Ask Chef Nicole: Chicken Pot Pie...Easy Comfort Food Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Comfort Food Kid Friendly Nicole Straight November 05, 2009 A few days ago I had some puff pastry left over from one of my cooking classes, and given the autumn chill, I decided to make a chicken pot pie. I used to love these growing up, and my mother loved making them-- remove from freezer, open box and bake 40 minutes. My recipe is not quite that simple as it is made from scratch, but short of a frozen entree, this chicken pot pie is as easy as it gets. Don't be intimidated by the ingredients. The foundation for this savory baked pie is the mirepoix (diced onion, celery and carrot) which you can purchase from Trader Joe's. Now how's that for convenient? Feel free to leave out whatever veggies you don't have on hand, and don't be afraid of frozen vegetables. If you're tight on time, they can be a great shortcut. Enjoy, and watch my step-by-step video for additional cooking tips. Easy Chicken Pot Pie Read More
Wake Up to Holly’s Wickedly Plain Oatmeal Ingredients Specialty Market Breakfast Stephanie Webster November 03, 2009 I’m definitely one of those people who remain deep in a breakfast rut for an embarrassingly long period of time. For the past 2 years, it’s been Arrowhead Mills Old Fashioned Oatmeal (never instant). I get very cranky when I run out. But while stocking up last week at Whole Foods, a cute, yellow package positioned right next to my target oatmeal caught my eye. Holly’s Wickedly Plain Oatmeal. “The yummiest, healthiest, highest protein oatmeal” the package exclaimed. Could it be? I wondered. Who is this Holly and what can she possibly have done to improve oatmeal? On a whim (brave foodie that I am) and of course following careful inspection of the package (protein count, fiber, etc – okay, fine, Type A foodie that I am), I decided to give it a whirl. And I have not looked back since. Sorry, Arrowhead Mills. Read More
Resource Guide to Buying your Thanksgiving Turkey Ingredients Going Green Holiday Organic Specialty Market Thanksgiving CTbites Team November 01, 2009 Photos c/o Ekonk Hill Turkey FarmAnaliese Paik, Founder of the Fairfield Green Food Guide has compiled this exhaustive shopping guide to purchasing your free-range, organic, all natural Thanksgiving turkey. Everything you need to know about where to find the centerpiece of your holiday is here. There is no better time to aim high for superior freshness and quality in our food than when we’re playing hostess to friends and family at Thanksgiving. All eyes are sure to be on the turkey so now is the perfect time to check that most important food purchase off our to do list. If you’re like me, you are also thinking about where and how the turkey was raised and what it was fed. Well, you are in luck because there are many excellent choices of all natural, free-range, organic, and kosher turkeys available in local stores. If you are looking for extremely rare locally-grown organic Heritage Turkeys, they are available for home delivery. Choosing Heritage Breeds, which have been passed down from generation to generation because they taste good, helps preserve genetic diversity as well as American culinary traditions. Please note that the most coveted birds sell out fast. Here is a complete guide to buying your Thanksgiving turkey with brands from your local Fairfield County markets. Read More
Hummus Taste Test...Who's got the Best in FC? Ingredients Specialty Market Stephanie Webster October 30, 2009 A few weeks ago at a CT Bites editorial mtg. we got into a heated discussion regarding which brand of hummus was the best on the market. This may seem odd to some, but we are serious about our food here. Everyone had their personal favorites, and the issue could not be decided concretely by debate...there is no convincing a foodie. Chef Nicole stepped in with the perfect solution to our hummus conundrum…a humus showdown, or in practical terms a blind taste test. The editorial team loved the idea, so last week we gathered to talk shop, and more importantly, to eat hummus...lots of hummus. We tried to get a sampling from a wide range of markets, and even included a favorite Middle Eastern restaurant. Sure, we may have missed some, but here were our contenders: Hummus Showdown Contenders Read More
Halloween Recipes: Screamin’ Meanie Pulled Pork Bites Kids Bites Features Ask Chef Nicole Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight October 24, 2009 Here is yet another fun and tasty party pleaser. We have listed two techniques for the creation of this delicious dish. Your selected preparation will depend on your expendable time, and your desire for home made fare vs. store bought ingredient assembly. We made these both ways over the weekend, and you will be happy with the results either way. If you are not a regular pulled pork eater, try it. The sweetness of the BBQ sauce, and the tenderness of the slow cooked pork makes this a real treat. Technique #1 I'm short on time: Screamin’ Meanie Pulled Pork Bites (Mini corn bread and pulled pork sandwiches) Read More
