A Cocktail to Move You From Summer to Fall

We are starting to get into that time of year where summer sunshine departs and the cool weather starts the change the tone of the day. But for those of us who try to hold onto that brightness a little longer, there’s nothing better than a cocktail to keep us going.

We went to Jungle Bird, a tropical cocktail bar to try and find a drink that is stiff enough for the fall but still retains the breezy air of warmer weather. And we think we’ve found it in their signature cocktail. It’s only 4 ingredients so it’s easy, it works great as a punch if you need something for a group, and it strikes a great note any time of year.

Blog, Drinks, VideoAli RosenOctober 3, 2019cocktail, rum, campari, drinks, pineappleComment

Yes, You Can Make a Poke Bowl At Home

Few things have entered into the vernacular as quickly as poke. The Japanese fish-based rice bowls have gone from under-the-radar to everywhere in the span of a few years. And it’s easy to see why - they are like the love child of sushi and healthy grain bowls. What could make for a better lunch option?

But they have felt elusive as a meal to make at home. Maybe it’s the raw seafood or the seemingly difficult-to-aquire ingredients, but it has remained an item to purchase rather than assemble in your kitchen. But we got the pros from poke spot Chikarashi to upend our notions. With ingredients that can be assembled ahead or easily purchased, a poke bowl can be a quick option to throw together.

Blog, Cooking, Food, Recipe, VideoAli RosenSeptember 25, 2019salmon, ponzu, poke, Japan, Japanese, Panko, citrus, recipe, lunch, sesame, shisoComment

Blondies Can Get Even Better

I’m not sure much is better than a blondie. It’s basically just a giant sugar carb chewy delight. But Nicole Rucker changed the game with her recipe that adds fruit into the mix. A little bit of extra sweetness from a different source makes them even brighter.

We got Nicole’s recipe via her new book Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers, which is exactly what it sounds like. If you love dessert and you love adding fruit into your desserts, then you are in luck. I almost audibly gasped when I saw it, since I am a major fruit dessert kind of gal (I think Bring It! had almost as many fruit desserts as not, and I’m not sorry about it).

Cookbook, Cooking, Recipe, Dessert, BlogAli RosenSeptember 18, 2019dessert, brown sugar, butter, berries, huckleberry, blueberry, sugar, make ahead, cookbookComment

The Cacio e Pepe Twist That Changes the Whole Game

There is nothing more classic than cacio e pepe - but can even this perfect combination of spaghetti, cheese and fresh pepper be improved upon?

Raquel Pelzel makes a pretty excellent case in her new book Umami Bomb. The book is all about utilizing umami, that famed extra category of flavor that brings a savory richness to any food, to make vegetarian food even more satisfying. Two of the ingredients she highlights are miso paste and nutritional yeast, and they are used in great effect in this recipe. It’s hard to imagine deepening the flavors of the original, but this take on cacio e pepe just bumps everything up a notch for an unforgettable version.

Blog, Cookbook, Food, Recipe, VideoAli RosenSeptember 10, 2019pasta, spaghetti, Italian, miso, pepper, cheese, nutritional yeast, parsley, video, cookbookComment

Up Your Cocktail Game With This Easy Trick

For a party I am always looking for the intersection of easy and ‘looks impressive’. You want to make guests feel like you’ve gone the extra mile but you also don’t want to be running around worrying the whole time.

So I loved the idea of flavoring your own liquor in advance to make it cocktail-ready. You look impressive with very little work and you have something a little different for people to get excited about. Instead of mixing ingredients the day-of you’ve already infused your ingredients together. It’s the perfect combo.

We got the details from Chris Joseph of Wild Roots - which makes their own infused spirits if you want to remove a step - and he gave us the details on two potential liquors you can infuse.

Blog, Drinks, VideoAli RosenJuly 29, 2019liquor, cocktails, jalapeno, rosemary, cocktail, party, entertaining Comment

You Can Actually Make English Muffins at Home

There are few things more satisfying to me than a warm English muffin slathered with butter. What’s not to like!?

But it never occurred to me that I actually make them at home. English muffins felt like something impossible or the realm of true bakers. But then Gertie’s Head Baker Savannah Turley came by and turned my entire English-muffin-loving world upside down. You really just need time and a good amount of yeast. The rest is simpler than you can imagine.

Blog, Cooking, Food, Recipe, VideoAli RosenJuly 8, 2019english muffins, bread, flour, yeast, breakfast, bakingComment

The Truth About Rubs Versus Marinades

Summer is here so life’s major questions are resurfacing. Most notably: should you use a rub or a marinade?

