There was a period of about 10-12 years that we annually visited some Caribbean island, or the Riviera Maya, during the long Winter months to ease that bleak period of time between the holidays and the start of Spring. And those fond memories include some of the best food. The flavors in this Rum-Glazed Pork Skewers with Coconut Rice recipe remind me of those blissful days.

Here, a Caribbean-accented spice rub and glaze boost the flavor of quick-cooking pork tenderloin pieces which are quickly grilled with fresh bell pepper and red onion. Rice cooked with coconut milk and a sprinkle of lime zest add to the tropical feel of the dish.

To amp up the nutrients and provide an additional splash of color, we served ours with a side of rainbow chard sautéed in olive oil and roasted garlic. Go ahead, dive into the Caribbean flavors…

By Laraine Perri from Fine Cooking

Another roast chicken recipe?? You betcha! Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken with Potatoes is a really tasty, juicy and rather easy one at that. Yes, you do need to plan on some extra time with the prep because the bird needs to get happy in the rub for at least one hour, or up to overnight. But once it’s in the oven, most of the work is done. And OMG, those potatoes, among the best I’ve ever had, seriously!

As I’ve come to learn, there are many variations on Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken, but the one thing they seem to have in common is a cumin- and paprika-spiced coating which gets added punch from an addictively tangy green sauce. Those crispy/creamy potatoes don’t suffer from a drizzle of that sauce either.

These directions have you cut only one side of the backbone, while I spatchcocked (removed backbone entirely) our chicken and added the back to our bag of “body parts” for making stock. And in lieu of the olive oil and grated garlic, I used a homemade concoction of our roasted garlic and EVOO and spread it all over the poultry before adding the spice mixture. Basically the same difference, it just saved me the step of grating garlic cloves.

Once that was done, I put into the fridge, covered with tinfoil, and let the mixture do its magic for 8 hours. If the aromas don’t having you swooning while dinner is roasting, just wait until you have your first taste—love at first bite.

Adapted from a recipe by Martha Stewart Living

According to the NYTimes website, there are almost as many explanations for the origins of pasta puttanesca as there are ways to make it. Ostensibly a sauce invented and made by prostitutes, it was designed to lure customers with its powerful aroma. No need to patronize a bordello though, you can make this summer version in the confines of your own abode.

The basis is a garlicky tomato sauce which is brought to a high level of flavor by the addition of anchovies, capers and olives. Red pepper flakes make things even better. The whole process is ridiculously easy. Even if you’re not an anchovy fan, don’t omit them, they are a key component in the overall flavor profile.

Cook’s Illustrated’s version of fresh pasta puttanesca uses grape or cherry tomatoes, which are excellent in summer and among the best variety of tomato available year-round. To retain fresh tomato flavor, purée and drain them, after which their juices get cooked down briefly, while the pulp is added at the end of cooking.

I did make a few alterations. First and foremost, I reduced the amount of pasta by half, using only 8 ounces—we tend to prefer saucier finishes. In addition, I incorporated the mixed variety of grape tomatoes which resulted in a lighter colored sauce. Next, I increased the garlic and olives by about 50%; and added grated parmesan as a final topper. The dish was packed with flavor!

Not much time on your hands and love shrimp? Look no further, this uncomplicated recipe goes from grill to table in only 5 minutes, plus a bit of prep time. And it’s wildly versatile in that you can serve the shrimp on the skewers with crusty bread and a vegetable side, over couscous, rice or lo mein noodles, or slide them off the skewers and add them to grain bowls or leafy green salads.

A simple purée of fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil does double duty in this recipe. It first coats the uncooked shrimp as a quick marinade. Then, with a splash of lemon juice stirred in, it’s drizzled on as a sauce after cooking—and, can be used as a topper for your sides.

Don’t forget to pat the shrimp dry before coating them with the herb purée; too much moisture will prevent it from clinging to them. If you don’t have any growing in your herb garden, one large bunch or “clamshell” container of tarragon should yield the amount of tarragon leaves needed for this recipe.  We served ours over tricolored couscous with a side salad.

