mustard

The next time you need dinner in a hurry, head to the fish counter. Pick up some salmon fillets and don't worry about the seasonings. You have the perfect thing to make deliciously moist and flavorful fish in your fridge already: mustard! Slather the skin with dijon and broil until cooked. Serve with a quick potato and fennel salad and you've got a balanced meal in under 30 minutes. Pair with a full-bodied white or light and fruity red. Sound scrumptious? Here's the recipe.

Turkey sandwiches are a pretty regular fixture in my everyday diet. They're healthy, delicious, and versatile. Thinly sliced deli turkey tastes good on all types of bread from focaccia to sliced wheat, and it pairs with almost everything, be it pear butter or barbecue sauce.

One sandwich that's absolutely amazing is the classic Thanksgiving leftover sandwich that joins sweet-juicy cranberry with thick-hearty turkey. This sandwich is beloved by many; but why, then, is it only enjoyed in the weekend after the third Thursday in November? Isn't the combination scrumptious enough to be eaten in the warmer months, too?

Recently I put this idea to the test by throwing together a cherry compote and turkey sandwich. It has all the familiar elements of the classic, but is Summer friendly. Genius! Oh and I forget to mention: it's really good. There's nothing more to say, except make it now.

The other day I was browsing the YumSugar Community and I came across an interesting post titled The Best Ham Sandwich. Ever. I love ham sandwiches and couldn't help but click through to see the story. Turns out Fuzzles was sharing a recipe in the Kitchen Goddess group.

Fuzzles' hysterical and engaging description of the best ham sandwich she has ever eaten (the thing that makes it so scrumptious is a special cherry mustard) made me want to go home and try it immediately. It took me a couple of weeks, but I finally made it, and let me tell you, Fuzzles was right!

This sandwich is absolutely amazing. The cherry mustard is tangy and sweet and the combination of ham with brie is delightfully French. I plan on enjoying it all week with ham leftover from Easter. To check out my recipe that's based on Fuzzles' story, read more

• 13 ways to impress vegans. — The Atlantic
• This refined fig mustard will take sandwiches to a new level. — Chow
• Learn the proper technique for sweating vegetables. — Serious Eats
• Now you can get your daily dose of Guy Fieri in iPhone app form. — Eater
• Brian Boitano has opened a cheese food cart in San Francisco. — SFoodie
• A new study on fruit flies reveals information about the human appetite. — The Epi-Log
• An inside look at the food world's tribute to Daniel Boulud. — Feast

Although my fridge is stocked with all sorts of sauces and condiments, the one thing you won't find is bottled salad dressing. Why? It's really easy to make a simple and delicious vinaigrette. It takes only a couple of minutes and is far healthier than anything processed.

While there are tons of recipes out there, this one — which comes from my girlfriend Sonia — is my everyday vinaigrette. It's a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and dijon mustard.

Sometimes I'll throw in chopped herbs or a few tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese or a shallot instead of garlic, so feel free to make the recipe your own. To enjoy this tangy, garlicky dressing on a big bowl of mixed greens, read more

The classic pork chops and applesauce go sophisticated with this recipe. Instead of bone-in pork chops and pureed apples, it employs boneless pork loin and whole Granny Smith apples.

The apples are sautéed until soft and the pork is topped with a simple pan sauce. Although the ingredient list calls for grainy mustard, if you dislike the polarizing condiment, simply omit it. Serve with a glass of white wine and you've got an elegant meal to start the weekend. Get the recipe and read more

With its flaky, crispy, and buttery layers, I never tire of puff pastry in a savory appetizer preparation. I always make sure my freezer is stocked with the easy-to-manage dough because it's ideal for impromptu entertaining. Roll it with some herbs and prosciutto and you've got pinwheels. Or, if you have a festive cookie cutter and a little more time, you can make these cheesy pumpkin puffs.The name of this recipe is somewhat misleading. There is no pumpkin flavor involved; the pumpkin refers to the cookie cutter's shape. Despite this fact, these gruyere, Parmesan, and mustard-filled puffs are amazing. They're the perfect little bite to begin a party as they pair with everything from sparkling wine to beer to cocktails. To look at the recipe, which would be welcome at any occasion between Halloween and Thanksgiving, read more

One can never have too many turkey burger recipes: they're simple, versatile, and crowd-pleasing. The secret ingredient in this variation is honey mustard. It not only flavors the patties, but when combined with mayonnaise, it makes for a creamy sauce that slathers the bun. Although the recipe tops the burgers with avocado and tomato slices, you could throw in a number of typical add-ons from caramelized red onions to Muenster cheese. Place this burger in your recipe collection when you read more

Although I can't make it to the official celebration in Wisconsin, I'll be observing National Mustard Day this weekend. But I'm really salivating over the photos from the Maine Lobster Festival, and I'm curious to try a so-called Rocky Mountain oyster at the appropriately-dubbed Testy Festy. What looks most appetizing to you? Here's what's going on between now and next Tuesday in the food festival world.

• Rockland, ME: Maine Lobster Festival — July 29-Aug. 2
• Clinton, MT: Rock Creek Lodge Testicle Festival — July 29-Aug. 2
• Seattle, WA: Taste of the Nation Seattle — July 30
• Miami, FL: Taste of the Nation Miami — July 30
• Atlantic City, NJ: Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival — July 30-Aug. 2
• Norfolk, VA: 20th Annual Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival — July 31-Aug. 2
• Mammoth Lakes, CA: Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza — July 31-Aug. 2

To see the rest, read more