There is no wrong answer but there are definitely better ways to approach it and so to get into the nitty gritty of the nuance we turned to Myron Mixon. His new book BBQ & A with Myron Mixon answers all the questions he has been asked over his many years as an award-winning pitmaster, best-selling author and teacher. So we got him in test kitchen to get his take on when marinades work and when we should go for the rub.

Blog, Cookbook, Cooking, Food, VideoAli RosenJune 27, 2019BBQ, barbecue, Myron Mixon, rubs, marinade, spices, SouthernComment

The Most Summery, Simple (And Healthy!?) Popsicles Around

In the summer, for me, everything is about berries. There is nothing purer and sweeter than a summer strawberry and it can feel like a replacement for any other sweet treat unto itself. So when I know I am not ready for the sugar high of my beloved gelato I turn to these popsicles. They are as easy as turning on the blender and they have the added touch of turmeric to give them a little more depth. They are quick, perfect, sugar-free bites of summer. What more could you ask for!?

Blog, Ali's Recipes, Cooking, Dessert, RecipeAli RosenJune 23, 2019strawberry, summer, turmeric, dessert, Easy Comment

Fried Sage Leaves are Your New Best Friend

Some books really make you just want to trade places with the author and that’s how I feel about everything from Elizabeth Minchilli. She lives in Rome and Umbria and her newest book, The Italian Table, invites you in to her lush Italian world. It is divided into dinners across regions and seasons and it will have you wanting to book a flight to Italy pronto.

But one of the best things about the book is that it is full of delectable treats that are also easy. We decided to take on one of the simplest but most delightfully surprising - fried sage leaves. They are as simple to eat as an appetizer as potato chips or crudite but they have their only special uniqueness that will stop anyone in their tracks. Everyone will love them and everyone will be a bit surprised by their presence.

Blog, Cookbook, Cooking, Food, Recipe, VideoAli RosenJune 12, 2019recipe, cookbook, Italy, Umbria, Italian, appetizer, 30 Minutes or LessComment

The Perfect Spaghetti Dish

Sometimes simplicity can make for a perfect dish. And when it comes to spaghetti there’s nothing better than pairing it with garlic. But the trick to taking it to the next level is a few key ingredients and techniques. Gabe Thompson of L’Artusi stopped by to show us his recipe and it truly might be the perfect, simply spaghetti dish.

Cooking, Food, Recipe, Restaurants, Video, BlogAli RosenJune 5, 2019spaghetti, garlic, pasta, Italian, recipe, bread crumbs, Parmesan, chili Comments

Danny Meyer Wants You to Find Art In Your Food

It’s not often that a major city gets an entirely new neighborhood right in the center of the city, but that’s what has happened in New York with Hudson Yards. And with this big new neighborhood has come a plethora of big name restaurants and restaurateurs so it was to no one’s surprise that Danny Meyer teamed up with the newest cultural institution, The Shed, to bring his stamp to the proceedings.

We got a chance to catch up with Meyer to talk about his newest spot, Cedric’s at the Shed, and we delved into the new area, the intersection of art and food, and why Meyer keeps finding ways to open up inside cultural space. Hopefully it’ll be a bit of inspiration to make your next dining experience an artistic one as well.

Blog, Interview, Restaurants, VideoAli RosenMay 23, 2019restaurant, Danny Meyer, Hudson Yards, interviewComment

Should You Be Vacuum Sealing Your Food?

As busy people we are always looking for new ways to make our lives (and meal prep) easier. There is the constant battle between a home cooked meal and convenience.

But I was intrigued by RealEats, a meal prep company that sends healthy prepared meals via vacuum sealed packaging that keeps their food fresh for 7 days. I wondered whether this methodology could also work for people at home who want to prep food ahead.

RealEats’ Head of Culinary, Chef Aliya LeeKong, very kindly let us into her kitchen to share some of her tactics as well as a recipe for a delicious and easy miso salmon. Aliya goes into the types of food that work best for vacuum sealing and she even showcases how to hack your regular ziploc bags with another method for storage.

Of course if all this makes you just want Aliya’s food for yourself you can always head over to RealEats. But watch the video below to get a look at how you could make your meal prep even easier at home.

Blog, Food, Recipe, VideoAli RosenMay 15, 2019fish, seafood, recipe, miso, salmon, make aheadComment

The Newest:

The Maple Inn