Side Dishes

Pita Bread

Making homemade pita is fun and satisfying, since there isn’t much better than a warm, fresh piece of bread! This recipe uses a Poolish, which is a style of pre-ferment that helps create flavor in the finished dough. This bit of dough will be pretty dense and may feel dry, […]

Main Dishes

Rabbit Braised with Lavender and Honey

Makes 4 servings Although you may not eat rabbit frequently, this dish is sure to make you a convert. The combination of the braised legs with the roasted loin and miniature chops is delicious and allows for total utilization of the rabbit, so there is no waste. If you’re not […]

Desserts, Pies and Tarts

Raspberry Mascarpone Tart

Makes one 9-inch tart A simple but stunning tart that features ripe raspberries on a layer of lemon and honey-sweetened mascarpone. Try substituting other berries depending on what is available at your local farm stand. Strawberries are a typical early summer choice, but as the berry season comes into full […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Regional Food Spotlight: Sponge Candy

You may think Buffalo, New York stopped when it perfected the spicy Buffalo wing, but you might be surprised to find out that the wing is arguably the second-best food to come out of the city. For the sweet-toothed among us, Buffalo’s very best regional specialty has an unfortunate name […]

Salads

Roasted Pear and Arugula Salad with Caramelized Shallot Vinaigrette

Makes 6 Servings Salad Ingredients Juice of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 unpeeled Bartlett pears 3 cups baby arugula 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped 1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled Vinaigrette Ingredients 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 shallots, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar 3 tablespoons […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Rosemary-Scented Honey

Makes 2 cups This honey can be made 1 month in advance. Store wrapped in the refrigerator. If it becomes too thick, set in a bowl of warm water or microwave on low power for 30 seconds at a time until it thins out. Ingredients 1 1/4 cups honey 2/3 […]

One-Dish Meals

Sausage with Sweet and Sour Peppers

Makes 4 to 6 servings Agrodolce is the Italian term for a sweet and sour sauce. Usually a reduction of vinegar and sugar, it is used to top meats, vegetables, sandwiches—anything, really! This recipe creates a quick and easy agrodolce right in the pan, which helps to soften the peppers […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

The Buzz on the CIA’s Bees

To an observer it must have looked like some bizarre heist movie. Here’s the scene: It was a warm night in late April. Ruined pillars from some forgotten structure loomed above the Hudson River. Flowers covered the apple trees nearby. A car approached, the headlights flashing, only to turn off […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Try Hibiscus Soda for a Sparkling Summer

It feels like La Croix has somehow become more popular than beer. And while it seems to be available everywhere you go, those of us participating in the great seltzer resurgence of 2019 are from time to time faced with beverages without bubbles. But you don’t have to be part of […]

Chef's Notes Plus

What I’m Cooking: Tangy Couscous Salad

One of my favorite flavor profiles is the Italian agrodolce, a sweet and sour sauce that makes any dish more exciting. Made simply by reducing vinegar with honey, agrodolce can be created on its own and added to dishes later, but I often prepare this sticky and sweet sauce in […]