I have to hand it to Wegmans (and not for the first time). I was there today and in the produce section saw pre-cut stir-fry vegetables, all laid out in rectangular trays, ready for you to take home and cook. There was even a store chef there about to start a demonstration. The photo here … Continue reading
Filed under Grocery shopping …
Butternut Squash
Ever since they started selling pre-cut butternut squash a few years ago, I’ve been eating it more often. The convenience (not to mention the safety issues with me and knives and big hard squashes) is irresistible. Often I’ll just toss it with olive oil and sage leaves and roast it on a sheet pan until … Continue reading
Indoor Farmers Market
Some of my favorite events during the winter months are these indoor farmers markets put on by Slow Food Central New Jersey. It’s a chance to catch up with some of your summer farmers market vendors, run into friends, entertain the kids, listen to music, and and generally celebrate all things local. The next one takes place … Continue reading
Soup to Nuts
I don’t know about you, but I love nuts. Over the years I’ve made a lot of spiced nuts myself at home, but these are actually honey-roasted mixed nuts from Walgreen’s. They are quite good, and once they’re put into a nice dish, your guests will never know what a bargain they were. CVS also … Continue reading
Seitan
Time to pay the piper for holiday indulgence. Actually, this photo is from November, when I finally broke open the frozen package of vegan black-pepper sauced seitan from Vegetarian Plus I had in the freezer. Every now and then I can’t resist trying one of these meat alternative meals. It was actually quite tasty, with … Continue reading
Lobsta!
I always say hello to Chef Cindy Groman when I go to Wegmans. She’s usually dishing up a sample of one of her great seafood creations, and I’m guessing that she’s taught hundreds, if not thousands, of people to cook fish with confidence over the years. But the other day, instead of cooking, she was preparing gorgeous … Continue reading
Pithivier
When I was at a Share Our Strength conference in Montreal (a great food city!) several years ago, I paid more than one visit to the patisserie in our hotel, the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. I loved their pithivier, layers of flaky pastry napped with fluffy almond creme. Oh my! So I couldn’t resist taking home … Continue reading
Hash
One of my favorite winter weekend breakfasts is corned beef hash, even canned, and also roast beef hash, which is what is pictured here. I have occasionally made my own, with those sort of pyramid-shaped cans of corned beef from Brazil. I don’t even want to think about the ingredients list on that can, but I have … Continue reading
Fruitcake
Don’t laugh at me, but I love fruitcake like the one pictured here that’s made with good ingredients. So how could I resist the pretty and organic (at least mostly so) fruitcakes on display in the Whole Earth Center bakery? These are made with whole wheat pastry flour, and organic dried fruits instead of the the heavily sugared and … Continue reading
Bulgogi
One of the first things I discovered at the new Trader Joe’s was the refrigerated pre-marinated beef for Korean bulgogi. I’ve enjoyed this dish for years, and even without a grill, it turns out fine on my ridged stovetop pan, although I do miss the char-grilled taste of the real thing. The Trader Joe’s version is … Continue reading
NJ SPICE 