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Category Archives: From the Food Blogs

Weekly Roundup: Classic and Creative Pizza Recipes

Pizza with Herbed Spelt Thin Crust

October is National Pizza Month, so let’s deep dish. Whether classic Italian, Chicago- or New York-style, pizza brings pizzazz to parties, game nights, and those hungry times when you just can’t bear to turn on the oven. From pepperoni to pineapple, its toppings are limited only by its maker’s imagination; no adornment is too pie-in-the-sky. Once you find your favorite, it’s hard to stop at one slice (could this be the Domino’s effect?). No matter, as long as you’ve got the dough. Give pizza a place in your fall lineup with a recipe from these food blogs:

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Food Blog of the Week: Yes I Want Cake

Yes I Want Cake


Name: Katie Unger
Blog: Yes I Want Cake

Location: Colorado, CO

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what food it be?
Zucchini. That’s my answer right now, as I look out my window and see the squash just exploding in the garden, which is such a good situation to have.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
One-skillet dinners—the kind where you throw vegetables, chicken, and whatever else you want into a pan and be done with it.

I will never eat:
Head cheese. What is that stuff?! I see it at the grocery store and I just shudder.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
Root Down Restaurant in Denver, Colorado. The menu changes seasonally, but the last thing I enjoyed there was some fantastic butternut squash gnocchi.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
Bobby Flay. I have a major crush.

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Food Blog of the Week: A Cozy Kitchen

A Cozy Kitchen


Name: Adrianna Adarme
Blog: A Cozy Kitchen

Location: Los Angeles, California

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what food it be?
Probably lemons. I feel like I add lemon zest and lemon juice to everything.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
Carbonara. It only takes 15 minutes, and I always seem to have some sort of pork product and eggs in my fridge, and dried pasta in my cupboards. My recipe is definitely not traditional. I like to add a little milk to the egg mixture, swap out black pepper for red pepper flakes, and add vegetables, if I have them. It’s not the healthiest thing to be eating at 10 p.m., but whoa, is it good.

I will never eat:
Frozen peas that have been overcooked. Their murky green color and mushy texture is my epitome of disgusting.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
Super tough question! I have so many places that I love in Los Angeles. If anyone is visiting, I always tell them to head to Son of a Gun. The restaurant’s vibe is relaxed, while the food is interesting and delicious. Their Linguini with clams and Uni is insane, as is the chicken sandwich, which is a riff on a Chik-fil-A sandwich. If anyone is up for an adventure, I’d recommend heading to the San Gabriel Valley to Golden Deli. I was recently taken there and had the best-ever fried egg rolls.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
Jason Katims, creator and writer of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood. I’m obsessed with the stories he tells on television. I bet I’d love the stories he’d tell in person, too. If Jason was busy, Anthony Bourdain would be a close second. He seems like the perfect combination of sweet, thoughtful, and sarcastic. I feel like all my closest friends have those same personality traits.

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Weekly Roundup: All Things Mushroom

Chanterelle Tacos
The September mushroom season is in full swing—boasting large quantities of porcinis, oysters, and chanterelles to savor. Channel your inner forager and explore these mushroom recipes:        
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Weekly Roundup: All Things Peanut Butter

Early Morning Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

Peanut butter and jelly go together like … well, you know. But what surprised me this week were the myriad ways bloggers are breaking peanut butter out of the back-to-school sandwich mold. All grown up and on its own, peanut butter stars in breakfasts, dinners and desserts in this week’s roundup of our favorite recipes from across the Web.

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Food Blog of the Week: Dinner With Weijia


Name: Weijia Xia
Blog: Dinner With Weijia

Location: Austin, TX

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what would it be?
Noodles, they are so versatile and can be adapted across various cuisines, courses, and dietary considerations. Japanese Ramen, Chinese Dan Dan noodles, Vietnamese Pho, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken noodle soup… it might actually be possible for me to cook a different noodle dish everyday for 365 days!