Original recipe by Laura Russell from 177 Milk Street

Need an elegant way to cap off an evening? Enter semifreddo, a classic Italian dessert that I describe as a frozen mousse. (Though it’s fully frozen, its name roughly translates as “half-frozen.”) Instead of being churned in an ice cream maker, semifreddo is lightened with whipped cream and/or beaten egg whites. Then it’s frozen in a loaf pan until solid, unmolded, and cut into neat slices.

Although we had heard of a semifreddo, neither one of us had ever eaten, or made, one. But we liked the fact that, unlike ice cream, it can sit out of the freezer for an extended period of time without melting, which makes it ideal for serving to company—the perfect balance of decadent and refreshing. Rich and satiny. Elegant. Deeply chocolaty. Make-ahead (you can even slice off a portion and freeze the rest for later). No ice cream maker required. Oh, and low-carb. Need I say more?

The semifreddo needs to be frozen for at least 6 hours before serving. You definitely want to use a high-end dark chocolate such as Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Premium Baking Bar. And, make sure not to whip the heavy cream until the chocolate mixture has cooled.

If the semifreddo is difficult to release from the pan, run a thin offset spatula around the edges of the pan or carefully run the sides of the pan under hot water for 5 to 10 seconds. If frozen overnight, the semifreddo should be tempered before serving for the best texture. To temper, place slices on individual plates or a large tray, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

As a topper, try this simple, five-ingredient strawberry sauce which boasts a vivid color and a balanced combination of bright and sweet flavors. Time to plan another dinner party…

Add a sprig of chocolate mint for a pop of color.

Adapted from recipes by Cook’s Illustrated

Gotta toot my horn over corn, corn, corn! While thumbing through my recent issue of Better Homes & Garden, I spotted a Zucchini-Chorizo Sweet Corn Bake recipe by fellow food bloggers Matt and Naomi Robinson, and decided then and there I needed to make this—with several alterations. With peak seasonal produce as the stars of the show, I figured you can’t go wrong.

And corn is one of those main characters. This year is outstanding for both the white and yellow varieties at our local farm stand. And at 5 for $1, it’s a steal! I’m trying to make as many recipes utilizing the sweet veggie (see recent posts Spicy Corn Chowder, Campanelle with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Basil) as possible while the getting is good.

Plus, we all know zucchini is currently busting out of everyone’s garden, so here’s another unique way to incorporate it. If your zucchini aren’t the same width all the way from top to bottom, slice away the bulbous portions, then use a mandoline to make even slices. Each zucchini should yield 4 similar sized planks (minus the bulbous outer edges) and fit perfectly into two layers of an 8 x 8-inch square baking dish. Save any leftover pieces for another recipe.

I indicate to salt/blot both sides of the planks instead of just one. Yes, it adds an additional 20 minutes to your game plan, but this ensures removal of extra moisture to prevent your finished dish from being too runny—although there will be some pooling in the bottom of the casserole dish. (I reduced the amount of milk from 1 1/2 cups down to just one cup to additionally tighten the end product.)

A bit of chorizo (OK, 1 pound) tilts the dish in a hearty direction, and the long hots make for a nice visual presentation. For those with more adventurous palettes (hello!), they can slice off as much as desired; and for the others, they can omit it altogether—a win, win.

This easily serves 4-6 as a main entrée, or 8-10 if served at a potluck. Toot, toot!

This may be one of our all-time favorite vegetarian dishes! WOW, how we gushed over the flavors with ooo-gobs of taste in every bite! With the ingredients at the height of their season, especially sweet corn, the time is NOW to make this tasty Campanelle with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Basil recipe from 177MilkStreet.com. The elements in this summery pasta dish are few, so fresh corn and ripe tomatoes are key.

The sauce is nice and creamy but made without cream because you grate the corn kernels from the cobs. To reinforce the corn flavor, the cobs are boiled in the water that is later used to cook the pasta. Brilliant!

Using a minimal amount of water—just 2½ quarts—means the flavors and starches are concentrated in the liquid, and then some of this liquid goes into in the sauce. Yellow corn gives the dish a golden hue, but white corn works, too. Whichever you use, make sure to remove as much of the silk as possible before grating.