Easy Halloween Party Recipes Part 1: Bloody Fingers Kids Bites Features Ask Chef Nicole Holiday Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight October 24, 2009 Halloween is around the corner, and this week, in honor of this ghoulish holiday, CT Bites will feature a daily recipe to help you plan the perfect Halloween party. These dishes are both adult and kid-friendly, and are simple time-saving delicious meals that will leave you plenty of time for dress-up. This is the first in our series, and really... what defines the real joy of Halloween more perfectly than eatable severed body parts? These "Bloody Fingers" are an updated version of a perennial favorite, pigs in a blanket. I like to use chorizo, but you could substitute chicken apple sausage or Portuguese linguica. Bloody Fingers in a Blanket (AKA chorizo in puff pastry) Read More
Soup's On!! 17 Bean & Barley Soup Mix from Trader Joe's Features Ask Chef Nicole Soups Recipe Kid Friendly Nicole Straight October 21, 2009 Soup season is upon us bringing to the table a plethora of wonderful Fall dinner options. I am always on the hunt for interesting new contenders for my weekly line-up, so I jumped on a tip from a friend who recommended that I check out the 17 Bean & Barley Mix from Trader Joe’s. The bag's ingredient list has an interesting assortment of, you guessed it, 17 types of barley and dried beans, including black eyed peas, pinto, lentils and navy. You would certainly enjoy this bean mix up straight, but I decided to throw in some added protein and a little varied flavor with the help of some smoked turkey wings, (although you could use a ham hock or bacon as well). Here’s my recipe for Hearty Bean & Smoked Turkey Soup. This soup can also be made vegetarian by omitting the turkey and using vegetable stock. It is a simple weeknight entree everyone will enjoy. Read More
An IKEA Smorgasbord...No Assembly Required Ingredients Features Specialty Market Swedish New Haven Sarah Green October 20, 2009 "IKEA, Swedish for common sense," is how the commercial goes. Yet my common sense seems to escape me while shopping there. Although the products are nifty and super cheap, it is NOT my greatest talent to build beautiful furniture from planks of wood, a package of bolts, and a direction sheet that has only arrows as its vocabulary. Yet back I go, trip after trip, filling my cart with baskets of every size, shape, and dimension and spectacular flower-shaped light bulbs that may or not fit in American lamps. "What’s the sense?" I have asked many times. Now I know. It’s all about the sense of TASTE- The IKEA food mart rocks! Tack sa mycket, (thank you) Bjorn! Now I must confess, I lived in Stockholm for years so my taste for things Swedish is admittedly subjective. So, to be fair and unbiased in writing about the food, I decided to have a Smorgasbord with my Westport peeps so they could tell me their unadulterated opinions. Here's how it went down: Read More
Wine Chat: Wine Pairings for Fall Flavors Ingredients Features Darien Fairfield Ridgefield Specialty Market Westport Wine Chat CTbites Team October 19, 2009 Fall is here. And beyond the obvious weather changes: frost alerts, foliage color and the end to most farmers’ markets, there are other exciting changes in the lives of wine enthusiasts: Fall marks the start of the red wine drinking season! Sure we drink red wine in the Summer, but enthusiasm for the darker reds is tempered by the weather, and the kind of red wine experiences that appear easily from a slight chill in the air can at best be forced in the heat of outdoor dining. But as the leaves start falling and people begin to spend more time indoors, out comes the Le Creuset for stews, Emile Henry for roasts, the cast iron skillets for, well, that restaurant style pan seared rib eye. We all know that wine is made for food – and Fall food is made for red wine. So, here, in an inaugural ditty on wine in CT Bites, we wanted to share with you not only our unfettered enthusiasm (break out the mandolines – we’re talking the kitchen variety not featured instrument in Rod Stewart’s Maggie) for the high season of food and wine with some recommendations about what to try and buy across the next few months leading up to Winter. (See our local resource guide with recommendations below.) Read More
