When the weather is 45° in Southern California, I tend to look for recipes that are comforting and that will warm my internals. I know for you East Coasters, 45° is still flip-flops and shorts weather! But for us Californians who don’t know how to drive in the rain and […]
When I think back to the best Chicken Tikka Masala recipe I have ever had, my mind always goes back to a dish I had in a small restaurant in the outskirts of London, England. For those who have never been to England, there is a large Indian population; and […]
Has your mouth started watering yet? It’s hard not to react when that hot sizzling plate of fajitas passes your table with the smells from the grilled meats and veggies enticing you to pay attention! My standard is a carnitas burrito or plate. I love when the carnitas is a […]
This last week I made some fajitas which meant I needed to make the best Mexican Rice Ever as a side to go with it! Every Mexican Abuela has her own variation of this dish and since I don’t have one I needed to do a little research. One constant […]
Latkas are just the best potato pancakes ever! It’s the holiday season and Hanukkah is here. Why not make these crispy cakes of goodness? They are simple to make, so no excuses not to. A Couple of Good Hints! Here are a couple of good hints to remember when making […]
Your family has a tradition of Asian Takeout Night every Sunday. Your favorite Chinese Restaurant is no longer in business and you are very sad. What to do? Make your own, of course! Kung Pao Chicken has always been my favorite dish for Chinese Takeout. I know that Chinese Takeout […]
I have been known to enjoy a little wine in my time. So Nancy and I decided to try out the wine at Altisima winery which is one of Temecula Valley’s newest wineries. We were impressed at what a great job the 8 local family owners did in putting together […]
Everyone has their Family recipes that have to be served every Thanksgiving. I know that I have certain special dishes that I have to bring to Thanksgiving or else! I am not sure what that “or else” exactly means, but I don’t want to find out! So today I am […]
Beef stroganoff and Spaetzle are just a great combination. Stroganoff is just one of the all-time great comfort foods and one of the Frank Family’s favorite dishes. Today, I decided to make it with spaetzle. Typically, I have always served stroganoff with egg noodles. There are many recipes for spaetzle […]
What could be better than a chicken roulade stuffed with Nduja? Your first question might be, “what is Nduja?” Nduja is not a typical Italian dish that most of us are familiar with. Nduja (pronounced en-DOO-ya) is a soft, spreadable type of pork salami (paté-like) with Calabrian chiles and a […]
The winter season is coming upon us. Maybe in Southern California not so much. But that doesn’t stop us from enjoying soups and stews which taste especially great right now. Since one of my favorite dishes is chili, let’s be a little non-traditional and make some Pumpkin-Butternut Squash Chili. Pumpkin-Butternut […]
I definitely was interested when I heard about the Temecula chefs that were putting on a pop-up dinner at the Akash Winery in Temecula Wine Country. Dylan Soros, from Soro’s Mediterranean Grill, and Daniel Johnson, from the Naughty Pig Butchery, were showcasing their cuisine. So when two of the premier […]
Why stop for takeout, when you can make better than takeout fried rice at home! I try to stay away from too many carbs. But every once in a while you have to take care of your cravings. The great thing about this dish is that it’s easy to make […]
Have you learned the secret of velveting your chicken? Have you ever had a memorable broccoli beef dish or even have a memory of the pork strips in your favorite Hot and Sour Soup where the protein basically melted in your mouth? You can bet that a method called velveting […]
Today’s recipe is just the perfect pairing of Pork Belly and a Fig Balsamic Vinegar Agrodolce! What is an Agrodolce? I am a sauce guy and enjoy everything from the perfect demi-glace to an Alabama White Sauce. Agrodolce is an Italian sweet and sour sauce that can enhance any roasted […]
Is Chicken Tortilla Soup the answer? Coming home from work all you can think about is what can you make to satisfy your desire for something healthy that can be flavorful, satisfying, and not make you feel bloated from overeating. My recipe for a quick and easy chicken tortilla soup […]
I recently got back from a trip to Paso Robles which included some wine tastings and great food. The food was amazing and definitely inspired me once I got home. At Parrish Family Vineyards we enjoyed some fine wine and some perfect food pairings. One of those dishes I especially […]
What is Italian Wedding Soup? Italian Wedding Soup is simply a marriage of great ingredients. Some people think that the origins of this soup relate to a dish served for weddings. Actually, minestra maritata (‘married soup’), is a reference to the flavor produced by the combination of the “marriage” of […]
How about a cheesy rosemary pull-apart bread? Your plan for tonight is to make your special Italian dish. Why not make some bread with garlic, cheese, and spices to go along with it. Use this bread to dip into your sauce, or combine a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar […]
I am heading to New Orleans today. Well…not really…just figuratively. What I am talking about is Jambalaya, an incredibly flavorful rice dish. Add Andouille sausage and chicken and you have a one-pot wonder. It is a very simple dish that your family will love. The Big Decision…Cajun or Creole Jambalaya? […]