December 2011
9 posts
2 tags
Drunken French Toast
Panettone French Toast Recipe follows story Christmas morning breakfast wouldn’t be complete without Panettone. 1st course:  Struffoli 2nd course: Panettone Rather rum with a bit of Panettone.  My dad liked to hit the bottle early on Christmas Day.  A drinking man he was not, but rum on his Panettone - well, he would soak the cake through.  Mom: J, stop it!  Cut it out!  No more! Dad: Ev,...
Dec 25th
5 notes
1 tag
The Return Of Hot, Sticky, Balls: A Neapolitan...
Struffoli Recipe follows story It wouldn’t be Christmas without a dose of hot, sticky, balls. Struffoli are little flavor packed balls of dough that are deep fried, coated with honey, nuts and sprinkles.  They’re traditionally served on Christmas and Easter, but the Corrado’s only made and consumed Struffoli but once a year.  I don’t believe my mother liked cleaning up...
Dec 25th
2 notes
4 tags
Heaping Helpings Of Hot Pepperpot Stew: A Guyanese...
Hot Pepperpot Stew Recipe follows story I picked up this recipe for Guyanese hot pepperpot stew when I was out in Canarsie, talking to Smally, on day two of my visit to the neighborhood. Hot pepperpot stew is made with a hodgepodge of meats onoins, garlic, hot peppers, fresh herbs and cassereep.  Cassereep is an extract made from the root of the cassava plant and it has a molasses...
Dec 24th
5 tags
A Taste Of Guyana
Brown Gravy Green Seasoning Coconut Peas and Rice Fried fish with green seasoning Fried Plantains Recipes follow story One of my biggest crushes in this life, bigger than my crush on Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman and apple crumb pie a la mode … Aubrey Leander DeSilva. Who is Aubrey Leander DeSilva? My first crush.  Aubrey lived across the street from me and his house directly faced my back...
Dec 23rd
14 notes
Marathon Cooking Weekend
Inspired by my trip to Canarsie, I cooked a dinner filled with new flavors. Two consecutive days in Canarsie, asking questions and getting to know a little bit more about two store owners, led me to securing some amazing stories and new lessons in food, flavor, holiday and everyday meals.   I didn’t leave with any recipes in hand, but I did garner lists of ingredients. I was told, were I to...
Dec 19th
1 note
Day Tripping - Canarsie
Last weekend, I went back to my old neighborhood. Once predominantly a community of Italians and Hasidic Jews, Canarsie is now primarily populated with immigrants from the West Indies. I went back to Canarsie to scope out the scene and taste my way through some new flavors and some old favorites; beef patty on cocoa bread - I’m looking at you. Canarsie is still as spread out as I remember it...
Dec 19th
2 notes
2 tags
Slaving for Soup
Split Pea Soup Rich in memory are those places from the past that can never be revisited. -Rilke Every Saturday, pretty much religiously, throughout childhood and my more formative teenage years, I would go grocery shopping with my mom and dad. Mom would leave to start her day of work at the bakery at 6:30am and got off at 1pm.  Full of flour and wearing a Bread Box smock or a John’s...
Dec 7th
14 notes
1 tag
Excuse Me, Is That Dried Fruit In Your Chocolate...
Cherry-Chocolate Chip Cookies  Recipe follows story  I have professed many times that baking is not my first love.  At least baking cookies. We’ve slowly rebuilt our love over the past 18 months or so, but I’m still reluctant and scared.  I don’t completely trust myself to not screw this up.  We’re getting better, together, but we’ve a long road ahead.  Baking...
Dec 5th
1 note
1 tag
Thanksgiving came and went, and I’m probably the only person who has a food blog that wasn’t prepping all November long for the feast.  All of the little food writers out in blogosphere covering their new finds, days of trolling for ingredients and how to’s on setting a pretty table. Instead, I was hunkered down in my mom’s flannel pajama bottoms and my brother’s...
Dec 1st
1 note