ROUND 1: Carl's Jr. vs. Popeyes Fresh off the win against Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr. now faces tough competition from Popeyes. Popeyes' Cajun Flounder sandwich is a full dollar more expensive than Carl's Jr.'s Beer-Battered fish sandwich, and that may be enough to swing favor. But Popeyes swings flavor, and clobbers Carl. Win... Continue Reading →
Icebox Cake with Ovaltine Filling
Birthdays are looking really different in 2020 for a lot of people and for me, that includes birthday cakes. I took the simple route for Paul's birthday cake this year not wanting to bake and make it as simple as possible and what's more simple than an icebox cake. I've never attempted making one before... Continue Reading →
Friday’s Fast Food Fishtacular! — Checkers Deep Sea Double
While walking around Brooklyn in January, fetching procuitto bread and bagels for Darlene, I wandered past a regional fast food chain that A) I haven't patronized, and B) had a fish sandwich. It was lunch hour and the line was modest so I decided to give their deep Sea Double a try. Like Hardee's to... Continue Reading →
Third Time’s a Charm: Pasta All’Ubriaco
Do you ever get SO obsessed with a dish that you attempt to replicate it at home? That’s what happened with me when I had one bite of pasta all’urbiaco at a local San Diego restaurant. The dish is simply pasta cooked in red wine. It’s an intense dish that’s slightly sour featuring a slight... Continue Reading →
Throw It All Together Meal: Shakshuka
If you’ve never had shakshuka, you’re missing out in a satisfying meal full of flavor. Composed of tomatoes, red peppers, garlic, feta cheese, sweet paprika, cumin seeds and eggs, this dish is well known in Israel, Africa and Middle East and usually served for breakfast. But honestly, I’ve had it for lunch and dinner. The... Continue Reading →
New Year, New Resolutions: Simmered Cod in Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Olives
My resolutions this year are similar to previous years: get fit, drink more water, see friends more often, and be a better person. Along with getting fit — a resolution that was always difficult when I was writing for Zagat — was to cook more at home. Now that my time with Zagat is over,... Continue Reading →
Holiday Baking Traditions: Mini Pecan Tarts, Spritz Cookies and Yule Logs
Every December, we fall into the most deliciously wonderful baking rut every year! It starts with Thanksgiving when I bake up a batch of mini pecan tarts, a project I always baked with my mom and is now a tradition in my tiny family. Come December, Paul and I pull out the cookie press for... Continue Reading →
Ultimate Christmas Baking: Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake)
I’ve been obsessed with yule log cakes since I was a kid looking through the Swiss Colony food catalogs. I’ve never ordered from Swiss Colony nor do I remember my parents ever ordering from them either. Regardless, I studied that catalog as feverishly as the one from Toys R Us. The jaunty decorations combined with... Continue Reading →
Alaska Part I: Paul’s Final State
Turn it back almost a year and we were prepping for Paul’s 50th birthday with a trip to Anchorage, Alaska. Then the Rover sitter lost Doctor. Between panicked calls and crying my eyes out, I somehow managed to call Travelocity to tell them about the emergency and because of the travel insurance, I was able... Continue Reading →