Short, sauce-catching pasta shapes are best here—if you can’t find campanelle (a frilly, trumpet-like shape), look for penne rigate, fusilli or farfalle. However, the campanelle is just perfect for capturing the sauce and bits of corn, so really try to make an effort. I found it easy enough in our local supermarket.

Don’t fear the habañero chili in this dish. It does add a little heat (seeding the chili removes much of its burn), but it’s here mostly because its fruity notes are a nice complement to the corn, tomatoes and basil. If you have a delicate palette and are really sensitive to spicy heat, use just half of a habañero, but please don’t omit it altogether.

Although not necessary, add an extra flavor boost with a little grated parmesan as a garnish, it adds another salty/nutty note.

A Friday night, the official first day of summer, and we were heading to a party to get our Greek on. The hostess was serving Greek Chicken Kebabs as the main entrée and asked us to contribute an appetizer. I immediately thought of Tzatziki, a cucumber-yogurt dip that would also complement the skewers (if there was any leftover).

Often, in addition to chopped fresh mint, Tzatziki recipes also call for fresh dill—our least favorite herb. Here, we use a combination of freshly picked oregano with some mint instead. It is so simple to make, but keep in mind the dip needs to cool in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving.

Don a sombrero and grab a margarita, it’s about time to get your Mexican on. This recipe starts with chili-garlic-infused oil, then is finished with a chipotle-lime sauce. Bigger flavor is built by breaking down a marinade.

Mexican-Style Grilled Pork Cutlets use a chili-and-garlic-infused oil to season pork tenderloin cutlets before quickly grilling them. The remaining oil is made into a sauce/marinade to drizzle on afterward to add a fresh burst of flavor. We served ours with Mexican rice and red beans, but you could also slice into strips and nestle into warmed corn tortillas with chopped white onion, fresh cilantro for making tacos.

The directions say not to grill the second sides of the cutlets for more than about 1 minute or they will overcook. But I pounded our cutlets to a 1/4″ thickness as opposed to 1/8″ because we like ours a bit thicker, thus they take a minute or two longer—use an instant-read meat thermometer to test for doneness at 145°. Aim to get charring on only the first sides, then serve the pork charred side up.

¡Arriba, arriba! ¡Ándale, ándale!

Original recipe by Diane Unger from 177milkstreet.com

With only a handful of ingredients, talk about simple, and simply delicious! Patatas Panaderas, an almost effortless, yet luxurious dish of thinly sliced potatoes accented with onions and garlic and baked in white wine and plenty of really good olive oil, is little known outside of Spain, but it deserves a place among the iconic potato dishes of Europe—trust me on this one.

In this version from Cook’s Illustrated, they cover the potatoes with a tight foil lid so that the potatoes soften. The wine is withheld for the first 40 minutes of cooking to prevent its acid from interfering with the softening of the potatoes. Loosening the foil for the last 20 minutes allows excess moisture to evaporate while keeping the potatoes moist, blond, and tender throughout.

For the best results, be sure to use a fresh, high-quality extra-virgin olive oil here. We used one imported directly from Spain: “Oro del Desierto” Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Truly, don’t cheap out on this ingredient. I was going to throw in some fresh chopped thyme from our herb garden, but then forgot. A smattering of some fresh herbs would be a nice addition, although not needed.

NOTES: This recipe uses Diamond Crystal kosher salt; if using Morton kosher salt, decrease the amount to 2⅝ teaspoons. To make peeling and slicing easier, choose larger potatoes. For slightly crispier potatoes, cook the last 20 minutes with the wine uncovered.

Vacations—we all dream of these respites from the hum-drum of everyday life. BUT, sometimes the Powers that be, alter your preconceived notions…

Chatham, Mass is often referred to as the elbow of Cape Cod in the area described as the lower portion of the peninsula. We were fortunate to rent a Cape Cod style cabin for a little over a week in late-July around my birthday time. Built in 1965, it is situated in a secluded tree-filled lot boasting an awesome expansive back deck—complete with views of shooting stars—overlooking Oyster Bay River which feeds into Nantucket Sound; just a short car ride to Hardings Beach (shown below).

Back home in Southeast PA, the forecasters warned of a dangerous heat wave that would engulf the area for days soaring well into the 100s just as we left for the Cape, where luckily for us, we were supposed to enjoy more moderate temps in the high-80’s, turning to the mid-70s later in the week.