I will never eat:
Canned cheese or aerosol cheese. It looks like playdough.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?

I love having family and friends over for dinner. There is nothing more satisfying than cooking up a big meal and have everyone you care about share that with you. With everyone’s increasingly busy schedules and lives, being able to set that time aside and bond with your loved ones over food that was prepared just for them is a special thing.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
Some type of pasta with pesto, and I usually have a few types of pasta in my pantry. Pestos are great because you can use what you have in your pantry. All you need is some sort of nuts, olive oil, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste, and then you blend all the dry ingredients in a food processor while gradually drizzling in the oil. Pine nuts and walnuts are good standards, but recently I’ve been really into using smoked almonds for that extra kick of smoky flavor. You can add Parmesan cheese and lemon zest if you’d like as well. I’ll cook the pasta according to the package instructions and then drain and toss the pasta with the pesto. It takes less than 20 minutes to make, and I usually have all these ingredients already.

What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
I love cooking at home, so when I eat out at a restaurant, I like to be taken care of completely. I don’t even want to worry about deciding what dishes to order, which is why I love ordering omakase at Japanese restaurants. Omakase means “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese, and basically the chef will bring you a series of small dishes, ranging from lightest to heaviest, made from the finest selection of the day’s ingredients. This also allows the chef be creative and serve you new dishes that he or she might be experimenting with. Not all sushi restaurants offer omakase, but I love the one from Musashino in Austin, and I would love to try it at Uchiko as well.

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Weekly Roundup: Sweet and Savory Dumplings

Tart Cherry Dumplings

Steamed, pan-fried, boiled, deep-fried—I don’t discriminate when it comes to dumplings, and I can imagine few foods more alluring than doughy pockets stuffed with endless varieties of fillings. Wrap up big flavor with our picks for sweet and savory dumpling recipes from around the Web:

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Food Blog of the Week: The Realistic Nutritionist

The Realistic Nutritionist

Name: Claire
Blog: The Realistic Nutritionist

Location: Washington DC

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what food it be?
Oh my gosh, that’s a hard question! I’d have to say (please forgive me avocado and Chobani), goat cheese. I seriously use this soft, tangy cheese in everything I possibly can. It lends such an incredible flavor to everything, from desserts to savory dishes.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
Hands down, it’d have to be my skillet lasagna. Whenever I’m feeling tired or lazy, I whip this up. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to make and it’s extremely comforting. You can’t possibly feel bad if you’re eating soft ricotta, melted mozzarella, and noodles. Plus, it makes a mean batch of leftovers for the next day!

I will never eat:
Sardines. Ew. They are all squished together and served in some weird can. No thank you!

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
I’m going to sound like such a “foodie” for saying this, but I don’t have a favorite restaurant! I travel so frequently for my job, I’m falling in love with a new restaurant and dish everywhere I go, whether I’m getting a big plate of Jamaica barbecue at a hut on the side of the road in Montego Bay or eating the best pizza of my life at a mom and pop shop in Rome.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
I would pick Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern. I love Bourdain’s perspective on food and life, and I’m completely and utterly fascinated by Andrew Zimmern. The man eats eyeballs and describes food as tasting like a “band-aid.” I’d love to pick both of their brains on the topics of travel and food.

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Weekly RoundUp: Fruit-Filled Upside-Down Cakes

Brown Butter Plum Upside Down Cake

Summer is slowly fading into fall, but that doesn’t mean you have to hold out on a fruit-filled sweet for dessert. Peaches, plums, apples, apricots—make the most of fruits in their prime by featuring them in a variety of upside-down cake recipes from around the Web.

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Featured Food Blog: Cooking in Sens, France

Cooking in Sens

Name: Rosemary Mullally
Blog: Cooking in Sens

Location: Sens, Burgundy, France

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what would it be?
Garlic. I’ve always liked garlic, and since coming to live in France, I’ve taken full advantage of the different varieties available in the farmer’s market. A fairly new experience for me is fresh garlic with its huge, edible stem and juicy, crunchy cloves.