Yumnuts Cashews: Have You Said Yum Today? Ingredients Deanna Foster October 19, 2009 When you walk into a company that makes a product called “Yumnuts”, it’s tempting to joke about the name. But on a recent visit to Yumnuts Naturals’ office in Norwalk, it was apparent that these guys are serious about their nuts. See, I had to do it, but all kidding aside, the makers of Yumnuts want to know if you’ve said “yum” today? If not, they have just the cashew for you. In fact, they have six: Toasted Coconut, Honey, Chocolate, Spicy Cajun, Sea Salt and Hot Chili Lime. If you’re in the mood for something savory, go for the Spicy Cajun, a hit among four discerning CTBites tasters. We also loved the Chocolate Cashews, which are dusted in cocoa powder – no heavy milk chocolate coating here - and the Toasted Coconut, which are brushed with a subtle but satisfying coconut powder. If you’re drinking a Margarita, toss that slice of lime and reach for the Hot Chili Lime Cashews instead; they pack almost as much punch as the tequila. And, to give equal and deserving credit to the other flavors, the Honey Cashews have a teasingly light taste of honey and the Sea Salt flavor will please purists who need just a hint of salt and a lot of cashew flavor. Read More
Ask Chef Nicole: Quick & Easy Mini Meatloaves Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Comfort Food Kid Friendly Nicole Straight October 16, 2009 Sometimes the meatloaf can be a daunting dinner entree...not because it is difficult to prepare, but because it is lacking visual appeal when sliced table-side. In thinking about how to make the meatloaf a more attractive kid-friendly entree, I decided to pull from my arsenal the kitchen pan most pleasing to the under 12 set...the muffin tin. Recreated in smaller, (and dare I say cuter) rounds, this classic comfort food is both delicious and healthy, especially with the added vegetables sneaked in the mirepoix base. (Hey, if Reagan was able to count catsup as a vegetable, I'm counting carrots, celery and onion.) If you are somebody who purchased those ridiculous brownie pans to maximize the crispy edges, you will love these. Enjoy! Watch Chef Nicole's step-by-step video for proper mini meatloaves preparation. Read More
The Fresh Market Opens in Westport Ingredients Specialty Market Spices Westport Stephanie Webster October 14, 2009 The much anticipated Fresh Market opened today in Westport (despite the picket lines) not with the ceremonial ribbon cutting, but a Parmigian cheese cutting as is customary for Fresh Market store openings. The arrival of this North Carolina based grocery chain promises to do much to revitalize both the old Shaw's shopping center and our daily shopping routine. The physical space and the products they carry feel like a breath of fresh air, and I haven’t encountered such friendly executives and staff since I lived on the West Coast. Granted it was opening day, but employees stood ready in each aisle anticipating your every need and every question--often offering you something delicious to eat. The atmosphere is comfortable and warm, almost like a European general store, but the best part (even better than the fact that they walk you to your car) is the quality and diversity of the product lines. I have spent my life driving between Whole Foods for my higher end specialty items, and then high-tailing it, often in traffic, to Stop & Shop for my basics (maximizing my carbon footprint). The Fresh Market fees like a higher end shopping experience, but it also carries standard grocery store items. Read More
Halloween Party Recipes Part 2: Caramel Popcorn Balls Kids Bites Features Ask Chef Nicole Holiday kids activity Kid Friendly Dessert Nicole Straight October 14, 2009 What's a party without the popcorn? These sweet and salty treats are always a favorite (remove spiders before eating). This recipe lends itself nicely to child participation...as long as they don't mind getting a little sticky. To amp up the gruesomeness, melt some white chocolate in the microwave or over a double broiler and add 2-3 drops of red food coloring. Then drip the "blood" over the finished popcorn balls. For a more savory snack, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the caramel. Caramel Popcorn Balls Read More
Don't Miss the Fall Bounty @ Your Local Farm Stand Ingredients Specialty Market Farm Fresh CTbites Team October 06, 2009 We Fairfield County residents are uniquely lucky to have access to beautiful fresh local produce thanks to the labors of our farmers and businesses that support them via independently run farm stands. Do yourself a foodie favor and make one of these farm stands a destination this week and greet the farmer or owner by name. You’ll be surprised and delighted at your experience and wonder why you haven’t visited before. I know what you're thinking...more apples...no thanks. Read on and see what is available from the farm these days. You will be amazed by the bounty and variety. Most farm stands close after the first hard frost, so get it now while the gettin’s good. Read More
El's Kitchen Seasonings: Versatile Dry Rubs 6 Ways Ingredients Spices Deanna Foster October 05, 2009 I followed my nose at the Blues and BBQ Festival in Westport last weekend, moving in many directions from one flaming grill to the next, when amidst all the smoke, one flavorful bite of spice rubbed grilled chicken stopped me in my tracks. The scent did not lie; the taste did not disappoint. The chicken was grilled with El’s Kitchen Chicken and Pork Medium Spicy Dry Rub and Seasoning Mix. The small sample was so flavorful; I bought a jar on the spot. Home cooking proved the tastiness could be achieved without festival accoutrement, and I called Eleanor Smith, the owner and the “El” of El’s Kitchen, who lives in Weston to learn more about her products. Read More