So for the first four days, it was vacational bliss, lounging on the beach with cool breezes and dining at some of Chatham’s finest restaurants. BUT THEN, the cool front came roaring into town in the form of at least two strong F1 tornadoes touching down right near us.

It was a late Tuesday morning and aware that thunderstorms would be rolling in during the afternoon, we decided to take a car ride into town and check out shops, ogle some gorgeous mansions, and then head over to Harwich to see where our ferry ride was going to depart for Nantucket Island the following morning. (It departed, we didn’t.)

No sooner had we pulled into our driveway when both of our cell phones sounded tornado warnings to take cover immediately. Honestly, we weren’t too concerned because we had received similar notices over the past few months, so we just shrugged it off. WRONG! By the time we navigated the steep steps to the house, extremely gusty winds made it a struggle to get through the side door. I wondered out loud where we should take cover as there was no basement access, which was locked with the owner’s personal belongings.

Within seconds, huge trees were practically bending over backwards, debris was flying all around us, the front door blew open and we lost power. After 15 or 20 minutes the worst seemed to be over so we began to assess the damage. Not good. Our staircase exit from the cabin down to our vehicle was blocked with half of a tree. Russ navigated out to the street only to find the cross street blocked with more large branches and downed wires. On his way back to the house, a delayed dropping branch hit his car windshield, smashing it enough to render it undriveable. Now what?

In the meantime, my sister Lolly and her husband Paul had been traveling from Michigan with a camper and were scheduled to roll into town that very afternoon. We still had spotty text and cell phone access so we were able to communicate with them, as they sent us photos of the widespread destruction. Because of downed trees and wires, it took them hours longer to finally reach our street. But as mentioned, it was impassable, so we met them down at the end of the road.

The cabin is behind the downed trees and wires and up a hill. Lolly tries to get phone reception in order to find an operating campground with power to set up their camper.

What can I say? A stunning vacation had turned into a bit of a nightmare, but we squared our shoulders and decided to make the best of a bad situation. It was serendipitous that my sister and her husband toted a small portable generator with them. So once they settled in at camp, they came back, navigated through the mess to our cabin with the generator, cables, candles, a solar-powered light and a gas can in tow. Now we could at least keep the refrigerator and our tech hub going, plus see in the dark.

First on our minds? Something to eat of course! Their was a charcoal grill that we used the prior night, and with hamburgers and hotdogs on hand, we fashioned a simple dinner by candle light the first night without power; followed the next night by steak and baked potatoes (initially microwaved in their camper) the next evening.

Pre-tornado meals: My birthday breakfast on the back deck. A spatchcocked grilled chicken.

Grilled rib-eyes by candlelight. Paul, Lolly and I enjoy an after-dinner glass of vino.

Here’s a blow-by-blow pictorial of the meals enjoyed on the Cape:

First dinner was enjoyed at Bistro on Main where we started with a nice dry, chilled Rosé and some crusty bread with a melted garlic butter.

Russ chose a bowl of their absolutely delicious Clam Chowder, of which we both agree, probably the best we’ve ever had! Then he went all out with a night’s Special of Baked Stuffed Local Lobster, a 1 1/4-pounder brimming with clams, lobster, chorizo and herbs served on roasted fingerling potatoes with grilled vegetables and drawn butter.

I was seafood all the way too with my choice of another Special, Seafood Penne Pasta Diablo. However, not a fan of clams (except in their chowder) or mussels, I asked them to substitute extra shrimp and scallops, which was not a problem. The ginormous bowl came laden with shrimp, scallops, lobster, salmon, cod, roasted vegetables and herbs, and a crostini slab smothered in a spicy red diablo sauce. (I doggie-bagged more than half of it home.) A perfect meal to start the vacay!!

Our second night was a birthday celebration for me at the elegant Chatham Wine Bar & Grill. The evening commenced over a bottle of French Sauvignon and were treated to an amuse-bouche (below, top) along with crusty bread and a triangle of room temp butter topped with finishing salt.