I will never eat:
Monkey brains cooked at the table. I’m an adventurous eater but live monkeys are so cute! You’ve got to draw the line somewhere.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
Jamie Oliver, George R.R. Martin, Toni Morrison, Rachel Khoo, and Roger and Jenny Stowell.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
Herbed oven-baked chicken with steamed fresh vegetables.

What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
Chez Madeleine, a local Michelin restaurant, featuring the fresh, local products of Burgundy. I like everything here, but it really depends on what’s in season. My favorite is an entree of red mullet fish fillets, a main dish of sauteed foie gras with fresh cherry sauce, the cheese plate, and a Café Gourmand with assorted mini desserts. At the beginning of the meal, each diner is given his/her own personal “motte” of Echire butter. Whatever portion is unused is beautifully wrapped for the customer to take home. Although I have visited other Michelin restaurants, I keep going back to Madeleine’s for its intimacy, service, and personable chef.

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Food Blog of the Week: Scoop Adventures

Scoop Adventures

Name: Lindsay Clendaniel
Blog: Scoop Adventures

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what food it be?
Milk! The obvious reason is because I could keep making ice cream. It would also be interesting to blog about how to incorporate different types of milk into sweet treats and savory meals. There are so many types of milk (cow, goat, almond, coconut, etc.), and now you’ve got me thinking…

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
It would be my clean-out-the-fridge pasta or pizza. Any day of the week I usually have small pieces of vegetables and cheese lying around in the fridge. I always keep a can of diced tomatoes on hand in case tomatoes are not in season or not on my shelf. Using pasta or pizza crust as a base is a great way to use up the leftovers and a make a quick and tasty meal.

I will never eat:
Liver. There are a lot of people out there who like liver, but I never have and never will choose to eat it. It just sounds gross.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
I live in New Orleans, where there is a plethora of great restaurants. One of my favorite restaurants is actually a restaurant that I frequented when I lived in Columbus, Ohio called Northstar Cafe. There are local, fresh, and thoughtful dishes on the menu each day, and the restaurant atmosphere is causal and inviting. I order the Northstar Burger (a veggie burger). It is one of the best burgers that I have ever tasted, and I am full-fledged meat eater. I’m going to cheat and pick my favorite restaurant in New Orleans as well – Coquette. If you are ever in New Orleans, be sure to check it out. The menu includes elegant meals and cocktails made with local ingredients. If it’s on the menu, order the quail appetizer.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. I first tasted one of her ice creams when I moved to Columbus five years ago, and it was so full of flavor. It inspired me to purchase my own ice cream maker, and the rest is history. I have heard Jeni speak a few times; it’s inspiring to hear how passionate she is about her work and her community. She also seems like a down-to-earth person.

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Weekly RoundUp: Perfect Panna Cotta

Ricotta Panna Cotta with Raspberry Brezza Fresca

As sad as we are to admit it, we’ve come to terms with the fact that we’re in the last few weeks of summer. But before we kick our beachwear to the curb in favor of lots of layers, we’re digging in to one more summer fruit-filled dessert: panna cotta.      
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Food Blog of the Week: WHISK(Y)


Name: Jessie Damuck
Blog: WHISKy (Cooking with Bourbon)

Location: New York, NY

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what would it be?
Well, this blog is an experiment with my affinity for bourbon. It is so versatile, and really fun to develop with (unless you’ve had a bit too much of it to drink recently). It can really be used in so many ways that haven’t been touched on in the past, and it’s so great to be able to bring my own culinary style and vision into this project. Unfortunately because of other recipe development and food styling I work on almost daily, it’s easy to get distracted from my own recipes.

