Blog Posts from the Kitchen
Here are blog posts from the both of us (Alicia and Beverly).
Wild-caught vs. farm-raised salmon: Which to buy?
One of the more confusing food choices is whether to buy farmed or wild-caught salmon. We take a look at the pros and cons.
Lentil chili makes it easy to give up meat for a meal
If you’re trying to get more vegetarian dishes into your diet, Lentil Chili is a great place to start.
Paris bistro sparks a lifelong affair with duck recipes
As duck breasts began to make an appearance in specialty butchers, Guest Blogger Liza Gyllenhaal started to discover many delicious, easy, and mostly very quick recipes for preparing them at home.
New Crock-Pot Duo does double duty in the kitchen
We really like the new Crock-Pot Duo, which puts two separate cooker pots, side by side, in one base.
Greek Appetizer Soup Makes a Wonderful Main Event!
With only 20 minutes in the kitchen, you can enjoy this restaurant classic without leaving home.
Eat Me in Manhattan: Tea Party!
Put politics aside and stage your own Tea Party, Turkish style. Guest Blogger Umit Celebi points the way!
Kindly reminder: Beans' benefits bear repeating
So beans are cheap. Duh. But fast forward to your digestive system and they’re practically a miracle cure.
Valentine's Day just begs for red foods! What are your favorites?
Combining chocolate and the color red make for the perfect answer to Valentine entertaining.
One-Bowl Fudge* is perfect for a quick and easy Valentine that's sinfully rich!
What are your favorite variations on this quick and delicious One-Bowl Fudge?
Music matches the mood at Camille's in Key West
Florida restaurant's tunes send Debbie down memory's playlist.
Grilled Cheese Your Way: Updating a classic for modern tastes
There’s nothing better than a real, old-fashioned grilled cheese sandwich –- unless it’s a real, “New-Fashioned” Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
Take a Tour of Moroccan Cuisine with Guest Blogger Nisrine Merzouki
From a tagine of beef and vegetables to brewats with safron chicken, Moroccan cuisine is distinct and delicious. Guest Blogger Nisrine Merzouki leads the way.Cooking for One or Two: A new challenge here on Kitchen Scoop
Cooking for one or two is a new challenge for us and we'd love to work together with our readers to come up with terrific recipes, ideas and tips. So come help us out!
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Liza Gyllenhaal: Sinless Sorbets
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Guest Blogger Liza Gyllenhaal: Low-fat -- dare we even call them healthy -- sorbets elevate a lonely ice cream freezer to star status.
Eat Me in Manhattan! Umit Says DiPaola Turkey Sausage Transforms Dinner
Guest Blogger Umit Celebi says: It's made by way of an old family secret, and this turkey sausage from DiPaola Farms is simply stunning.
What are your best tricks for aiding an aging memory? Debbie does the Pyramid game!
Can't remember names? It's not just you! Brains in folks over 50 have weak neural connections that handle information. Or so says the research.
Sweet Pea and Tomato Cupcakes? Yum!
One day Guest Blogger Sylvia Regalado found a recipe, a weird recipe, one which said, “Bake me, Sylvia. Bake me.” Could she? Should she? You bet your Sweet Pea and Tomato Cupcakes!
How do you cook for one or two in the Empty Nest?
Cooking for one or two people is often quite different from cooking for a whole family. We’re searching for recipes, tips and ideas for cooking, shopping and conserving – basically how to scale down in the kitchen and make fabulous meals for one or two.
Easy and healthy Edamame Soup is a hit with our readers!
Lots of people emailed to tell us how much they loved Edamame Soup.
Serving sweet potatoes that aren't so sweet!
We’ve longed for a way to serve sweet potatoes without all of the sugar. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette is perfect!
The Kitchen Diva: Angela Medearis talks about Christmas food, faith and family
Guest Blogger Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva, writes about food, family and faith for the holidays.
Recipe ideas for a special Christmas breakfast
From Eggnog French Toast to Pumpkin Pancakes, we've got Christmas breakfast covered!
