Kitchen
Thanks in advance!!!
Guest Post: A Secret Summer Romance…
Posted by: | CommentsWhile I’m visiting all things Philadelphia this week, I’ve opened up Cooking In Stilettos to some FABULOUS bloggers I adore. First up is the one and only (Sometimes!) Serendipitous Girl aka SSG disclosing her "secret summer romance"…
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A Secret Summer Romance
by SSG
I have a secret … I love soup.
I wish it was more scandalous, really. Like I love soup AND I slept with a celebrity. But the secret really is that I just love soup.
A hearty lentil and sausage stew in the fall, slow cooked onions simmered in beef broth and topped with melted Gruyere on toast in the winter. A bowl of homemade chicken noodle to combat the sniffles or a simple tomato soup to combat a rainy afternoon. Surely "hearty" stems from its root word, heart. And I can’t think of another place that warms mine more than being wrapped up in a soft blanket on the couch, Pride & Prejudice queued up on the DVD player, spoon poised, ready to make the first plunge into warmth and comfort.
That is, until summer.
Soup and I have to go on the equivalent of a "Ross and Rachel" break. Where instead of scraping the last bit of soup from the bowl, I scrape whatever vegetables I can pull together without having to turn on the stove. I dabble with strolling through the farmers market in flip flops, warmed instead by the early morning sun.
But deep down, I miss soup.
There are cold soups, sure. But gazpacho can get old after a while. And while the cantaloupe soup I had at New York City’s Home one hot summer evening was delicious, it was too light to make a full meal.
I would just have to wait.
Or would I?
Enter the June 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living where "Soups on Ice" caught my eye. While the title of the article initially had me envisioning Disney sized bowls of soup on ice skates, coming soon to a rink near you! I quickly forgave her after seeing page after page of Spicy Tomato, Fresh Pea and Buttermilk, and Cucumber Basil & Mint. And then my heart stopped when I saw "Corn & Coconut." Described as "farm fresh familiar and surprising all at once" it had a humble list of ingredients. Jalapeno, corn and coconut milk are boiled together with water, pureed, chilled and strained before getting to know each other a bit better in the fridge. On some warm Portland days I’d like to climb right in there with them.
The soup, when finished with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and a few turns of the pepper mill, was the perfect accompaniment to a crisp Pinot Gris and salad. Hearty? Yes. But cool and refreshing with a hint of complexity … though all really quite simple in the end. Just like a summer romance should be.
Corn & Coconut Soup
Serves 4
Bring 1 jalapeno chile, seeded and chopped, 3 cups fresh corn kernels, 1 can (14 oz) light coconut milk, and 2 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer until corn is tender, about 20 minutes. Filling a blender halfway and covering with a kitchen towel, puree soup in batches (I used my immersion blender). Strain through a coarse sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Season with salt and pepper. Chill soup at least 3 hours or up to overnight. Stir in 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Garnish each serving with fresh corn kernels if desired and season with pepper.
SOBE 2009: I’m So Excited…
Posted by: | CommentsNo, don’t worry – I won’t break into a rendition of the track from The Pointer Sisters. I’m not THAT cruel and, of course, my singing is banned here in the Sunshine State.
Tomorrow I’m headed down to sunny South Beach for the 2009 Food Network’s South Beach Food & Wine Festival. Granted, I’m crazy tired from the daily grind but when a gal hears that some of her fave personalities (and bloggers) will be in the area, well then – one needs to go.
Sadly, one of my fave chefs/blogger buds, Bren won’t be attending this year (girl – you better be going to the NY event!) but, don’t worry B. – I’ll be texting from the stands.
