Category Archives: Mains

Here are the big boys. The heavy hitters. Main courses to build a meal around. We specialize in strong flavors and quality ingredients and not overly complicated preparation. Check ’em out.

Recipe: Thai Red Curry with Basil

Thai Red Curry with Basil is the spicy/sweet/sour dish designated “chili basil” at your local Asian fusion place, where you specify the flavor base then add protein of choice. It’s very fast and easy to make with Maesri Prik Khing … Continue reading

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Recipe: Shanghai-Style Pickled Cabbage Appetizer

According to Woks of Life, Shanghai-Style Pickled Cabbage is often served complimentary in mainland restaurants. It’s a perfect palate-cleanser between courses of barbecued Chinese meats and would be at home with American BBQ as well (like maybe a smoked turkey … Continue reading

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Recipe: Polpette (Big Italian Meatballs)

Polpette are the big nicely-spiced meatballs found in Italian-American pasta dishes (they are apparently not found in Italy itself, where the meatballs are much smaller) and in meatball subs. When researching this polpette recipe we came across the wonderful Nonna’s … Continue reading

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Steak with Five-Spice Asian Marinade

We are big fans of Certified Angus Beef, which gives us permission to borrow this recipe from their website. Technically, we aren’t actually stealing it because we made a couple of crucial improvements. Switched the meat from strip steaks (their … Continue reading

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Recipe: Italian Seafood Salad

This Italian Seafood Salad, or Insalata di Mare, was inspired by Philip Nicolas on the  Cook’s Cooks Community Forum on Facebook. It’s great if you have fresh seafood, but it’s nearly as good made with frozen because of the other … Continue reading

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Recipe: Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups

Thanks to longtime reader and frequent commenter llcwine for sharing this recipe for Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups. It’s refreshing and summer-y and just right for a socially distanced porch party where everyone is served their own plate. Each roll-up feeds 1 … Continue reading

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Recipe: Utica-Style Tomato Pie

Utica-Style Tomato Pie is a gooey, unctuous treat made with lots of tomatoes and very little cheese; it is traditionally served at room temperature. We started with the Sal Detraglia recipe but did a lot of tinkering to get the … Continue reading

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Recipe: DIY Lox and Bagel

Lox and bagels are a favorite deli treat but it’s very easy to make your own DIY version which is better and also cheaper. The ingredients are mostly familiar but there are a few secrets along the way. Makes one … Continue reading

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Recipe: Thai Noodles in Sweet Soy Sauce

Thai Noodles in Sweet Soy Sauce is somewhere between Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Maw) and Pad Ee Sew, a simpler street-food dish. What they have in common is an addictive sweet and sour sauce intensified through wok char. Makes 6 … Continue reading

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Recipe: Cantonese Restaurant Salt and Pepper Squid

Salt and pepper squid is best eaten fresh and piping hot. If your favorite Chinese restaurant is only doing takeout because of the pandemic, here’s how to make it at home. Serves 4 as an appetizer with other foods. Ingredients: … Continue reading

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