Even if you don't walk away with an over-the-top Williams-Sonoma steak and wine package to give away this Father's Day, you've still got many opportunities to shower Dad with gifts that are fit for a king. He'll have an easier time in the kitchen with a system to keep his knives razor sharp. Or appeal to his appreciation for quality meats with a charcuterie book and a sampler of Aidells artisanal sausages. Scroll below for more ideas.
Pronounced "po-kay," this traditional Hawaiian dish combines bite-size pieces of raw tuna with a special blend of seasonings. Most poke contains soy sauce and sesame oil, and other ingredients include sesame seeds, green onions, and chiles. Though it is a prized local specialty, poke's popularity has spread nationwide — I recently enjoyed some at
Sam's Chowder House.
Last season we watched as Sookie Stackhouse met her beloved soulmate, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton, in HBO’s hit series True Blood from visionary creator Alan Ball. The new season starts Sunday, June 14, at 9 p.m. and we can’t wait to watch what unfolds in the sultry southern town of Bon Temps, as these forbidden lovers encounter more thrilling events. We love the racy escapades, sexy romps, and dark humor that make it a must-watch show.
Will you be tuning in next Sunday? We’re so ready to sink our teeth into the new season of True Blood!
Kick-start your farmers market feast with a potent, fresh-fruit cocktail in the form of a watermelon-rum mash. Cubes of melon are pureed and mixed with mint and rum. The final concoction is refreshing and conversation enhancing. When you sit down for dinner, pour a crisp, green white like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Spanish Verdejo. Pair an effervescent dessert wine, such as this Moscato, with the strawberry ricotta shortbread. To look at the cocktail recipe, please read more
With cost increases, the economic downturn and a focus on all things green, could meatless meals be poised to become the next great food trend? Last month, Ghent, Belgium, made headlines when it became the first city to go meatless once a week. Then a recent vegetarianism poll generated surprising results: more than 25 percent of you said you're vegetarians, and nearly another quarter of you eat fish and not meat. But all of this comes as little surprise to Gourmet, which argues that the country's financial woes have prompted a new wave of meatless eaters: recession flexitarians.
More than half the shoppers surveyed by the American Meat Institute say they have reduced the amount of meat they eat as a result of the economy. Many of them have become flexitarians, or mostly vegetarian consumers who occasionally eat meat. The USDA estimates that every category of farm animal will experience a drop in meat production for the first time in more than 35 years, and the publishing industry has seen a wave of new books focused on eating less meat.
Since forgoing meat will also help address increasingly popular issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, obesity, and world hunger, the growing number of meat-free eaters seems to make sense. Still, I can't help but wonder whether America will return to its steak-gnawing ways once the economy improves. What do you think? Have you found yourself eating less meat?
Parmesan cheese is quite possibly Italy's most popular cheese. The hard, dry cheese has clearly won its way into the hearts of America. It's made from skimmed (or partially skimmed) cow's milk and has a pale golden rind and light-straw interior. Although Parmesan is made in the US, Argentina, and Australia, for it to be authentically Italian it must be called Parmigiano-Reggiano. On average Parmesan is aged for two years. It has a granular texture that's sometimes characterized by crystals.
The flavor of Parmesan is salty, complex, and nutty. Parmesan is insanely versatile: it's obviously delicious in pasta, makes a wonderful addition to any cheese plate, is great shaved on salads or crisped on pizzas, and makes an exceptional frico. What exactly is a frico? Find out when you read more
Just because a meal is meatless doesn't mean it can't be filled with flavor. This vegan recipe is jam-packed with tropical seasonings and varied textures. The onions and tempeh are slightly caramelized before being coated in cilantro, curry powder, and fresh ginger. Red pepper and mustard greens provide a necessary crunch that balances out the softness of the tempeh. The finishing touch, a sprinkling of peanuts, makes this dish subtly salty and oh-so-satisfying.
To look at the recipe, read more
For some reason, I can't talk on the phone while I'm at the supermarket. If I'm on the phone, I will walk around aimlessly and not get what I need. How about you?
