11/20/2008

Atwood Grill is a regular good deal
If you’re looking for a friendly, neighborhood kind of place with good food, superior portions and reasonable prices, the Atwood Grill in Johnston is that place.

11/19/2008

Thanks for the ideas
The biggest meal of the year is but eight days away. Expectations run high for a feast.

DINNER BISCUITS
DINNER BISCUITS

Buttermilk biscuits rise to the occasion
This easy recipe for savory buttermilk biscuits is seasoned with garlic powder, black pepper and chopped fresh chives, but you could substitute almost any herbs or spices. Grated Pepper Jack cheese and paprika make a fine Southwestern version. Or add just black pepper to the dough and sprinkle the biscuits with kosher salt and sesame or poppy seeds just before baking.

CABOT’S REDUCED-FAT STUFFING
CABOT’S REDUCED-FAT STUFFING

EATING WELL’S GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
EATING WELL’S GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

CABOT’S WINTER SQUASH GRATIN
CABOT’S WINTER SQUASH GRATIN

Cabot stuffing and squash, with cheese
Cabot Creamery Cooperative “chef of staff” Jon Ashton and others have developed dozens of recipes for Thanksgiving. Find them at cabotcheese.coop/ recipes, and yes, they all have Cabot products, but one can substitute at will.

EATING WELL’S VERMONT CHEDDAR MASHED POTATOES
EATING WELL’S VERMONT CHEDDAR MASHED POTATOES

High heat makes quick work of turkey
If you want to get your turkey in and out fast, this might be the year you try my friend Rose Mahdesian’s High Heat Turkey.

BUTTERBALL’S CITRUS, MUSTARD & HERB-INFUSED TURKEY
BUTTERBALL’S CITRUS, MUSTARD & HERB-INFUSED TURKEY

Warm Cranberry Crumble Tart
The Art & Soul of Baking is the newest book from Sur La Table, the upscale kitchen store, and this Warm Cranberry Crumble Tart recipe one of its most festive seasonal recipes. If you want to add more crunch, stir in 1/3 cup walnuts and almonds to the topping.

WARM CRANBERRY CRUMBLE TART
WARM CRANBERRY CRUMBLE TART

Secrets to a better pumpkin pie
Cook’s Illustrated offered this better pumpkin pie recipe in its December issue. The Test Kitchen used three ingredients to create a great flavor — sweet potatoes, fresh ginger and maple syrup. They also played with oven temperature — starting at a high temperature and finishing at a lower one, which keeps the custard from curdling and makes it silky smooth.

THURSDAY NIGHT PORK CHOPS
THURSDAY NIGHT PORK CHOPS

Butterball talks turkey by phone and by Internet
This year, Thanksgiving help from Butterball is expanding beyond the telephone help line.

EGGNOG CREAM PIE
EGGNOG CREAM PIE

Eggnog is nice by the slice
Since cream pie fillings get poured into already baked crusts, you can save yourself some time and buy a prepared crust for this recipe. If you don’t care for the taste of eggnog, substitute 1 cup of whole milk and increase the spices to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Stir 2 tablespoons of rum, brandy or whiskey into the cream along with the vanilla.

Chef’s Secret: Pinelli’s chops at home
Ellen Sabetta wrote:

PUMPKIN PIE
PUMPKIN PIE

SANDRA LEE’S HOLIDAY CHAMPAGNE
SANDRA LEE’S HOLIDAY CHAMPAGNE

FORTY 1 NORTH TURKEY BRINE
FORTY 1 NORTH TURKEY BRINE

SWEET POTATO BISCUITS
SWEET POTATO BISCUITS

Food Notes
This week and weekend

CAULIFLOWER WITH GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS
CAULIFLOWER WITH GARLIC BREAD CRUMBS

TRIPLE CITRUS STUFFING
TRIPLE CITRUS STUFFING

ROSE’S HIGH-HEAT TURKEY
ROSE’S HIGH-HEAT TURKEY

11/13/2008

Dining Out: Between Italy and Greece is . . . Angelo’s of Cumberland
CUMBERLAND — At a time when downsizing seems to be the rallying cry even as prices continue an uphill climb, Angelo’s restaurant has bucked the trend, expanding to more than double its original size while keeping prices family friendly.

11/12/2008

BAKED APPLE BUTTER
BAKED APPLE BUTTER

MAPLE-ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH
MAPLE-ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

The potato: Cheap and nutritious, but hold the fries
What can the world do with potatoes?

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE WITH HAZELNUT GOAT CHEESE CROUTON
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISQUE WITH HAZELNUT GOAT CHEESE CROUTON

HAZELNUT GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS
HAZELNUT GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

PUMPKIN ROULADE WITH GINGER BUTTERCREAM
PUMPKIN ROULADE WITH GINGER BUTTERCREAM

A soup for the season from North End Cafe
Last summer, a reader wrote about a wonderful bisque special coming out of the kitchen at the new North End Café, nicknamed NEC since bought by chef Paul Jalaf. I never got to chef for that recipe but was reminded of the bisque when I read about a Harvest Wine dinner that Jalaf and Douglas Wine and Spirits were hosting. (It was last night.)

Face Thanksgiving challenges with prepare-ahead recipes and tips
Let’s face it, roasting a turkey isn’t rocket science. However, there are challenges that can add up on Thanksgiving Day.

Apple butter works for almost all apples
Mary was looking for a recipe for apple butter that is made in the oven. Betty Smith of Bend, Ore., sent in her recipe for the butter that she adapted over the years. Her recipe is very simple and allows for personal variation.

A taste for charity: The Savory Grape in East Greenwich is more than a wine store
EAST GREENWICH

BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES
BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES

PEAR-SHAPED POTATO CROQUETTES
PEAR-SHAPED POTATO CROQUETTES

TURKEY GRAVY
TURKEY GRAVY

CORNBREAD-SAUSAGE STUFFING
CORNBREAD-SAUSAGE STUFFING

Cookbook: More sensible recipes from Barefoot Contessa
I have never made an Ina Garten recipe that failed to satisfy.

STUFFED TURKEY BREAST
STUFFED TURKEY BREAST

Food notes: Nov. 12
This week and weekend

HIMMEL UND ERDE (HEAVEN AND EARTH)
HIMMEL UND ERDE (HEAVEN AND EARTH)

Savory Grape offers Thanksgiving wine suggestions
Jessica Grantiero and staff have looked at Thanksgiving and faced the challenge of finding wines that work not just with sausage stuffing but with bacon braised Brussel sprouts. They looked for good food wines and offered suggestions.

08/08/2008

DINING OUT - Asian delicacies in a flash
Pei Wei is that casual, fast and affordable kind of restaurant that is so in demand today.

08/14/2008

Shore bets for summer dining