Extra Schmaltz!

This hearty soup can miraculously turn bits and bobs from your winter larder into a satisfying, savory meal. This is one of the few examples of cooking with pickles--don't turn your nose up! Their zingy flavor blends pleasingly into the soup and adds some delightful crunch. The soup is made with a variety of meats, especially cured ones such as ham, smoked turkey, bacon, mild salami...whatever you have on hand. You can also add uncured pork, beef, or chicken. Garnished with capers and jalapenos. Also suggested are: olives, lemon slices, pickled mushrooms, smetana/sour cream. Use 3 lb of a variety of smoked and fresh meats, such as: Cubed pork shoulder Bone-in stew beef cut, such as round or chuck Slab bacon Smoked turkey Ham hock Smoked sausage (Krakovska from Kramarczuks is good for this) 2 medium onions 3 large carrots 1 c. dill pickles, chopped 1 c. frozen green beans (optional) 4 roma tomatoes, or 1 can crushed tomatoes 1/2 c. pickled mushrooms, or fresh mus...

Hard to believe we now have 300 posts, but no potato leek soup! This soup is almost elemental in its simplicity, and is unparalleled for winter-time comfort (and thrift). My version includes bacon and omits cream. Cream has a way of killing flavor--but you can stir in a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche at the end for contrast. Delicious with cheesy toast! 1/2 lb. bacon, diced 1 stick butter, divided 4 leeks, washed and chopped 3 russet potatoes, peeled 1 large rutabaga, peeled 6-8 c. chicken stock or water 1/2 c. vermouth, divided fresh ground black pepper pinch of red pepper flakes 1 tsp. rosemary lots of salt 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar fresh parsley, minced Begin by frying the bacon in half the butter in a heavy-bottomed soup pot (or pressure cooker) with a pinch of red pepper flakes. When it is just starting to crisp, deglaze the bottom of the pot with half of the vermouth and reduce the heat. Meanwhile, clean the leeks by cutting off most of the dark gree...

There is no worthier cause for burning your tongue than biting into a twice-baked potato. They're a bit of a hassle to make, but the payoff is delicious, and makes great leftovers. They can be seasoned any way you like--this is for a bacon jalapeño version. 6-7 medium russet potatoes 3 strips cooked bacon, chopped very fine 3 Tbsp. butter 3/4 block cheddar cheese, grated and divided 1 egg 1-2 jalapeños, seeded and diced fine 3 green onions, chopped fine 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. black pepper Heat oven to 400. Wash potatoes thoroughly and prick with a fork. Bake potatoes for 40-50 minutes, or until they are tender inside.While they are still hot, cut them in half, and scoop out the insides into a bowl (hold them with a hotpad). Place the skins on a greased baking sheet. Mash the potato well, and add in the remaining ingredients (reserving 1/3 of the cheese for garnish), and mix well. Plop the mashed potato filling back into the skins, smooth down, and sprinkle with the re...

I haven't been cooking that much lately (my energies have instead been spent on pickling and preserving things), but tonight I got back into the kitchen and put together an excellent meal. Saltimbocca (literally, 'jumps in your mouth') can be made with chicken, veal, or pork cutlets, and this time I opted for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. It's wrapped in prosciutto, though I used some awesome, thin-sliced, Canadian bacon from Anoka Meats, which was surprising similar to prosciutto. The key ingredient is fresh sage, so if you don't have any just let me know and I will give you some! I have plenty in my garden. Some people add capers to the dish, some people add spinach, but I like to just keep it simple. Make it however you like. Yummy yummy! You can't see the sage, but it's underneath the outer layer of the rolls. It give the dish its characteristic flavor, which you don't taste very often. 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. chicken, veal, or pork cutlets enough thin ...

This might just be the perfect weeknight meal. Have you ever thought to yourself, "wouldn't it be awesome if there was a combination of scrambled eggs and macaroni and cheese that also contained ham and only took about half an hour to make?" Then this is the recipe for you! It's incredibly simple and deeply satisfying. Make this and a simple vegetable side and you'll be full for hours and possibly even ready to run a marathon. My version is fairly close to the original Italian style, but with more locally available ingredients. Instead of pancetta I used diced ham, and instead of romano cheese I used sharp white cheddar. Some recipes complicate things by adding peas or parsley, but really it's supposed to just be noodles, eggs, cheese, black pepper, and a little ham (you could even use leftover roast fowl instead). I'm an overachiever, so I made my pasta from scratch, but this is still totally delicious with boxed noodles. TIP: You must remember to reserv...

This summer standby is traditionally served warm. It doesn't take too many ingredients and it's a reliable crowd-pleaser. I used Yukon golds, but any waxy or semi-waxy potato would work. This recipe makes a moderate amount, and can easily be increased for more people. 2 lbs. waxy potatoes 6 strips thick-cut bacon 6 green onions, sliced thin 1 shallot, minced finely 1/4 c. cider vinegar (or more for zingier salad) 1/4 c. cold water 2-3 tsp. honey or Golden Syrup 2 tsp. whole grain mustard 1-2 tsp. black pepper 2 + tsp. salt Boil the potatoes. For the best texture, boil them whole in their skins. When they're 90% tender, remove from heat and drain. When they cool slightly, hold them in a dishtowel and peel with a paring knife. Cut into large cubes. Meanwhile, cook the bacon until mostly crisp and drain on a paper towel, reserving 2 Tbsp. of the bacon grease. (You can do this all in one skillet if it's large enough and your bacon doesn't crust onto the bottom.) Heat th...