Month: January 2021

Yakitori

Yakitori

I am going to stay in Asia this week. With Valentine’s Day coming up, this might be a good idea for a cute, romantic, interactive and quite savory dinner. Easy cleanup is a bonus! Yakitori means “grilled chicken” but restaurants (izakayas) have expanded beyond chicken 

Five-Spice Powder

Five-Spice Powder

You can find five-spice powder in the stores now with relative ease. However, for those times you want to go the extra mile and cook something special that deserves the most flavor possible, you can make your own mix; it elevates the dish. I also 

Mapo Tofu

Mapo Tofu

I had my first taste of Chinese food at 17 years old. There of us got together to study and hang out (myself and two other girls, immigrants like me, but they had lived in the States for longer than I). They suggested Chinese food. 

Sichuan Chili Oil

Sichuan Chili Oil

Making a fresh batch of chili oil is worth the time when cooking Mapo tofu. It really does make all the difference. Plus, you’ll have extra on hand for other things: dipping sauces, drizzled over vegetables (it’s killer over sweet potatoes), mix it in some 

Chicken Saltimbocca Zuzu Style

Chicken Saltimbocca Zuzu Style

(Keto) NYC has a huge number of really good Italian restaurants. There are a few dishes I like to order in different places to “judge” the quality of the food. Most respectable places do an amazing veal saltimbocca that is at once light and rich 

Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Soup

(Vegan option) I am staying with the soup trend this week. The weather is cold and the snow flurries this morning reminded me it’s still winter, making me long for a warm spring day. As I was driving to work, I was dreaming (with my 

Poached Pears

Poached Pears

Desserts are not my strong suit and I am always looking for an easy way out. Baking is precise and demanding so I basically avoid it all costs. You will not see elaborate desserts on these pages unless I can convince my son, the expert, 

“Loaded” Potato Soup

“Loaded” Potato Soup

A bitter-cold day needs a comforting soup that warms you up from within, a velvety meal that looks richer than it really is. I am late to the party on the soup train; I am only now catching up to it. I’ve heard for years 

Scallops & Crab Sauce Gemelli

Scallops & Crab Sauce Gemelli

Mystic, CT is a place very near and dear to my heart. My husband and I went there on our very first vacation together close to 27 years ago. We were young and clueless and hungry for new experiences. I can’t honestly remember which restaurant 

Beef Restorative Broth

Beef Restorative Broth

This is a recipe for the soul. It’s simple flavor brought forth from good quality ingredients that play together well to give you that “oh, heavens, this is what I’ve been missing” feeling. We’ll coax all the beefiness from bones and beef shins and we’ll