I pinky swore that I’d take pics and, don’t worry – I’m armed with cameras, cell phone, etc. I plan on catching as many of the chef demos as I can. Tomorrow they have: Sunny Anderson, Ingrid Hoffman, Michael Symon, Marcus Samuelsson, Anne Burrell, Morimoto, Tyler Florence, the Neelys, Cat Cora, Paula Dean, Bobby Flay etc. etc. As quite a few of these peeps are on my Tivo on the regular, I’m going to be bouncing from stage to stage. However, as Bobby Flay is closing the show – I don’t know if I can catch his demo however, I will try (if time allows. Sadly, I still have a 4 hour drive back and have to be home Sun. night… :::sigh:::) Somehow, I also need to hit up those tents too to give you the inside scoop. So, the stilettos are NOT going with – those can be saved for another day.
If you want to catch some great pics and updated intel, check out Sunny Anderson’s blog (she’s got some great backstage shots) and Jacob over at Food Network Addict.
Can’t wait – talk to y’all on Monday!!!
Cookin’ Round The Web: Saving Some Pennies, One Pantry At A Time…
Posted by: | CommentsWith our country heading into a new administration, one can’t stick their head in the sand and think that finances are not in the spotlight. Going hand in hand with that effort is the Green movement. I’m learning that sometimes it’s just the best thing to stay home and chill, relaxing with friends and family while shopping in your pantry.
So, for this edition of Cookin’ ‘Round The Web, I spotlight some posts that can help you channel your inner frugalista while playing in the kitchen…
Obviously, a well stocked pantry is KEY to any perfect meal. The Kitchn spotlighted an article from the New York Times where Mark Bittman gave his suggestions about what is needed in a pantry. Sure, it’s a bit of an investment at first but when you think about it, once it’s stocked, you have less of a headache.
Sarah over at Pink Shoe Diaries gave a lesson in Foodie Frugality… I’m going to implement the coffee tip – well, once I receive that replacement carafe for the coffee maker. ( I didn’t look where I was whippin’ around in the kitchen and the coffee pot went to pieces. Turns out they coffee maker was discontinued :::sigh::: )
Kathy at Panini Happy gave 5 Money-Saving Panini tips. Quick meals are just a moment away… and leftovers can be totally remade into something fabulous…
The Italian Dish gave some insight into how to make homemade gnocchi. Think about it – you already have most of these ingredients in your pantry. Considering its $3 – $4 for the vacuum packed gnocchi which, in my opinion, sometimes tastes like glue, this details the recipe perfectly and you can be a rock star at your next dinner…
Why spend a fortune for flavored oils and vinegar when you can make your own. Italian Food Forever gives some great tips on how to make your own…
The Casual Kitchen pointed out 41 Ways You Can Help Out The Environment… Plus, an added benefit that is not only are you helping the environment, but you save some cash too.
Finally, Philly.com spotlighted the state of the kitchen in their article, Home is Where The Food Is…
OK, all this finance chatter has made a gal a bit somber… So, let’s spotlight a couple fun ones to round up this Link Round Up…
Erin Cooks! encourages you to channel your inner Peg Bundy and make some homemade bon bons…
Food Network Musings has a great discussion on the Food Network Magazine (I’m checking out this new issue this week – haven’t decided if I should buy or not – yet)
And, finally, Forays of a Finance Foodie talked about her experience attending a Food Network Soiree…
A Night At Amada…
Posted by: | CommentsOne of my favorite chefs is Jose Garces. I’ve heard rave reviews about his restaurants. His cookbook, Latin Evolution, is like art. And, to boot, the man spanked Bobby Flay HARD on Iron Chef America. So I knew that during my trip to Philly last month, I’d have to go to his restaurant, Amada. Amada is a Spanish tapas restaurant in Olde City, Philadelphia which was just a hop, skip and a jump from my hotel at Penn’s Landing.
I have to say, Amada lived up to their buzz – the restaurant was all that and then some. The ambiance was intimate and rustic. From the moment you enter through the flowing draperies at the front door, staff greets you like an old friend welcoming you to dinner. Now, while I love Italian cooking, I’m also fond of Spanish cooking. After all, one of my signature dishes is Arroz Con Pollo.