Does anybody still have dinner parties anymore?
Are you giving any dinner parties this holiday season? Have you been invited to any? What did you serve or eat?
What are your favorite foods to fix for a potluck?
Holiday season means “Potluck Party Season” for us, but we expect it to be even more true with this year’s economy.
Local Food and Local Knowledge: Best Christmas cookie on Earth is heaven sent
Guest Blogger Liza Gyllenhaal says: I was lucky — no, I think actually, blessed — to somehow stumble upon a recipe at the very start of my baking career in The Joy of Cooking for a bar cookie called Angel Slices.
Finding a cheap holiday ham is like a sport
The delectability of a ham does not depend on paying a lot of money for it.
Hooray for Healthier Cream-of Soups! How do you use them?
The main ingredient of America's first Desperation Dinner was, no doubt, a can of cream of mushroom soup. Now, finally, there's reduced-fat, reduced-sodium version.
Lots of ways to love Pumpkin-Spiced Whiskey Walnuts!
You’ll certainly enjoy Pumpkin-Spiced Whiskey Walnuts as a snack, but there are so many things you can do with spiced nuts to embellish other recipes. Click here for details!
Debbie grabs a bite of hair purgatory!
Anthony popped me in his chair, I looked in the mirror and asked what he might do if I wanted something different. Long hair anyone?
Bananas and Bread Pudding...Love them? Or NOT!
Bananas and bread pudding share a common thread: Those who love them really do, and those who don't? Well.....
101 Ways to Make Hot Artichoke Dip? Tell us your favorite!
This may be the most popular dip in history – and the simplest. How do you make Hot Artichoke Dip?
Here's a healthy cookie to lighten up that jar!
We wondered if we would miss the butter in our favorite version of Oatmeal Raisin Pecan Cookies. The answer? Read and find out!
Classic Turkey Tetrazzini makes leftovers taste terrific!
We've been known to cook an extra-big turkey just to have enough meat left over to make this classic dish!
Holiday meals make essential memories: Guest Blogger Umit Celebi contemplates food as part of a lifelong story
Food plays the central role in the story of our basic survival. It is also an important supporting player in our life story. Never is that more apparent than the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the holiday itself.
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Liza Gyllenhaal: Dressing Green Beans Up for the Holidays
Whether combined with ginger and lemon, coaxed into a casserole or given a Spanish spin, beans are something Liza Gyllenhaal knows a thing or two about!
Eat Me in Manhattan! A pork tenderloin worth the trek
Umit's blog posts, called Eat Me in Manhattan, will tell you where to go in New York and what to cook. "I am most interested in helping my male brethren produce mouth-watering meals at home," he says.
What happens when the cashier gets to decide how old you are? Guest Blogger Debbie Moose finds out!
What happens when the supermarket cashier gets to decide how old you are? Guest Blogger Debbie Moose sounds off!
Reader's "redo" makes Maque Choux even faster!
When one of our Desperation Dinners readers takes on one of our recipes, the work just goes by even faster! Maque Choux gets subjected to group think!
Kitchen Scoop Home Page features something new
Kitchen Scoop Home Page features something new – our very first sponsorship in the form of an ad featuring Rita Monti dinnerware. We thought perhaps you, our readers, might wonder what’s up with that?
Steak Diane that works even on a weeknight!
Traditional Steak Diane is prepared table-side in a flourish – butter, tenderloin, cream, brandy and a burst of flames. Quick by nature, it is easy to adapt to the desperation dinner table.A Scary-Quick Recipe for Halloween
The scariest thing about Halloween is whether or not you'll be able to put dinner on the table before the doorbell rings. Try this really quick kid-pleaser.
Desperizing a Cajun soup for today's schedule
Do you ever take a complicated recipe and whittle it down to fit your busy lifestyle? We’ve “desperized” hundreds of complicated recipes over the course of writing Desperation Dinners, and one lesson we’ve learned never seems to change.