I will never eat:
Insects. I keep the “I’ll try anything once” attitude towards most things, but I am not a bizarre food fanatic and can’t truly believe I will be missing out on anything.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
Ina Garten and Martha Stewart at the same party. There have been whispers about what happened to their friendship, but I really admire both of them, and I’m sure a few whisky sours could get out the truth. While I’m not sure the menu would be bourbon-centric these two ladies both value the same high-quality and incredibly fresh ingredients that I love to cook with. And I also wouldn’t turn down Ryan Gosling.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
There is nothing easier than a roast chicken stuffed with garlic, thyme, lemons, and heavily seasoned with salt and pepper, with carrots, potatoes, or whatever I happen to have at my apartment. That… or frozen meatballs, which I make ahead of time in really big batches.

What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
I eat probably the most frequently at Peter Hoffmann’s Back Forty in the East Village. They have fantastic burgers, even better bourbon cocktails, and it’s a friendly, calm atmosphere to enjoy being out of the kitchen. I always get my burger with cheddar and bacon, and their house-made pickles and ketchup. They also have biscuits and Bloody Mary’s on their brunch menu, which is a weekend staple for me.

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Weekly Roundup: Bring on the Basil

Basil Pesto

Lush, bright green bushels of basil are stealing the spotlight at local farmers’ markets, so we’re putting this versatile herb to use in classic and creative dishes, including quick-fix pestos, kicked up cocktails, seasonal sides, and more.
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Weekly Roundup: Scallops

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

We’re heading into the final weekend of summer, and what better way to kick off the Labor Day festivities than with an ode to the season’s freshest seafood? Find inspiration for classic and creative takes on scallops from around the Web.

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Food Blog of the Week: Stir and Scribble


Name: Meghan Splawn
Blog: Stir and Scribble

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what would it be?
I thought these were going to be hard questions: the egg! Think about all the possibilities in that tiny vessel: soft boiled, hard boiled, deviled, pickled, poached, fried, scrambled, baked, over easy, over hard … and those are just the eggs alone. With a few other ingredients you can have quiches, soufflés, meringues, puddings, even ice creams. Whenever I get bored or tired with cooking, I think of my favorite Oscar Wilde quote, “An egg is always an adventure – the next one might be different,” and I grab an egg.

I will never eat:
Never say never. I’m not fond of much offal, but I’ve eaten my fair share of innards. You can try most anything once.

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
Jenny Rosenstrach of Dinner: A Love Story (the blog and the book) has been a huge inspiration to me in the last six months. Even though her blog has been around for years, I just discovered it. I have a six-month old daughter and while reading her book I laughed and cried through her story of returning to work after having her first child. I’d been struggling through wanting to be a great mother while keeping my career and my husband was struggling to understand why cooking dinner every night was so important to me. Jenny had the words for us. And she understands the importance of a nightly cocktail.

What’s your go-to quick and easy dinner?
Breakfast for dinner (or brinner) is one of our favorites. It’s economical and easy, but bacon and hash-browns always feel like a weekend treat, making their appearance during the week a small celebration. Plus, as you know, I love an egg!

What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
Muss and Turners in Smyrna, Georgia. They have this sandwich called “Now Open on Sunday,” which is their riff on the ubiquitous Chik-fil-a chicken sandwich. Made with a brined and crispy fried chicken breast and served on a housemade brioche bun with their homemade pickles, I dare say its better than the original, and without the politics.

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Food Blog of the Week: Peanut Butter and Julie

Peanut Butter and Julie


Name: Julie Hession
Blog: Peanut Butter and Julie

What is the first meal you ever cooked?
I remember this very clearly. I was about 7 years old, and I made the Oven-Fried Chicken recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens Junior Cookbook. It was essentially drumsticks that were rolled in crushed potato chips and baked. It wasn’t a huge hit with my family. I have since created a better recipe for oven-fried chicken.

I will never eat:
Mayonnaise. People who know me well know that I won’t go near any food that contains mayonnaise. It borders on being a phobia, and I won’t even allow mayonnaise in the house. Bring on the mustard, pesto, and tapenade!

