April 2009
4 posts
Whataburger Ketchup: What makes it so good?
It’s the crowned king of condiments: Ketchup. It’s also quite possibly one of the most underappreciated hamburger accotrements known to man.
Enter Whataburger’s Fancy Katchup.
There are forumns dedicated solely to figuring out what gives it that kick…That Je ne sais quoi…! Unfortunately, Whataburger isn’t telling. The only bone we’re thrown on the...
Truffle Mac + Cheese
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Good olive oil
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced 1/2-inch
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced 1/2-inch
3 tablespoons cream sherry
Kosher salt
1 pound pasta, such as cavatappi
3 ounces white truffle butter (recommended: D’Artagnan)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk, scalded
12...
February 2009
15 posts
Roast Chicken With Lemon and Rosemary Roast...
On Sunday night I gave Jamie Oliver another shot and make his Roast Chicken With Lemon and Rosemary Roast Potatoes from Jamie’s Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook. I’ve had mixed results with some of his recipes in the past, so I approached this one with trepidation. Namely, I fixed a pretty mediocre roast beef and Yorkshire pudding from his Naked Chef show a few years back. It...
Red House Pizzeria
Had dinner and drinks with friends this week at Red House Pizzeria on Manor Road. I had been to the bar a few times but never to the restaurant. I’m glad we went.
I thought the pizza, of the thin, crispy crust variety, was among the best I’ve had in Austin. We ordered two large pies. One was the pepperoni and mushroom with marinara sauce and mozzarella. The other was a build-your-own...
Roasted Root Vegetables
I learned this recipe while taking a series of cooking classes at the Calphalon Culinary Center when I was living in Toronto. It’s easy, delicious, and a bit unusual. It also makes you feel cool because you get to buy a few oddities at the store.
2 carrots, washed, peeled and sliced on a bias
1/4 celery root, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick on bias - similar size to carrots
2 parsnips,...
3 tags
Flank Steak
I made a delicious flank steak the other night. Here’s the recipe.
1 flank steak Worcestershire sauce Salt Black pepper Sriracha
Put the flank steak in a large baking dish. Shake some Worcestershire sauce on it, pat on some salt and pepper, and then rub on a bit of the Sriracha. Do this on both sides. Let stand for about 30 minutes or more.
Preheat your grill on high. When ready to go,...
Cocktail Hour: The Manhattan
A recent addition to my library is The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks. Go buy a copy. And then try anything it. To get you started, here’s the Manhattan:
2 ounces blended whiskey 1 ounce Italian sweet vermouth 2 dashes of Angostura bitters 1 Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Stir the whiskey, vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled...
Marisco Grill
One of the real gems in my neighborhood is Marisco Grill on Burnet Road. My parents came to Austin last week to meet Ashley for the first time, and we went there for dinner. My favorite thing on the menu is their Coctel de Camerón, or Shrimp Cocktail. It’s a wonderful mix of shrimp, olive oil, lime juice, tomato juice, onion, cilantro, and garlic. Beautiful!
The Shrimp Cocktail is part of...
Spaghetti Marinara with Hot Italian Sausage
I’m a big fan of The Palm Restaurant chain. It’s one of the high-end steakhouses comparable to Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Morton’s of Chicago, and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House. What makes it different is that since The Palm started in New York City as an Italian restaurant, it has a great selection of Italian items on the menu. Also, though I prefer the steaks...
Saved!
Katie has redeemed herself by offering me an alternative to the delicious (yet dangerous) iced Whole Food’s heart cookies.
I bring you: Sha-Sha’s spelt ginger snaps! Nary be afraid of the inclusion of spelt- if anything this gives Sha-Sha’s cookies more heft and a more dense (yet crispy) texture.
Three cheers for Katie and these heart-shaped cookies from heaven!
Ashley
The Road to Ruin: Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies
Dear Whole Foods,
Please cease from selling all heart-shaped sugar cookies to our office manager, Katie.
Your offending dessert ruined my lunch yesterday and today.
Thank you,
Ashley Gillespie
The Best Sparkling Mineral Water - Topo Chico
A Kyle & Ashley staple.
Topo Chico originates from the springs at Topo Chico Mountain in Montery, Mexico and has been bottled there since 1895.
I love mineral water with character- and this is it! Expect large, sharp bubbles with a peppery bite!
The minerals included in this effervescent delight are calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.
Ashley
Endive and Chicory Salad With Grainy Mustard...
I had the pleasure of making this delicious salad last evening. Tossed in a fabulous country-style dressing, these bitter greens are a wonderful counterpoint to a hearty main course.
yield: Makes 8 servings
active time: 15 min
total time: 15 min
ingredients
1/2 garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon coarse-grain mustard
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup...
4 tags
Lily's Sandwich
Today for lunch we decided on Lily’s Sandwich in Chinatown Center for bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches) and spring rolls. Ashley and I both had the barbecue pork bánh mì ($3.00 each) and shared a package of pork and shrimp spring rolls ($3.65 for 3).
“Fusion” cuisine is one of my pet peeves. I’d usually much rather have good examples of traditional dishes than...