Now, let’s get to the fun stuff – the food. After much contemplation, the menu items selected were:
- Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes), a dish of potatoes topped with this amazing paprika aioli which I will be attempting to recreate this weekend. It was smoky with a bit of heat that just made you close your eyes and relish the flavors;
- The Croquetas de Jamon (Ham Croquettes) were good, but I wanted more of the Patatas Bravas; and
- Costillas de Ternera is a Spanish flatbread topped with Beef Shortribs, Bacon, Parmesan and Horseradish. This is another dish I’m going to attempt to try for the next soiree because the flavors were a perfect mix. It was divine.
Of course I had to have some Merlot but Julie, the fab bartender, also suggested that I try their homemade sangria. If I had thought about it, I would have ordered that instead of the merlot. They have three sangrias – a white, a red and a seasonal. The seasonal selection was a spiced apple sangria which was insanely good. While Julie and I were talking, I mentioned the Foodbuzz New Years Eve 24, 24, 24 event that I was hosting and, with thanks to her, she gave me some wonderful suggestions which turned out perfect.
Sadly, I did not take any pictures of my visit there but I will be sure to take them on the next trip as this has hit my list of “Absolute Fave Restaurants” and I will be going back. However, the Ultimate Epicure reviewed the restaurant and took some AMAZING photos which you must see HERE.
Much thanks to everyone at Amada. It was a meal to remember…
Cooking ‘Round The Web…
Posted by: | CommentsHappy New Year Everyone!
Well, I’m still playing catch up from my travels , work and the holidays , but here are some great posts that I found and thought y’all might enjoy.
Bren over at FlanBoyant Eats is running one heck of a contest – the prizes are *to die for*. What are you waiting for – go enter and then come back. I’ll wait. Promise! Congrats Bren on your one year blogiversary!!
Fabulously Broke In The City has a wonderful post on what to do with all those cords and how to organize them so you can clear the chaos.
Marc Vetri, one of my fave chefs, talks about his new book Il Viaggo del Vetri in the Philly Daily News
Predo over at Spartacus Wore A Skirt has a great recipe for Ice Cream + French Toast – fabulous for those kiddies who want Ice Cream for breakfast (c’mon – be nice, tis the holiday season!)
Jaden at Steamy Kitchen has a fabulous recipe for those soirees with her Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Chili Mayo
I picked up a few tips for food photography from The Constables’ Larder and Vegan Yum Yum. Yes, that’s one of my New Years Resolutions – learn to shoot better photographs!
Judy over at No Fear Entertaining did a fab Cilantro Pesto that I’m going to attempt for Super Bowl Soiree Central (that is if my E-A-G-L-E-S get a shot – wouldn’t that be grand!)
Erin Cooks! has a great recipe for Raised Donuts (time to break in that bread machine…) Dunkin Who? Donuts What?
Susan over at Stickey, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy kicked butt in this month’s Daring Baker’s challenge with a Buche de Noel. First of all, my hat is off to these DBs. I would be curled up in a fetal position over some of the Challenges they do. Secondly – you must read what she went through to accomplish this challenge. I state for the record – I am a cook NOT a baker. She’s a baker and an amazing one at that!
Sarah over at Pink Shoe Diaries has a dish that will brighten up the winter blahs – her Asparagus and Pea Risotto.
SpecktraBeauty (shush) has found some a recipe for some Truffles that are good for you… seriously.
Napastyle guru, Michael Chiarello, opened his new restaurant, Bottega. Check out some great photos and insight from the event.
And, of course, I saved one of my most faves for last – a video where Colin Cowie teaches you how his kitchen is organized. Have I told y’all I adore this man – seriously. And that kitchen – to die for. At least we know he uses his Electrolux appliances. Another spokesperson might not have the cooking chops to fully appreciate her Electrolux… jus’ saying 
If you can, check out his other videos at Epicurious.
Have a wonderful weekend!
