comfort food

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 […]

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 […]

Corned beef hash is a labor of love.  It takes commitment, planning, and someone in your family who loves it.  For me, that is my older son, and he could live on it.  Well, this and kreplach.   While I will do almost anything for my boys, I am a reasonable person.  I do not […]

Shepherd’s pie, or “cottage pie” as it’s also known, is a meat pie with a mashed potato topping.  It can be made in numerous ways.  Traditionally, Shepherd’s pie is made with ground lamb or mutton, and Cottage pie is made with beef.  The vegetables used also vary.  Carrots and onions are the most common, but […]

Oh my goodness: hushpuppies are a delicious, new comfort food discovery for me. Honestly, if you are averse to frying anything, stop reading right now and maybe go look at a healthier dish I make, like my kale salad.  Hushpuppies are not healthy, nor can I even begin to put that spin on them. They […]

This carnitas-style slow cooker brisket is divine.  I think brisket is always delicious and there are many ways to make it, but this is special.  I have a bunch of recipes for brisket that I love and use often, but this time I wanted to try something a bit different, and boy, did I find […]