From the Farm to Your Door: CTFFE Delivers Ingredients Delivery Service Organic Farm Fresh Deanna Foster October 01, 2009 What would you say if you could support Connecticut farmers and small business entrepreneurs, reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy a wide variety of locally grown, farm fresh food with just a few clicks of your mouse? “Bring it on!” comes to mind. Which is just what I did when I heard about CT Farm Fresh Express. This wonderful service recently arrived in Fairfield County, bringing Connecticut grown produce, meat, dairy, baked goods and other products right to your front door. Now, you can leave the shopping and the driving to Deb Marsden, who began her service, CTFFE, in February ’08 Read More
This Meal's on Wheels: Big Green Truck Pizza Features Catering Pizza Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster September 30, 2009 It was a sunny September morning, and I was headed to Orange CT for a hot date at a golf tournament. No, this was no golf pro - I was meeting up with the cooking team of The Big Green Truck Pizza. For those unfamiliar with this meal on wheels, The Big Green Truck is a stroke of catering brilliance…a vintage truck outfitted with a wood fire brick oven that goes where the party is. Not only do they serve up a meal that pleases every age, but the food prep stays out of your house - no fuss; no muss. And if this is not enough, there is the entertainment factor of watching a team of three construct up to 60 pizzas an hour and toss them into a fiery furnace. Pizza, salad, gelato from Gelateria Giuliana (a local fave)…perfect party pleaser. On the day I visited, they were serving up some of their renown New Haven-style brick oven pizza near hole #5 at the Orange Hills Country Club. Read More
Ask Chef Nicole: Healthy Mac n' Cheese with Prosciutto Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Comfort Food Kid Friendly Stephanie Webster September 30, 2009 Last week I dragged my kids over to Chef Nicole's house on a quick errand, and this dish was cooling on the kitchen counter. It looked decadently delicious. She claimed it was healthy. I grabbed a fork and dug in with my kids close behind with utensils of their own. Everybody agreed this was a keeper in the weekly repertoire. Now, when the kids beg for mac n' cheese, I whip out this recipe. The skim mozzarella and low-fat milk take the guilt out of an ordinarily heavy dish, and you'd never know the fat was missing. And doesn't Proscuitto make everything taste better? No more boxes...or pretty much. Try it with your family. Let us know what you think. (Healthy, but don’t tell the kids) Macaroni and Cheese with Proscuitto Read More
It's All Greek To Me @ Steve's Market in Norwalk Ingredients Greek Norwalk Specialty Market Jenny Vynerib September 24, 2009 When I decided to throw a Greek-themed dinner party, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find my stuffed grape leaves, taramasalata, and fresh feta in Fairfield County. Ye of little faith. After doing a little research, I found a place that sounded promising on Main Street in Norwalk called Steve’s Market. Filled with imported Greek produced specialty grocery items, prepared foods, religious relics and wonderful baked goods – Steve’s couldn’t be more authentic. It was like walking into a little shop on a side street in Athens, Greece. Little did I know that after one visit to Steve’s, it would become one of the stores on my “weekly visit” list. Read More
Chef Nicole: Asian Pear Caramelized Onion Flatbread Features Ask Chef Nicole Recipe Farm Fresh Nicole Straight September 23, 2009 You know what happens when you go fruit picking. You come home with 10 pounds of fruit hoping your neighbors will want to go halfsies. What is one to do with all those pears and apples? Here is one idea from Chef Nicole: We went fall picking last week and had a lot of Asian pears. These happen to be one of our family's favorite fruits and they can be hard to come by in the market, not to mention extremely costly. Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, has rows and rows of these delicious fruits available for picking now. It is worth the drive to this lovely orchard to pick these uniquely sweet, crunchy, delicious pears. They will quickly become one of your favorite snacks. Pick some extras to make these flatbreads. I made them for some friends and we devoured them with some nice cold white wine. It's a delicious and beautiful dish that can be made in a snap with a few little grocery shortcuts. Asian pear, Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese (or Goat Cheese) Flatbread Read More
