This salad, or at least a variation of it, has been a solid staple of mine for the past few years. I’ve made it several times for Thanksgiving, and when I tell people what it is, they politely say, “uhh, thanks, but no thanks.” On a day devoted to gorging on rich and heavy foods,…
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Apple Butter Quesadillas (Video!)
I can’t help but laugh at this recipe. If you told me 10 years ago that one day I’d be posting it up on my weekly food blog, I really would have laughed. You see, I came up with these quesadillas back when I was in college and not… uhh… totally sober.
Roasted Cauliflower with Breadcrumbs, Capers, Almonds + Raisins
Let me first address the elephant in the room. And the donkey. My views on this election are stronger than ever before, and while I don’t care to discuss them on this website, or anywhere on the internet, or anywhere in real life for that matter, I do want to take a moment to be…
Blue Cheese Tartines with Apples + Arugula (Video!)
Blue cheese is one of those polarizing ingredients that I happen to adore. It’s stinky, creamy, tangy, and sometimes even a little bit sweet. I love it in salads, on pizzas, baked into savory-sweet tarts, on cheese plates and with fruit. As of lately, I can’t get enough of it melted onto a piece…
Roasted Butternut Squash with Goat Cheese, Hazelnuts + Lime
It’s back to reality for me this week after spending a good 8(ish) days abroad in the fine country of Spain. Chaser and I hadn’t gone away together since our trip to Italy last September, so it was a much-needed vacation. Only, I wouldn’t exactly say it was relaxing. Eating and drinking all day can be…
Baked Shrimp Scampi (Video!)
This easy recipe for baked shrimp scampi is always a crowd pleaser! Buttery, lemony, garlicky, and perfect for weeknights and entertaining alike. If you’ve been paying attention these past few weeks, you’ve probably noticed the boatload of seafood recipes (pardon the pun) I’ve been posting. That’s because – in case you missed it – October…
Apple Cider Baked Doughnuts
Over the summers when I was in highschool, I worked at a little place called Ove’s on the Ocean City boardwalk. I was a dinner waitress at the restaurant, but they also had a little walk up snack bar, and in the morning they sold fresh homemade apple cider doughnuts. They were famous for them,…
Linguini alle Vongole (Video!)
This classic Italian dish will always remind me of my grandparents, and especially of my grandfather, Pop-pop Genovese. It was one of his all-time favorites, and I love how he always called it “Bysta with the clams.” My grandparents have several versions of “bysta with the (fill in the blank).” There’s bysta sugo, bysta with…
Potato Gnocchi with Lobster, Leeks + Cream
I think I finally cracked the code for making good gnocchi. And I don’t mean pretty good gnocchi, I mean really good gnocchi. The kind that are light as air and melt on your tongue. The kind you barely even have to chew. The kind that doesn’t make you feel like you just ate a…
How to Make Beurre Blanc (Video!)
I first learned how to make a proper beurre blanc during my short tenure at culinary school. My teacher, Chef Richard, was a little French man with a thick accent, a dry raspy voice and even drier sense of humor. I adored him from the very first day of class, not only for his no-nonsense attitude, but…
City Harvest Bid Against Hunger 2016
Last Thursday, after a magical Wild Salmon Fireside Feast in Ithaca, NY, I had the honor of joining team Finlandia at Bid Against Hunger in New York City.
My Mamma’s Eggplant Parm
I’ve mentioned before that my mother was not the greatest cook, but it’s important to note that she was also not the worst cook. And while she may have struggled with dry roasts and overcooked steaks, there is no question that a few of the dishes she made were hands down the greatest. I adored…
Cioppino with Barramundi (Video!)
This classic San Francisco seafood stew is a lot easier to make than you might think. Warm, cozy, and perfect with a hunk of sourdough and a glass of wine. Happy Friday and Happy National Seafood Month! October is dedicated to all-things-seafood, which to me, is far more appealing than the silly, gory treats that always…
Tomato Fennel Risotto
It’s October the 4th, and believe it or not, tomatoes are still in season. Of course, this is the end of the season, but for many growers, they’re still coming in strong. I can’t exactly say that for myself, however, since most of my plants were mysteriously taken out by a cocktail of different blights…
Buttery Buffalo Popcorn (Video!)
Happy rainy Friday! If you live anywhere along the east coast, you’ve likely been drowning in windy, nasty weather all week. ☔️???? Here in New Jersey, the weather reports all indicate that the rain won’t be letting up anytime soon. I have to say, though, it’s actually nice to have a rainy weekend on the…
Grilled Lamb Meatballs with Tahini Sauce
This recipe for grilled lamb meatballs makes an easy and delicious weeknight dinner! They are gluten free and served with a tangy, rich tahini sauce for dipping. Pita optional! I cannot recall the first time I ever tried lamb, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t really care for it. Growing up, we never had lamb,…
Grilled Romaine Wedge Salads with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette (Video!)
This take on the classic steakhouse wedge salad uses romaine instead of iceberg, is grilled for more flavor, loaded with crispy bacon and juicy tomatoes, plus it’s lighter thanks to a blue cheese vinaigrette! Hello! Did you miss me this week? Did you even notice I skipped my usual Tuesday post? When I set out…
Honey Roasted Plum Crostini with Burrata and Prosciutto (Video!)
I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before that I consider myself a cyclical eater, meaning that I get obsessed with foods and then get sick of them, only to rediscover them years later and begin the obsession all over again. I’m afraid to say and ashamed to admit that this year, I’ve been slightly less…
Ecuadorian Shrimp Ceviche
I’m super lucky to have lots of friends from a slew of different cultural backgrounds, because they’re always opening my eyes, and my taste buds, to all sorts of new and interesting foods. I met my friend Veronica many years back when she first moved to America, from her native Ecuador, to marry her love,…
Goat Cheese + Chive Stuffed Tomatoes (Video!)
A few weeks ago, I called Chaser on my way home from a long day of travel and he offered to make dinner. This is a rarity! And rightfully so, as I, the chef in the house, do 99% of the cooking, which is totally fine. But on this particular day, the stars aligned…
Ricotta Gelato with Pistachio and Fig
Breaks are important. Like in a song, for instance. Or a speech. More often than not, the pauses have more impact than the actual music or words. The same is true for life. Taking breaks is major. That’s exactly what I did this weekend. I took a nice, big break, and I hope you did,…
How to Perfectly Pan Sear Scallops (Video!)
Ahhh, September. The start of what we here at the shore call “local’s summer,” but it’s also back to school. Not just for the kiddos, but for you, too. Every so often I like to pop in with a basic how-to tutorial, like this one on pie crust and this one about caramelizing onions. Today’s, as…
Bacon Cheddar Burgers with Tomato Onion Jam
In most instances of, say, a backyard barbecue or another casual grilling occasion, I will tell you that I am a burger purist. What I mean by that is I typically don’t like any accouterment on my burger. There are three elements, and generally speaking, I prefer to enjoy them in harmony with one another…
August Garden Tour (Video!)
I can’t believe we’re already at the end of August, and close to the end of the summer growing season. This one was filled with plenty of ups and downs, but overall I think it’s been my best, most prolific season yet. I grew more types of produce and tried lots of new things, but…
Bomb Diggity TBL’s (Video!)
A BLT, at least in my eyes, really isn’t a bacon sandwich with lettuce and tomato, it’s a tomato sandwich with bacon and lettuce. That’s why I’ve renamed them to have the T come first, followed by the B and lastly the L. Because really, the L isn’t all that significant. Sure, it gives us crunch and contrast, but…
Nicole Gaffney, aka Coley, is a professionally trained chef, recipe developer, tv host and food writer.