Time to buy a new Crock-Pot? Here's how to tell.
If you haven’t used your Crock-Pot in so long you’re afraid of it, now is the time to dust the dear sweet thing off and get cooking. Or at least figure out if the darn thing is worth keeping.
Tricks for cooking the best-ever sea scallops!
Ever wondered how to saute sea scallops to the perfect burnish? Check this out!How do you cook for an Empty Nest?
We’ve been putting this off for as long as we can, but now it’s time: We simply must learn to cook for an Empty Nest. Cooking for one or two isn’t always as easy as cutting a recipe in half.
Homemade pita chips let your imagination soar!
Gourmet specialty “chips” are yummy – and usually expensive – so we set out to see what it would take to make our own.
Is heavenly Chocolate Bread Pudding worth the splurge?
If this warm, gooey Chocolate Bread Pudding was sitting in front of us at a dinner party we’d probably inhale it in 20 seconds flat. But how do you decide if it's really worth the calories?
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Liza Gyllenhaal: What a pickle!
Searching for the absolutely perfect pickle -- bread and butters, garlic pickles, half sour dills -- takes Liza Gyllenhaal on tasty journey.
Is homemade hummus cheaper than store-bought?
Making hummus might seem like a giant WHY since prepared hummus is widely available in an array of flavors. But ours is cheaper than store-bought and tastes fresher, too!
Exactly what Is a curry? Guest Blogger Raghavan Iyer spills all!
In England and the rest of the world, “curry” is the catchall word for anything Indian that is mottled with hot spices, with or without a sauce. In Raghavan Iyer's India, curry just IS!
A break with the usual grocery routine makes Debbie a bit desperate!
Grocery shopping becomes an obsession when Guest Blogger Debbie Moose breaks her wrist!
Pre-washed salad greens need another round in the spinner
Homemade produce washes let you enjoy your salads without fear of toxins.
Array of required spices can make Indian recipe prices spiral
Based on a survey of three mainstream Indian cookbooks, the average recipe uses between six and 10 herbs and spices (either fresh or dried). Unless you already have a well-stocked spice cabinet, purchasing them will quickly add up.
Can Overstuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes make a whole meal?
This steakhouse favorite is considered a side dish in a restaurant but our recipe for Overstuffed Twice-Baked Potatoes makes a filling entree.
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Liza Gyllenhaal: Cherry Tomatoes and Rainbow Chard
In Liza Gyllenhaal's garden, rainbow chard and cherry tomatoes pair up for an end-of-season feast.
Debbie Moose Munchies: Summer of the endless fig
Guest Blogger Debbie Moose is crazy for figs, and this summer, all of her figgy dreams come true.
A cookie recipe worth remodeling the kitchen for!
When a Kitchen Scoop reader told us she remodeled her entire kitchen around one cookie recipe, we knew we had to try them. Here they are, and are they terrific!
Wraps are easy to pack and go for end-of-summer fun
Wraps are quick to make, convenient to transport and easy to eat.
Are simple salad combos still the best?
Call us old-fashioned, but some flavor combos never need to change. Take this Southern summertime salad packed with red-ripe tomatoes and crisp cooling cukes. It's addictive.
We’re nostalgic for Pineapple-Banana Frozen Salad Cups
Retro recipe alert! Remember those frozen “salads” from the ‘50ies and ‘60ies that combined fruit, nuts, sour cream and, more often than not, mayonnaise?
Dressing from Desperation Entertaining is a bit retro, but sweetly so!
There was a time when you couldn't say Spinach Salad without thinking Poppyseed Dressing. Never fear. For those in the mood to splurge on something slightly sweet with your salad, here's that dressing of old, complete with Poppyseeds.
How to get a steakhouse-style "Perfect Baked Potato"
Before now, we'd never been able to bake a perfect steakhouse potato. But after our first try with this recipe and the astounded look on our husbands' faces, we knew we'd hit the jackpot.