Our first choices included, for me, Lobster Ravioli, forest mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, parmesan foam and a sourdough crumb topping. Mr. Russ selected their Carpaccio Panzanella with Snake River Farms wagyu beef on herbed focaccia and blistered heirloom tomatoes. We were getting into the groove for sure…

For main entrées we kept in theme with me choosing the Lobster and Scallops prepared with butter poached lobster tail, seared scallops, and broccolini over cavatelli with a garlic froth and lemon peel purée. And since Russ started with the wagyu beef, he continued with Wagyu Beef Duo consisting of Snake River Farms wagyu strip steak and braised short rib with rosti potatoes, onion, mustard and creamed kale. They were literally works of art on a plate! Even though it was my birthday, there was no room for dessert…

The next three nights we grilled at the cabin, two of which were out of necessity because of storm damage. During that time however, Lolly and Paul picked us up for lunch and drove us to a part of the Cape that dodged the bullet and still had restaurants up and running. That’s how we ended up at Land Ho in Orleans.

We arrived at the parking lot by 11:20 only to find out they don’t open until 11:30, but what’s 10 minutes when you’ve got all day? Apparently many others had the same idea because by the time they opened their doors, it was a packed house. To be honest, we were not sure why? While the interior was a visual trip of signs, license plates and chalkboards listing the day’s specials, the food was mediocre at best—except for my spinach salad with grilled chicken which was very good.

With electricity finally back two days later, the street now passable, and the temps in the mid-70’s with low humidity, Russ and I headed for the beach while Lolly and Paul decided to sightsee in town, with promises of meeting up for dinner at the Talkative Pig—like every other establishment, also located on Main Street, just in the other direction. It seems most of the restaurants in Chatham do not take reservations and this place was no exception, so we had about a 15 minute wait outside until our names were called.

Unfortunately, we’re not sure THEY had power back because it was quite hot inside. They must have been running their appliances on a back-up generator which didn’t have the capacity to also power the AC. Regardless, the place was packed.

Our dining guests chose the beautifully plated Bruschetta as their appetizer, while Russ was on a mission to try yet more Clam Chowder. It seems each couple was on the same page as far as entrées with Lolly and Paul opting for the Shrimp Scampi and Russ and I splitting a Wood-Fired Pizza, with the seafood in this case being half anchovies for Russ.

That evening we bid adieu to my sister and her husband as they were leaving the Cape early the next morning for adventures in other states as they made their way back to Pure Michigan. However, we welcomed Russ’ son Dan and his girlfriend Tina who trekked in from outside of Boston later that night.

After fetching our car, which had been towed off the Cape to Plymouth for repairs, we spent a lazy afternoon at Harding’s Beach. To celebrate Tina’s milestone birthday, we made a res at Pisces, which is located just across the street from The Talkative Pig. (The owner of our rental property highly suggested we dine there.)

We actually had made a reservation at Pisces for Tuesday evening with our other guests, but that’s the day the tornadoes hit, and most folks, and businesses were in survival mode so obviously that was a no-go.

However, so glad we got the chance to check it out—the food was fabulous!! After Dan and Tina ordered cocktails and Russ I selected a bottle of wine, we got down to business in making our appetizer and entrée selections. While doing so, we were served a basket of homemade focaccia accompanied by a delicious bean spread (which was so good we asked for seconds). 

The Cheese Course was all that Tina needed to see. On a slab of slate were three handpicked cheeses each paired with an accompaniment, house made shortbread cookies and bruschettini. Dan was in a greens mode and chose The Pisces Salad, with crisp hearts of romaine tossed with house made Caesar dressing, toasted garlic croutons topped with marinated white anchovies and shaved ricotta salata.

Russ and I couldn’t resist the Fresh Maine Lobster and Corn Chowder finished with white truffle oil and chives. Simply Divine!

Our main courses, in no particular order: Tina (not a seaffood fan) = Grilled Statler Chicken marinated in herbs and garlic, served with black truffle sachetti in a wild mushroom Madeira cream sauce and sautéed garlicky spinach. Dan = Oysterman’s Spaghettini consisting of freshly shucked oysters in a light parmesan cream with bacon, spinach tossed with thin spaghetti and finished with garlic and butter toasted panko.