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what would it be?
Probably sweet potatoes. I absolutely love them, and I try to work them into my meals as often as possible. Many people don’t realize how versatile sweet potatoes are, especially in baking, including cupcakes, pies, pancakes, puddings, and ice cream. I could definitely come up with 365 ideas.

What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order there?
My husband and I go to a neighborhood place called Table 34 in Las Vegas a few times every month. Their food is consistently fresh, seasonal, and well-prepared, and we’re on a first-name basis with most of the staff. During the spring and summer, when it’s on the menu, I always order the seared halibut served over a salad of mixed greens, melon, and chili vinaigrette. This is such a refreshing dish when it’s 100+ degrees outside. Continue reading

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Weekly RoundUp: S’more Desserts

Baked S'mores Doughnuts

Today we’re celebrating National S’mores Day with a roundup of creative takes on this campfire classic. Grab the grahams, ‘mallows, and your choice of chocolate, and get roasting and toasting with our favorite s’mores desserts from around the Web.
  • Handle The Heat’s Baked S’mores Doughnuts stars marshmallow fluff frosting and graham cracker crumb topping atop a chocolate doughnut.
  • S’mores Oatmeal Cookies by The Roasted Root are made to fulfill your sweet tooth with oatmeal, milk chocolate, and marshmallow bites melted into every nook and cranny.
  • If you’re a fan of chocolate and pancakes, you won’t want to miss S’mores Pancakes from Live Love Pasta.
  • Cookie Monster Cooking bakes S’mores Brownies, providing a favorite summer dessert transformed with a graham cracker crust.
  • Chocolate Covered S’mores from The Wannabe Chef  are further proof that everything tastes better dipped in chocolate.
  • Homemade hand-held pastries take a new spin with Buns in my Oven’s S’mores Pop Tarts
  • S’mores Whoopie Pies from Treats and Trinkets are a guaranteed go-to recipe for your next summer bash.
     
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Food Blog of the Week: Reality Bites Cupcakes

Reality Bites Cupcakes

Name: Ashley Foxen
Blog: Reality Bites Cupcakes

Location: New York, NY

If you had to blog about one ingredient every day for a year, what would it be?
It wouldn’t necessarily be a specific ingredient, but I would want to blog every day for a year about how to work around the one ingredient that prevents certain people from enjoying my cupcakes (gluten, sugar, etc.). One of my best friends has celiac disease, and I would love nothing more than for her to enjoy one of my cupcake creations. She loves sweets, but has a difficult time finding those that won’t make her sick. Since your average cupcake recipe requires gluten products, I would want to work on finding alternative options that don’t sacrifice taste. I know the gluten-free movement is a big one right now, so I would want to work on perfecting it so I am an equal opportunity baker.

This goes for dairy products and sugar alternatives as well, especially as the rate of diabetes in the U.S. rises. It seems unfair for anyone to be the only kid at a birthday party that can’t eat the cake, so I would love to explore new and equally delicious options.

I will never eat:
I’m all for trying everything once, but eating certain furry animals would throw me for a loop. I also don’t think I could eat anything I had met. Don’t show me the chicken before I eat it. I don’t want to know!

Who would you love to have over for dinner?
I am a huge oldies fan. I can’t get enough of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, and Jimmy Durante, so I would ask Ol’ Blue Eyes over. I bake to his Pandora station, so it only seems fitting. I have a feeling dinner would be more of a liquid meal, but I can’t even imagine the stories he would have, nor would I mind if he serenaded me. Continue reading

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Weekly Roundup: Summer Squash Recipes

Summer Squash and Ricotta Galette

Summer squash is one of the season’s most versatile veggies, pairing perfectly with your choice of char-grilled meats or seafood. This week, we’re rounding up a few of our favorite ways to celebrate all things fresh and flavorful.

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