In the post-holiday haze, I’ve been craving beef. Never mind that we had a big prime rib on Christmas, which essentially disappeared because it was mind-blowingly good (I know, I shouldn’t have taken a vacation from the blog when I was making that bad boy), but I’m kind of turkeyed and ham’ed out. You too? … Continue reading Pan-Seared Beef Tri Tip
Category: Lunch
Steamed Mussels with White Wine (Moules Mariniere)
Mussels are awesome. They’re briny and seafoody and delicious, they’re super easy to cook, they’re pretty cheap compared to other kinds of seafood, and they are REALLY versatile. I was born in and spent a lot of my childhood in Alaska, and occasionally we’d just pull them off the rocks and load them in a… Continue reading Steamed Mussels with White Wine (Moules Mariniere)
Easy Cajun Stew
You know when you have a mishmash of things in your kitchen and you experiment a little and throw things together and hope it comes out? That was me, last night. It was our first real chilly, grey, and rainy day of the autumn and I figured I’d make some soup. With flavored broth, some… Continue reading Easy Cajun Stew
Mizeria (Polish Cucumber Salad)
In case I haven’t previously made it clear, I am a fan of salads. I love them in the spring and summer, but also in the fall and winter. Pasta salads, slaws, cucumber-tomato salad, salads with grains and veggies, I love them all, no matter the season. So, as summer slips away and we move… Continue reading Mizeria (Polish Cucumber Salad)
Easy Meal: Pasta Carbonara!
Okay so, I know I haven’t been around much and I have to sincerely apologize — between house guests, yard work, a clown, caretaker and character of a bulldog, and lots and lots of the kind of work that actually pays me, I’ve been kind of swamped! I felt it only right that one of… Continue reading Easy Meal: Pasta Carbonara!
Pasta Bolognese (Italian Meat Ragout)
Ever since we had John’s Baked Ziti a few weeks ago, I’ve been jonesing for pasta. I didn’t need anything particularly cheesy, but I really wanted the richness and comfort of some meaty noodles. Meaty. Noodles. I had always wanted to try to make a ragu/ragout style meat sauce, and started checking around for ideas… Continue reading Pasta Bolognese (Italian Meat Ragout)
Purple Potato Pancakes (Latkes)
I come from a pretty long line of German and Polish cooks. I really love to embrace the food, recipes and traditions of that heritage. I get so busy trying new things, it seems, that I wander away from the food of “my people,” but this week I had a hankering for some potato pancakes.… Continue reading Purple Potato Pancakes (Latkes)
Braised Beef: Pot Roast, Short Rib, Oxtail
A dear friend came to visit last week, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d made him a meal, if ever. Since he’s a bachelor and a guest, I asked him to let me make a nice home-cooked dinner. He’s fond of pot roast, and as such, tonight at Casa Sass it is a… Continue reading Braised Beef: Pot Roast, Short Rib, Oxtail
Carnitas! (Fried Mexican Pork)
I have a soft spot in my heart for Mexican food. To me, Mexican food can be sort of the perfect comfort food. Once you get past really Americanized Mexican food and Tex-Mex (all of which have their place, and I dig on all of them), you find authentic Mexican food is an amazing mix… Continue reading Carnitas! (Fried Mexican Pork)
Southern Fried Chicken
At one time or another in the last three weeks, we’ve had 3-5 house guests at a time. John is a high school teacher, and has been “off work” for the summer, and we have spent a lot of that time being social with friends and family. I love having folks over, because it means… Continue reading Southern Fried Chicken