When I first learned to make chocolate truffles thirty years ago I didn’t know I was learning the recipe originally conceived, or at least credited to, Fernand Point (1897-1955), one of the greatest French chefs. He trained or mentored such giants as Paul Bocuse, Alain Chapel, and Jean and Pierre Troisgros, which should give you [...]

Categories: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, vegetarian
Tagged: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, vegetarian

One of the more interesting Chinese cuisines is medicinal foods, foods that are designed specifically to aid in the correction of health problems while providing a nutritious and tasty meal. If you’d like an excellent introduction, I suggest Henry C. Lu, Chinese System Of Food Cures: Prevention & Remedies. Unlike the dietary “cures” often touted [...]

Categories: dairy-free, dessert, gluten-free, infusing, technique, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: dairy-free, dessert, gluten-free, technique, vegan, vegetarian

I want to make meatloaf, and for me a meatloaf has a bacon wrapping and a ketchup glaze. I could buy the bacon and ketchup, I suppose, but really, where’s the fun in that?
Chipotle Ketchup
1 onion, chopped
1½ tablespoons oil from garlic confit or extra-virgin olive oil
Put the onion and oil into a deep saucepan and [...]

Categories: condiments, dairy-free, gluten-free, pantry, preserving, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: condiments, dairy-free, gluten-free, pantry, preserving, vegan, vegetarian

Sitting under all that cheese is a simple marinara sauce. By itself it’s an excellent sauce for pasta, polenta, and that Italian-American standby Chicken Parmigiana (or it’s vegetarian/vegan version, Eggplant Parmigiana). It makes a great pizza sauce. I even used some as part of a seafood stew whipped up in just a few minutes. As [...]

Categories: gluten-free, mother recipe, pantry, preserving, sauce, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: dairy-free, gluten-free, mother recipe, pantry, preserving, sauce, vegan, vegetarian

Turn that plate with polenta around and you’ll find pollo alla cacciatora, or chicken cacciatore. It’s really a simple dish to make.
The essential ingredients include carrots, onions, and celery, to make a soffritto; tomatoes, either canned or fresh, and some tomato paste; some wine; some cheese; a few fresh or dried herbs; mushrooms if you wish [...]

Categories: Lunch, braising, chicken, child friendly, entertaining, entrée, gluten-free, poultry, sauce, supper, technique, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: chicken, entertaining, gluten-free, main course, supper, vegan, vegetarian

Haricots vert sautéed in garlic. Sounds easy, and it is: easy to do well; even easier to do poorly. Some simple alterations will make this dish dairy-free, vegetarian, or vegan.
First you have to decide whether or not to remove the tails. As you can see, I chose not to remove them. If you don’t want [...]

Categories: dairy-free, gluten-free, side dish, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: dairy-free, gluten-free, side dish, vegan, vegetarian

Whether you’re serving a nice pâté or are putting together a charcuterie platter, want some crunch in your sandwich or just need a quick burst of flavor, a sweet pickle chip is just right! Michael Ruhlman published a recipe for a delightfully simple, wonderfully flavored sweet pickle chip in Charcuterie, a book I highly recommend [...]

Categories: charcuterie, condiments, dairy-free, entertaining, gluten-free, pantry, preserving, side dish, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: charcuterie, condiments, dairy-free, entertaining, gluten-free, pantry, preserving, side dish, vegan, vegetarian

A good pâté is one my favorite things–humble ingredients transformed into a culinary delight. I particularly enjoy a nice mushroom pâté with fresh bread and sweet pickles for breakfast. Another thing I particularly like about pâté when cooked en terrine is that it isn’t particularly fussy–a few more minutes in the oven won’t make a [...]

Categories: baking, charcuterie, entertaining, gluten-free, mushroom, side dish, technique, vegetarian
Tagged: baking, charcuterie, entertaining, gluten-free, mushroom, side dish, technique, vegetarian

I have to thank Martha Stewart for this one, or, more likely, the unnamed but talented chef Martha Stewart paid for this recipe. It comes from Martha Stewart’s Cookies.
Peppermint Meringues
3 egg whites
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Mix the whites and sugar in a metal bowl or the metal bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk the whites and sugar [...]

Categories: baking, chocolate, cookie, dessert, eggs, entertaining, gluten-free
Tagged: baking, chocolate, cookies, entertaining, gluten-free

Fairy Glen cookies are an excellent option when you want or need gluten-free cookies. They do, however, require almonds, so if you need to accomodate someone with a nut allergy, these aren’t for you.
Fairy Glen Cookies
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1-3/4 cup (350g) sugar
3-1/3 cup (330g) finely ground almonds
1/4 cup (60g) orange marmalade, melted
20 candied cherries, halved
Beat [...]

Categories: baking, cookie, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free
Tagged: baking, cookies, entertaining, gluten-free