Recipes

25

Authentic Hungarian Chicken Paprikash

I discovered Chicken Paprikash on a recent trip to Budapest. You can read more about the trip and the recipe here --> Hungarian Chicken Paprikash

26

Best Beef Goulash with Hungarian Sweet Paprika

Now that cooler temperatures are upon us, even here in California, it’s time for some hearty soup and stews. Hungarian Beef Goulash is a common Eastern European stew created using three basic ingredients: equal parts beef and onions, and a healthy dose of p…

27

Perfect Roast Chicken with Pan Gravy

Roast Chicken is one of the simplest things to make, and when done correctly, becomes an all time home comfort food favorite. I find that Kosher chickens are the most flavorful and juicy, particularly Empire Kosher Chickens ( http://www.empirekosher.com/ ).…

28

Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

This is delicious summertime pasta and works well on its own, or with your favorite Barbecued Chicken or Grilled Fish. I’ve got tons of basil growing in the garden and this is a great way to use it. The addition of mayonnaise helps keep the pesto from separ…

29

Quick Fresh Summer Tomato Basil Sauce

Nothing beats fresh tomato sauce made with your own (or someone else’s) garden tomatoes. The few simple ingredients combine to make a truly delicious and authentic pasta sauce. This recipe can easily be doubled if you have an abundance of tomatoes, and it f…

30

Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Chateaubriand Beef Tenderloin With Red Wine Pan Sauce

This is one of those recipes reserved for very special occasions - when you’re having a small dinner party and want to make a big impression. You will probably have to ask your butcher to prepare a trimmed, center-cut piece, often known as Chateaubriand, fr…

31

Quick & Easy Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken

Some nights I just can’t decide what to make for dinner - especially when time is short, and I’m not in the mood for recipes that require lots of prep (and therefore lots of cleanup). This lemon chicken recipe adapted from Ina Garten’s cookbook – How Easy i…

32

Easy Maple Mustard Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin makes an easy weeknight dish. Trader Joe’s sells individual tenderloins that work perfectly with this recipe. It’s just the right amount for two people and is really easy make. Maple syrup is the perfect accent to pork and the whole grain mu…

33

Barbecue Grilled Whole Red Snapper With Citrus Vinaigrette

There is nothing like ordering fresh fish at a sea side tavern in Greece. It’s one of the quintessential experiences when visiting the Greek Isles. My friend Rich Campbell, who has uncanny knack for finding incredible places to eat, introduced me to a wonde…

34

Traditional New England Baked Beans

Baked Beans are a staple of New England cooking - in fact Boston gets its nickname “Beantown” from a long history of making baked beans. Take a drive through some of the small towns in New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont and you’ll undoubtedly find signs for a…

35

Easy Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought it was time to experiment with some turkey recipes. Some years I have a house full of people and often cook two big birds, but other times it’s just a small group and cooking a huge turkey just seems to be…

36

Foil Wrapped Haddock with Fresh Roma Tomatoes and Zucchini

Traditionally this fish would be cooked in parchment paper, and opened at the table (See NY Times article: "The Envelope Please: Cooking En Papillote " ) but I find the task somewhat tedious and prefer the much easier-to-use aluminum foil. Haddock or Cod wo…

37

Argentinean-Style Chimichurri Sauce

I love the bright vibrant flavor of Chimichurri. It's an Argentinean sauce, similar to pesto, and very popular throughout South America. There are hundreds of versions, but essentially it’s a blend of fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, oil and vinegar and a li…

38

Pasta with Fresh Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes

This is a great summertime pasta and works well with Barbecued Chicken or Grilled Fish. The mayonnaise helps keep the pesto from turning too oily and the addition of parsley and spinach leaves ensures a bright green color.

39

Classic Alsatian Onion and Bacon Tart

This is a very typical recipe from the Alsace region of France. I made over the weekend for a friend’s mother and she raved about it. Although there are just a few ingredients, it has outstanding flavor - perfect for a Sunday brunch. The secret is slow cook…

40

Traditional Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar)

My close friends, photographers Chris Makos and Paul Solberg ( http://www.thehiltonbrothers.com/ ) are currently having an incredible time touring Sweden. They sent me this beautiful photo of Swedish meatballs prepared by Chef Tomas Lindh at the Hotel Skepp…

41

Traditional Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar)

My close friends, photographers Chris Makos and Paul Solberg ( http://www.thehiltonbrothers.com/ ) are currently having an incredible time touring Sweden. They sent me this beautiful photo of Swedish meatballs prepared by Chef Tomas Lindh at the Hotel Skepp…

42

Quick Easy Balsamic Glazed Seared Salmon

I made this recently for my friend Robert and we both loved it. It’s incredibly easy to do and is perfect with rice or couscous and a nice green summer vegetable like zucchini or asparagus.Sometimes I serve it with Elie Krieger’s Whole Wheat Penne with Fres…

43

Best Curried Egg Salad Sandwich

44

World's Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I don’t know who creates these things, but apparently April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Holiday or not, grilled cheese sandwiches seem to appeal to everyone. It’s one of my favorite lunchtime treats –especially when there almost nothing left in the re…

45

Hearty Turkey Tomato Sauce with Campanelle

Ground turkey is a nice substitution for beef in this hearty pasta sauce. I often substitute it for the ground beef in my Chili recipe. Make sure to buy 93% lean turkey, any leaner and the meat with taste dry. I like Campanelle pasta for this dish, but any…

46

Lemon Spaghetti Basil Spaghetti al Limone

This is a super fast and easy recipe and a perfect example of simple Italian cooking at its best. The pasta is great on its own, or you can add some sautéed chicken pieces. You can cut the recipe in half to serve two people.

47

Rocco DiSpirito’s Lo Cal Macaroni & Cheese

I recently was in NY with a friend who was guest hosting on the Joy Behar show. Rocco DiSpirito was on to promote his best-selling "Now Eat This!" Diet book ( Find it here ). He suggested trying his innovative low calorie recipe for Macaroni & Cheese that u…

48

Classic Sole Florentine (Make Ahead)

This is a classic dish adapted from the Best Make Ahead Recipes cookbook – one of my favorite books. It’s perfect for dinner parties because you can pop the pre-prepared dish in the oven 20 minutes before serving. Frozen chopped spinach works well, but make…