Iceberg Wedge Salad Sparks Passion....Love it .. or Really, Really Don't?
By her own admission, Jeanette Sanders is an adventurous eater and cook. But when it comes to the Iceberg Wedge Salad, she’s just not buying it! Here’s what she has to say:
Thanks to Jennifer for her kind words and for her "Special Stir-Fry" recipe!
This is the sort of letter we live for – the writer loves Desperation Dinners, expresses it beautifully and shares a terrific original recipe we’ve nicknamed “Jennifer’s Special Stir-Fry.”
When is it safe to baste meat in its own marinade?
Should you baste meat while cooking it or not? Here’s out quick overview of how we decide based on guidelines from the USDA.
Grilled Chicken for Cooks Who Forgot to Defrost First...
If you’re in the desperate category while reading this, do not despair. You can indeed grill terrific chicken in a blink. Our Emergency Grilled Chicken recipe is just the ticket.
Freeze fresh peaches in muffin tins to use all year
A bushel of peaches for only $15 turns into a frozen bonanza for one inventive cook.
Blue Cheese Dressing makes a great veggie dip
Sure you can buy blue cheese dressing/dip in a jar but ours is so simple and makes you feel so much better about yourself!
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Liza Gyllenhaal: Pass the peas, please
Every stage of a pea’s life is pretty to look at — just as every part of the pea itself is delicious to eat. Guest Blogger Liza Gyllenhaal shares her favorite recipes and tricks for her backyard bounty of freshly picked peas.
Crab and Artichoke Pizza Makes Entertaining Easy
This appetizer pizza is essentially topped with a jazzed-up version of an old Junior League cookbook standby – artichoke dip. (It’s not the healthiest concoction and that’s probably why everyone seems to love it so!)
Parfaits? Individual trifles? By any name this dessert is cool!
Here are the rules for making our new favorite summer dessert: Do not cook, throw it together in a jiffy, substitute ingredients at will, eat and enjoy!
Summer Entertaining on a Budget
Ellen Ferlazzo of Pleasanton, Calif., blogs on budget cooking and agreed to do a guest post for us about how she threw a casual, fun party for her daughter’s high school graduation spending roughly $280 for 50 guests, including decorations.
Mango and Tomato Salsa: Versatile with Zip
This quick Mango and Tomato Salsa can go just about anywhere and go with just about anything, whether you scoop it up with tortilla chips or scatter it over your favorite fish.
Asian ingredients for stir-fry don't always have to be exact
Many Chinese and other Asian dishes are much more flexible than you might imagine.
Remoulade Sauce: An all purpose dip, too?
Our Remoulade Sauce isn't quite classic, but it's easy and delicious. Whether you're using it to top poached salmon or as a sauce for shrimp cocktail, you're going to love it.
Cilantro: Love it or hate it?
Next time you need a good conversation starter, ask folks how they feel about cilantro.
Is it possible to make a healthy pizza?
Kids love pizza, but nutritionally speaking, pizza doesn’t love kids. Can you make a healthier pizza at home that kids will actually eat? After scouring nutrition panels on various ingredients and testing recipes for a couple of days our answer is: We hope so!
Garden chives transform chicken, salmon and more
Almost all the things Liza Gyllenhaal likes to cook with chives from her garden are simple and quick. Perhaps her favorite is chicken breasts stuffed with chevre, chives, and any other herbs you might have on hand. But there’s more…
Local Food and Local Knowledge with Liza Gyllenhaal
Please join us in welcoming our newest Guest Blogger Liza Gyllenhaal as she blogs about cooking what's fresh from her organic garden in the Berkshire mountains.
Summer Sipping
A cold goblet of Summer Sangria is the perfect antidote to a sweltering day. Mix up a batch in minutes, gather with friends and splurge.
The Daily Plate can be a powerful nutritional tool
Lance Armstrong wants to turn you into a nutrition expert with a few clicks of your mouse. His free online calorie-counter, food diary and nutrient tracker is almost as awesome as Lance himself.
