Posts by The Culinary Chase
Apple Pie in a Jar
Apple pie conjures up good, wholesome food made by grandmothers and moms. There’s something so pleasing to the senses when a pie is baking in the oven. The aromas immediately say ‘welcome’. I wonder, though, why the pie is made in a round plate and not a square. Is it because it’s easier to lift…
Read MorePotatoes with Chorizo
Spain is a country I have yet to visit. John has been several times much to my chagrin…before we met and whilst on business. I mention to him that I’d like to visit Madrid and Barcelona and his response, been there! I am quick to reply that I am happy to go on my…
Read MoreApricot Clafoutis
When fruit is in season, there’s nothing I like better than to eat it as is…no embellishing required. However, sometimes the natural sweetness from the fruit alone isn’t enough to satisfy a craving. Dress up a fresh, in-season apricot by covering it in a simple batter and 30 minutes later, voilà, craving satisfied. Anyone can…
Read MorePolenta Sticks with Mozzarella and Salami
I love simple ingredients as they tend to work symbiotically to create great flavors. Less is more…I know this sounds cliché but it’s true and not just in the food world. The more ingredients you use the greater the risk of losing the essential flavor of your food. When the ingredients are good, they need…
Read MoreBaby Eggplant with Gruyère and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
For whatever the reason, I was having difficulty planning dinner last night. My brain was all over the food road map! So instead of trying to figure of what to have I decided on a tapas-style evening of little plates of food. Tapas are appetizers enjoyed by the Spanish. It allows for everyone at the…
Read MoreCarrot Marmalade
Homemade marmalade has been a long standing tradition in my family. Both my paternal and maternal grandmothers were fruit preserve queens! My mom also made her fair share, too. I’ve dabbled a bit but lost interest while we lived in Asia as storage was limited and cold rooms were non-existent. While fruit such as orange…
Read MoreBlack Bean Salad
Beans. They’ve been around since time immemorial and while there are thousands of varieties, only a tiny fraction are mass-produced for our enjoyment. The only beans I knew growing up was my mom’s baked beans usually made from navy beans and sometimes she’d throw in kidney beans, much to my chagrin. I really had no…
Read MoreBlackberry Sorbet
It’s the subtle changes in the weather when I start to notice a shift as we slowly drift out of summer and into autumn. I know, shhh! not so loud but it’s true. The sunlight looks different as it lands in areas of the house and the air smells different. As I was rinsing the…
Read MoreBaked Fontina Dip
I was on the train into the city and caught a glimpse into my future. I spotted an elderly couple who were deep in conversation. They looked so cute together; her silver hair was a bit disheveled and his white mane slicked back. Both were in great shape. He pulled out two books from his…
Read MoreCaprese Salad (insalata caprese)
Insalata caprese is a tomato and mozzarella salad from the island of Capri. This simple yet delicious Italian antipasto makes perfect use of local heirloom tomatoes which are available now in grocery stores and markets. Extra-virgin olive oil highlights the sweetness of the heirloom tomatoes and is the only dressing needed. What makes this salad…
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