Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Roasted Tomato Bisque

Makes 4 to 6 servings Roasting the tomatoes adds an unusual twist to this bisque. If you prefer, you can substitute sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) for the roasted tomatoes. Ingredients 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil 1 1/4 cups diced onion 1/2 cup diced celery 1 1/4 cups diced leek […]

One-Dish Meals

Shrimp & Chicken Jambalaya

Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients 3 tablespoon canola oil 1 lb 8 oz boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination, cubed Kosher salt, as needed Freshly ground black pepper, as needed 1 lb andouille sausage, sliced 1/2-inch thick 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 green bell peppers, diced […]

Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Snack Sushi

Sushi is generally an outside food, meaning we eat it outside of the house when someone else makes it for us. And for a lot of reasons, this is generally a fine practice. Good sushi fish can be hard to find and hard to store. Plus, who even knows how […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks

Stuffed Grapes Leaves

Makes 16 Ingredients 1/2 cup olive oil 1 cup minced onions 1/2 cup minced fennel 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 cup short-grain rice 1 1/2 cups finely diced tomato Salt, to taste Ground black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup minced scallions, white portion only 1/4 cup minced parsley 1/4 cup […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Stuffed Peppers Without a Recipe

There are tons of stuffed pepper recipes in the world, but you don’t need a recipe to make a hearty make-ahead dinner with all the ingredients your family likes best. There are four primary components of a basic stuffed pepper: the pepper, the substance, the flavor, and the sauce. The […]

Pantry

Sushi Rice

Makes about 5 cups cooked rice Ingredients 2 cups Japanese short-grain white rice 2 tablespoons sake 2 cups water, preferably bottled 1 (4- by 6-inch) piece kombu 1/4 cup Japanese rice vinegar (not seasoned) 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar Directions Wash the rice: Place rice into medium heavy-bottomed pot […]

Main Dishes

Vegetarian Dirty Rice

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 6 ounces pinto beans, canned 1/2 cup onion, diced 1/2 tablespoon garlic, minced 1 tablespoon peanut oil 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock 3/4 cup long grain rice 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons chipotle peppers, chopped 1 teaspoon cumin seeds Salt, […]