Cardoons, cardi or cardone, have a rich artichoke flavor with a hint of lemon. Typically this Italian vegetable is a Winter vegetable, although they also grow well through May, June, and July. A cardoon, which is essentially a giant thistle, looks like a bunch of oversized, beat-up celery stalks. The stalks happen to be a naturally occurring form from […]

This low-fat recipe is ideal for those who crave deep fried foods. Add a salad and top it with a few sticks of polenta, the perfect pairing. Parmesan cheese gives this low-fat recipe the extra kick that it deserves. INGREDIENTS 1 cup polenta 2 cups fat-skimmed chicken broth 1 cup water 1/2 cup evaporated nonfat […]

Some of the most creative new minds in the kitchen and the most exhilarating new voices in food writing come from the world of blogs. Michael Natkin, creator of the wildly popular Herbivoracious.com, indisputably fits both of those descriptions. In Herbivoracious: A Vegetarian Cookbook for People Who Love to Eat, Natkin offers up 150 exciting recipes (most […]

The Gardener & the Grill: The Bounty of the Garden Meets the Sizzle of the Grill By Karen Adler and Judith Fertig The $20 softcover from Running Press is user-friendly with easy-to-follow recipes and gorgeous full-page photos. Authors Karen Adler and Judith Fertig are longtime gardeners who stress that grilling makes their fresh foods tasty […]

Wagshal’s Delicatessen Special Cheese for the month of May {2012}. No party or gathering is ever truly complete without snacks and Boursin Garlic Herbs Cheese is the perfect spread for any occasion. Boursin is a wonderful brand of authentic French cow’s milk cheese that no sensible cheese snob would turn down. This creamy rich cheese […]

Turkey Caprese Sandwich INGREDIENTS Ciabatta roll, split Olive oil 1 thin turkey cutlet Coarse salt and ground pepper Mozzarella, thickly sliced Tomato, sliced Fresh basil leaves PREPARATION Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush split roll with oil and toast on grill. Season turkey with salt and pepper, brush with oil, and grill […]

Risotto is a good and simple staple to have in your recipe repertoire. Ready in 30 minutes or less. INGREDIENTS 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 green onions, chopped 1 cup Arborio or sushi rice 2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 2-in. pieces 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 […]

Peeling and Trimming Fat Spears: A vegetable peeler is just the tool. Lay a spear on a flat surface. Hold the tip of the stalk and, starting an inch or so below the tip, peel the thin skin from the spear. There’s often more edible spear below the breaking point, so we peel fat spears first […]

INGREDIENTS 1 lb. Wagshal’s Wild Alaskan Halibut Unbleached White Flour Sea Salt White Peppercorns Extra Virgin Olive Oil White Wine ½ cup Water 2 Leeks, washed, trimmed and sliced into half moons 1 Shallot, peeled, trimmed and sliced thinly 2 Scallions, washed, trimmed and sliced thinly 1 handful Spinach, washed and stems removed 2 cloves […]