Pot Roast
I am sure most of us grew up with a memory of our mom or grandmother making a classic pot roast which was usually served with mashed potatoes. I can remember coming home from school on a cold winter day and, as soon as I walked in the door, I could tell from the wonderful…
Monkeypod Kitchen
It is so true that you just never know when you may discover a “Real Food Find”. We did that when we came upon the Monkeypod Kitchen in Wailea on the Island of Maui. We flew into Maui late on Thanksgiving evening and were looking for something quick to eat near the condo where we were staying. Not many restaurants…
Lamb Burgers
Any burger should be moist, juicy and flavorful. These lamb burgers are that, plus so much more, especially with the addition of the beef which adds a little more fat for keeping the burger juicy and tender. I have tried this recipe with just lamb alone, but I prefer adding a little beef to enhance…
Hawaiian BBQ Sauce
After a recent trip to Maui , I wanted to create a barbecue sauce for a Kalua Pork recipe I got, and thought about flavors that would be typically Hawaiian. I found a jar of Papaya Habanero Preserves in my refrigerator that had been a gift from a friend. It seemed like the perfect combination…
OneSpeed Pizza
If you want to learn how to make amazing pizza you should learn from one of the best. I think we just did that, on July 1st, 2013 when a group of friends and I attended “OneSpeed Pizza 101”. It was a class at the OneSpeed Pizza restaurant in Sacramento and taught by owner/chef Rick…
Homemade Pizzeria Style Pizza
Making real pizzeria style pizza at home has always been very tough to do. The reason has been it’s not possible to get a home oven to the same temperature as a commercial pizza oven, but that doesn’t matter. I recently attended a pizza-making class with some friends at OneSpeed Pizza restaurant in Sacramento and…
Tomato Bread
Tomato bread, also known as Pan Con Tomate, is so simple to make. It is nothing more than toasted bread rubbed with fresh garlic and tomatoes, then sprinkled with salt and drizzled with olive oil. It is really delicious by itself, but is also served with cheese or ham. I found this bread at most every tapas bar I…
Cajun Seasoning
When I smell this spice blend it makes me think of the first time I had perfectly blackened mahi mahi at the Highland House in Mequon, Wisconsin. You just can’t beat that spicy crust and juicy center that develops when you correctly blacken a piece of meat or fish. I know it is very difficult…
Pizza Sauce
This pizza sauce recipe I created years ago for a Chicago-style pizza that we served in my brothers sports bar, but I think it’s great on all types of pizza. The whole tomatoes are the key to this recipe which gives the sauce a more intense tomato flavor. Recently, in a pizza-making class I attended,…
Classic Martini
The perfect martini…what is the answer? I would say that would be a matter of personal preference. It all depends on the ratio of gin to vermouth. It can be 1 to 1, all the way up to 100 to 1, depending on how dry you like it. I use a 3 to 1 ratio…