Russ = Mediterranean-Style Fisherman’s Stew brimming with sautéed shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, scallops and cod in a spicy lobster broth, finished with cilantro and fresh lime, and served with garlic and butter toasted panko. Lynn = Pan Seared Atlantic Salmon and Sea Scallops with pumpkin and butternut squash ravioli in a Thai curry coconut sauce topped with fresh asparagus.

Our meals were outstanding! And when we got the tab, our waitress told us that the rental owner called Pisces in advance and graciously picked up quite a substantial amount toward the total. WOW, what a pleasant surprise that was!

Instead of dessert at Pisces, the group wanted to get ice cream at the infamous Buffy’s (way on the other end of town, on Main Street of course). Apparently you haven’t lived until you stood in the long line at Buffy’s then enjoyed your treat on the pink bench…

Also, I need to give a shout-out to Mac’s Chatham Fish and Lobster joint practically just around the corner (on Main Street no less) from where we were staying. On both our first Friday night in town, and last, we enjoyed some wonderful seafood both as eat-in and take out. However, it seems on that first Friday, the entire Cape had the same idea because it took nearly an hour to wait in line to the ordering counter—there is no waiter service whether you sit inside or out. You even had to stand in that line if you called in an order!

But the food is worth it. Some of our delicacies included Local Cape Littlenecks, the best clams Russ has ever eaten; Fried Oyster Cobb Salad, delicious Garlic Fries, Lobster Tostada (which I ordered both times!), Pulled Chicken Banh Mi (Tina), and Blackened Tuna Sandwich.

OK, so maybe a few tornadoes wasn’t that bad after all. That unexpected punch from Mother Nature was softened by the wonderful food and gorgeous weather (for most of the trip). If you ever get onto, or back to, the Cape, I hope I’ve inspired you to try out a few of these splendid eating establishments. Just keep in mind that the ones that do take reservations, make them well in advance; while the others, be prepared to shoot the breeze with your friends while waiting for seats…

OK, “cheating” may be too strong of a word, but we all have (many) times when we cut corners and don’t make a meal from total scratch. Check out my version of a quick stir-fry using a store-bought simmer sauce that’s chock full of flavor and less time-consuming. So what’s to complain about?

I don’t often promote specific brands in my food blog, but in this case, the “cheat” element is Trader Joe’s Thai Basil Green Curry Simmer Sauce—the basis of which contains coconut milk and lemongrass, two Thai staples—however, use whatever suits your fancy. As far as the produce, try to incorporate a mix of colors for both the visual impact and nutrient value.

Our organic garden was bursting with herbs and green beans so I wanted to use a few of them in a stir-fry meal—and you all know I adore Thai cuisine. So the backbone for it started with our abundance of Thai basil and the beans, a jar of that sauce in our pantry, and removal of the chicken breasts from our freezer. A quick trip to the supermarket for the other veggies completed the list of ingredients.

My man Russ is the ultimate stir-fry machine. He can wok those veggies and meats around like nobody’s business. So when it comes to stir-fries, I act as sous chef prepping everything in advance (a must), and then he takes over and does his magic.

This recipe acts as a blueprint to adapt as you please, so feel free to alter your ingredient choices, but stick to the approximate amounts for balance.

Every summer I look forward to fresh locally grown produce, and among my faves are tomatoes of every variety (especially heirlooms), and sweet corn on the cob. In this area of the country, we can get really good corn starting around the July 4 holiday through most of September.

For this recipe, don’t even think about substituting frozen kernels because the flavor of this Spicy Corn Chowder depends on freshly cut kernels. The creamy soup has just the right amount of heat from the chipotle chili powder that compliments the sweetness of the corn. And for even more corn taste, “milk” the cobs and add it to the chowder when you mix in the kernels.

Mother Nature decided to pull a fast one on me right in the middle of making this recipe. Just as I was adding the corn kernels, a powerful storm moved in and knocked out our electricity. Even though it was dark as night in the middle of the afternoon, I was luckily  able to continue the process with the aid of a flashlight and a few candles on my gas stove top.

For a quick cooking chowder, it is jam-packed full of flavor! Yes, corn is KING in the summertime!

Original recipe by David Bloom of Fine Cooking