Thursday, September 29, 2011
Cooking Demo: Amy shows us how to make sour cream chocolate cake.
September is a good month in the Currie household. It happens to be my husband, Jim's birthday. It's not a big deal that he's a year older, but on his birthday whether it falls on a hectic weekday or an even more hectic weekend, we always celebrate with sour cream chocolate birthday cake. It's the same cake that he's had each and every birthday, first baked by his mom and now baked by yours truly. This old, family recipe has been celebrated for lots of birthdays and other special occasions. Although it's everyone's prerogative to have their birthday cake of choice (carrot or vanilla, tied in popularity), for Jim its always sour cream chocolate and it's perfect. The magic of an old, old, family recipe is that the origin is usually vague …
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Cooking demo: Amy shows us how to make Reuben dip for the big game.
Weekends are very telling in towns all over New Jersey this time of year. As sure as the leaves will change, the game is on TV and the snacks are flowing. As we get more technologically savvy, our options are many. Almost every NFL and college game is accessible whether it's on TV, the computer or a smart phone. Even the local football teams are current thanks to immediate Patch reporting and posting. We also can't forget the stands watching the old fashioned way, tweeting and texting scores seconds after the play is made. Of course all this football watching requires sustenance, so when you're looking for a little more than wings or chips, try this crowd pleaser. The best of the old classic Reuben sandwich baked and bubbly in a dip. The…
Cooking demo: Amy shows us how to make Asian chicken meatballs with spicy peanut dipping sauce.
Now that our feet are firmly planted in September and the ovens are humming along cranking out dinner on a regular basis, it's time to spice up the menu. Before anyone has a chance to say "what's for dinner" in that I'm-not-going-to-like-it-anyway tone, wow them with a new twist on an old favorite. Asian chicken meatballs hit the mark on so many levels. Healthier mild ground chicken is combined with assertive Asian flavors like soy sauce and sesame oil taking the beloved meatball in a completely different direction. Add a spicy peanut dipping sauce and you just might find little fingers mopping up the last bit of sauce once the meatballs are all gone. It's a perfect dinner a la spaghetti and meatballs. Toss the peanut sauce with a pound…
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Cooking demo: Amy shows us how to make orange molasses banana bread with special guest Union County Patch Regional Editor David Chmiel.
Sometimes the best recipes come from the most unlikely places. Several weeks ago, I was watching tennis at the U.S. Open in Queens and started chatting with the woman behind me about, of all things, cooking. Tennis is one of those etiquette sports where chatting with your neighbor is a no-no and even more so at the granddaddy of tennis events. But, home cooks just can't help themselves and our tips, trials and tribulations in the kitchen were flying as fast as the young American superstar, Donald Young, was whacking the ball. The recipe that stuck with me was her twist on banana bread. Bananas, a staple in the household but once they're too ripe to eat, the option is to throw them out or make banana bread. Everyone has a favorite recipe, …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Cooking Demo: Local Mom Nancy Silverman makes her famous fresh summer tomato sauce and talks about Jake's Ride.
Nancy Silverman wants you to know something. As summer winds down and school gears up, you might notice signs and painted bikes popping up all over for Jake's Ride. Jake is Nancy's 15-year-old son and he was diagnosed with Dystonia in fifth grade when he was just 10. Before Jake's diagnosis, Nancy, like most of us, led a typical life not knowing much about the disease at all. Dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, causes painful spasms in one or more parts of the body. It was a long year of tests and doctors visits when they finally got the diagnosis and subsequent treatment for Jake. It's a year Nancy never wants to live through again and is passionate about raising awareness so no other family has to suffer, too. Being the …
Eileen Z. Wolter
1:21 pm on Thursday, September 22, 2011
Looks delish, Amy. And easy to substitute meat alternatives. more ›