As I have said before, I love cookies; but shortbread cookies are on my list of top five favorites. Unlike a traditional cookie, shortbread cookies are meant to be slightly crumbly (as opposed to soft). Shortbread is a Scottish biscuit traditionally made with one part sugar, two parts butter, three parts flour–and no eggs. Lots […]
A charcuterie board is a great, easy go-to for entertaining and it works year-round. If it is made well and is visually appealing, it will be desirable to any non-vegetarian guest. Seriously. Most people love a great charcuterie. The word, pronounced “shar-cute-er-ree”, means “pork-butcher’s shop“. The word is derived from the French word “chair” (meaning meat) and “cuit” […]
A pomelo or “citrus maxima” is a citrus fruit similar to a grapefruit. I don’t think I ever saw one until I moved to California. Pomelos are native to South and Southeast Asia and are popular during the mid-autumn or mooncake festival. Pomelos are typically large, pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white, […]
A good friend of mine from college loves Chimichurri sauce. The last time we were together, she ordered it as a side to a dish that didn’t come with it. That didn’t matter, it just worked. I have always loved this simple sauce myself, when made right, but had forgotten about it over the years. […]
A Greyhound is a cocktail consisting of grapefruit juice and either gin or vodka; it is traditionally served over ice. “Greyhound” is also the nickname given to my husband by a friend in law school due to his tall, thin physique. Although the two are unrelated, I have an affinity toward anything greyhound-related. So this […]
I’ve always loved chilled soups—though I know they’re not everyone’s favorite. Still, on a hot summer day, a cool, refreshing soup can be a lifesaver. My boys ask for my chilled gazpacho year-round (a parent’s dream!), and I hope they never stop. Borscht Along with my love of chilled soups, I’m also a big fan […]
I don’t feel like I’m 45. So much so that recently, I have caught myself saying the wrong age–like 44, or 25. They always said that would happen. I’m not going to complain about being 45. Age is all relative, and truthfully I only feel old sometimes. Typically, it’s a few days after doing something […]
I’ve recently become obsessed with hummingbird cake. First, I love the name: it sounds pretty. Second, it’s almost a cross between four of my favorite sweets: coconut cake, frosted banana cake, carrot cake, and banana bread. It’s sweet, but not overly so. It has texture but is super moist. It’s rustic, yet elegant. Best of […]
Holistic Health Coach Jennifer Joffe is my featured Changemaker this month. I lived near Jennifer for almost 3 years, but we did not get introduced until she had moved to Portland, been certified as a Holistic Health Coach, and launched Project Healthy Body. “Health Coach” is a term that has been popping up a lot lately. […]
Challah is a special bread in Jewish cuisine that is braided and typically eaten on Sabbath, as well as several Jewish holidays–excluding Passover. The name “challah” refers to the act of separating a small portion of the dough, which is then set aside as a “tithe” for what is known as the “Kohen”. The act […]
Sometimes a smoothie just doesn’t cut it. So I’m mixing it up a bit with this raspberry-pineapple protein slushy and it’s perfect for the Spring and Summer months. I thought a bright, fruity, protein slushy might be just what I needed to kick-start my Spring and give me a non-caffeinated energy boost. Personally, with all […]
Egg-in-a-hole is what I call it. But there are many other names for this delightfully simple recipe: “bird in a nest,” “egg-in-a-hat,” “toad-in-a-hole,” “one-eyed-monster,” “tigers-eye,” “bullseye,” “private eyes,” and even “barn-yard,” If you are interested in learning about the backstory of this simple dish, I recommend you check out the article “The Ambiguous History of […]
My older son believes that he could live on mozzarella sticks—they are his guilty pleasure. When I was his age, I loved them as well. For lunch, my friends and I would often head to Mama’s Pizza on Broadway on the Upper West Side, right around the corner from our school. We would munch on […]
Chef Charlie Ayers is my featured Changemaker this month. Ayers is often known as the “Google Chef”. Yes, he was the mastermind behind the incredible, innovative, earth-friendly food originally served on Google’s Mountain View campus (which everyone in NorCal who does not work for Google has heard about for years). Google’s food offerings became the standard […]
I don’t make bread pudding often, but it used to be part of my daily routine. When I worked as a chef, bread pudding was a very popular item on the menu, and I was tasked with preparing it. There are endless variations of this classic dessert, and I have had some great ones over […]
Welcome to my blog Simmer + Sauce. I always thought I was going to be a lawyer, but going to culinary school was one of the best decisions I ever made. I’m a former professional chef from NYC who loves to eat, cook and talk about food. My focus is great food, with solid recipes and reasonable ingredient lists. Cooking should be enjoyable, not stressful. Many of my recipes are family friendly and often on the healthy(ish) side.