Time for Dad to check the gaskets and clean the coils?
Do the stuff on this list once a year, and you’ll double the chances your refrigerator will make it to the ripe age of 14. We'd suggest Father's Day, but it might not go over all that well.
Microwave bearnaise is foolproof, fast and fabulous
To make a béarnaise sauce in the authentic French tradition you have to stand at the stove and hope. It’s not easy. But our microwave replica is foolproof, fast and fabulous.
Can "Let's Dish" idea be copied at home?
Has anyone been to one of those meal-assembly franchises like Let’s Dish and then tried to copy the idea at home?
Debbie Says: You Grill Girl!
Guest Blogger Debbie Moose is fed up with the bla-bla on Father’s Day grilling. Estrogen deserves a place at the fire, too.
Eight hours of sleep a night? In your dreams.
A quarter of all adults are sleeping eight hours a night? Who are these people?!
Congrats to our banana bread contest winner!
Announcing our first “random” contest winner here on Kitchen Scoop, and thanks to everyone who sent us favorite “add-ins” for banana bread recipes! Here's what you told us...
Why not entertain the bride at home?
Wedding season is upon us and until the economy improves, entertaining the bride at home is an option worth serious consideration. Insanity you say? Not if you keep the menu simple.
Clean Up -- Quick!
If you’ve ever caught yourself choosing a recipe not by how it tastes but by whether it destroys the kitchen, we understand completely. What are your favorite tips for making cleanup a breeze?
Make Greek Potato Salad and meet the neighbors!
Guest Blogger Debbie Moose is an expert: You can’t make just one serving of potato salad. If you love potato salad and have a small family, better get to know your neighbors.
Can Potato Salad Be Very Variable?
Potato salad isn’t necessarily the first thing you might think of as being all that versatile. There’s your Mom’s amazing recipe or the stuff in the supermarket deli case, right?
As a teen, Jason needed cooking advice. Now he's the one giving it!
We first heard from Jason Gerling of New Hartford, N.Y., when he was 14 years old and needed some recipe advice. Now, a decade later, he's the one offering the advice. Online coupons anyone?
Teenage cook is now adult crackerjack coupon clipper!
At age 14, Jason Gerling started cooking for his family. Now he's 24, a geriatric social worker, and still cooking for his family on a pretty tight budget. When a 20-something wants to save money on groceries, he heads for the computer. Here's how it works.
Chocolate “Fondue” with Strawberries is sinfully good
If it’s strawberry season we look for every excuse to eat them. This recipe is sort of feels like cheating – (cheating on what exactly we’re not sure) -- but it’s sinfully good.
Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad? Grandma would approve
Chicken salad shows up at the table with all manner of fancy ingredients these days – from fruit to nuts to sour cream to who-knows-what. But back in the day, as our grandmothers might have said, things were a bit simpler.
Let's get those leftovers cookin'!
Leftovers are a desperate cooks’ best friend. We sometimes cook extras intentionally for a jump start on dinner down the road.Meet Guest Blogger Debbie Moose
Cookbook author Debbie Moose believes you should try a bite of everything in life. And Debbie has been making us laugh about that – and lots of other stuff – for more than a decade. So naturally we were thrilled when Debbie agreed to share her thoughts, rants and raves as a Guest Blogger here on Kitchen Scoop from time to time.
Debbie Does The Food Network (Not!)
Why doesn't Debbie Moose have a show on The Food Network?
Microwave Risotto Method Is Extraordinary
We first heard about making risotto in the microwave 22 years ago, and people are still talking about it. Few recipes excite experienced food lovers to this degree, and in her 1987 cookbook Microwave Gourmet, Barbara Kafka indeed hit on something extraordinary.
Tips on Buying Shrimp
Supermarket seafood sections have exploded with shrimp. Truth be told, these days price is often our biggest consideration in deciding what to buy. But it’s not like we didn’t do the homework. Here are some tips.
