REMINDER NEW WEBSITE. STOP LOOKING AT THIS ONE OR ELSE…

If you subscribe to this blog please feel free to go over to my new website, full with new camera pictures, at www.yieatn.com. I am currently having issues getting the new subscription working from here to the new site so please try to sign up again  on my new site and I will try to get you updates as soon as possible.

thanks!

BIG NEWS. Y-I-EAT-N HAS CHANGED WEBSITES

Starting today I have started posting from a newer and more updated website at www.yieatn.com. The site is still in the works but I will not be posting on here any longer. The new site makes me feel like I actually have some sort of clue to what is going on in social and digital media. Thanks to my genius computer whiz roommate Sean the new site offers users to retweet posts, link to their facebook, and even everyones favorite, wait for it… like button option for facebook. So head on over there and check out the new site. Business cards and new camera are on their way!

Breakfast of Champions

When it comes to breakfast I always feel as though there is a split between getting stuff like bacon, eggs, cheese, home fries, you know, all the heavy stuff, and the more fruit and starch based stuff such as pancakes, waffles, fresh strawberries, and so forth. I tend to lean towards the former but sometimes find my stomach wondering what the hell I was thinking eating all of that bacon. I try to eat a fresher and lighter breakfast when possible as my day seems to flow much better when I do.

This morning I woke up at good friend Joel and Ashley’s house on the couch not exactly remember how and when I passed out. We spent the night cooking and I showed them how to make all kinds of good stuff which will be on an upcoming post. For breakfast we were both feeling a little beat from the heavy beer drinking and massive food eating so we decided to try something a little bit “lighter”. We took some blueberry scones with a little fresh fruit and topped that all off with some homemade maple syrup whipped cream, cinnamon, and apple cinnamon cheerios to add a little crunch. While enjoying this refreshing breakfast I found myself wondering why I don’t lean towards the fruit and fresh pastry breakfast more often, but then I remembered that I have no schedule whatsoever and usually eat whatever I am working on that day be it bread, pizza, sushi, or even pulled pork.

Blueberry Scone with Fresh Strawberries and Blueberries. Topped with Maple Syrup Whipped Cream and Apple Cinnamon Cheerios

Chef Brother

My brother and I have been cooking together, and apart, for years. Starting next week he will be graduating from college and embarking on his own adventures as a personal chef and caterer. Since he will be residing back and forth between our Philadelphia home and our parents newly acquired house at the Jersey Shore (not the tv show), we decided to combine forces whenever we book a big gig. This will allow us to take on more clients and bigger jobs whenever needed. Below are a few pictures of his incredibly delicious food and yet another reason why I can’t wait for my new camera.

No, he does not cook dog, no reason to fear, I just wanted to show you Louie, my brother and his roommates awesome Pit Bull.

Nice Chops

Do you ever feel as though there are certain things that you will never order on a menu simply because you haven’t been exposed to them and are not willing to take the risk? That is how I have always felt about pork chops. I hear great things about them, they look delicious, but I never had that driving urge to eat or cook with them, until now.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to stumble upon some thick-cut, bone-in, pork chops. I decided to stuff them since I didn’t have too much time to cook the dish and wanting things to go quickly. I took some of the freshly made jalapeno cheddar corn bread and mixed that in with some sauteed onions and peppers and some stock to make a hearty stuffing with a bit of a kick. After stuffing the chops, I sauteed them quickly in a pan with some oil and then threw them in the oven at 350ºF to finish the cooking process. I topped the whole thing off with a honey balsamic dijon dressing tossed in some fresh arugula. The balsamic played extremely well with the juiciness and consistency of the pork. Next time I get lucky enough to go out to a restaurant, I will be ordering the pork chops.

Pork Chop Stuffed With Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Bread Stuffing. Honey Balsamic Dijon With Arugula

Cornbread Problems

For some reason I have never been able to make a really good cornbread. It always turns out okay but being a huge cornbread lover I am never left fully satisfied. Even Boston Market’s cornbread, from what I remember years ago, is better than all of my failed attempts.

Today I tried to make a Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread, and in keeping with my tradition, it was just okay. So what do you do with 12 cornbread muffins? Find ways to make them delicious of course. Breakfast kept playing over in my head, cornbread really felt as though it was something that would work well with eggs, sour cream, and ham, and so I went to town.

Stuffed Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread with Ham and Eggs. Topped with Coleslaw, BBQ Sour Cream, and Ketchup.

How Things Work Out

I didn’t plan on doing much cooking friday but when a friend called me and said that her date who was supposed to take her to KFC (expensive date) flaked out, all I could find myself saying was “If you buy the chicken, I’ll fry it”. Fried chicken holds up much better in the old stomach when you make it at home and when you are not eating two pieces of it sandwiched with bacon and cheese (new crazy KFC creation).

Since I already had the oil ready I made a quick attempt at my first falafel experiment and boy did I fail. Not paying much attention to the making of the falafel, I did not make them dense enough and so when I dropped 4 falafel balls into the oil and went to fish them out after a minute, they literally disintegrated. After adding bread crumbs and flour I was able to get a strong enough consistency to hold up in the hot oil and made a great tahini sauce to go with them.

Falafel on Challah with Tahini. Buttermilk Chipotle Friend Chicken with Rosemary Fries and Buttermilk Ranch.

Challah At Cha Boy

Literally a Two Foot Long Braided Challah

I attempted my first Challah a few days ago. Challah is a traditional Jewish bread that is honestly in my top 3 favorite breads and one of the few Jewish foods that I do in fact crave. The recipe that I was using was directly from the bread book that I have been speaking of and it did not disappoint. Oddly enough my neighbors, a Hasidic jewish family just had a baby tonight, coincidence, or, wait for it, sign….? I am going to bake them a loaf of challah and take it over as a congratulations.

They have always been a really nice family, always inviting me to their wild sounding Shabbat parties. The day I met them I learned the hard way that a married Hasidic woman cannot touch another male when I tried to shake her hand and say hello. She nearly slammed herself into the wall behind which she was standing to avoid skin contact with me. Lesson learned, but it did bring up an interesting thought. What if I was part of some other religion in which I was required to shake any married females hand upon meeting them. Would I have to chase her down saying “you don’t understand I have to do this!” Who wins in that situation? Would I go to hell for not getting the official shake?

Luckily for me, I am part of no such religion, but I do still feel the urge to bring them some fresh baked Challah. Will they enjoy it? Will they even accept it? “No sorry we only eat fresh Rabbi blessed Challah, not conservative Jew from the main line hand made Challah”. I kid.

Flash forward to yesterday. I went to give them the Challah. “Oh that is so sweet of you but we only eat food that is prepared kosher in our own home”. Dang it, I had a feeling that would happen. Oh well, I was able to deliver Challah to a few friends in the building and give some to the ladies that work at Whisk. If you live around Williamsburg, NY, and are looking for a good place to get some kitchen supplies, stop by Whisk on Bedford Avenue between N5th and N4th.

Asian Fusion

I was sorting out some of my pictures and stumbled upon a few shots from one of my past ladies night parties. I had posted the menu up about a month ago, it was all Vegetarian Asian fusion food.

Buffalo Kimchi and Cucumber Rolls with Honey Blue Cheese

Fried “Calamari” Napa Cabbage Salad with Sweet Chili Vinaigrette

Spinach and Artichoke Dumplings with a Tamarind Soy Dipping Sauce

Thai Peanut Noodle Salad Spring Rolls with Feta Pesto and Garlic Spicy Japanese Mayo

Reminders

Israeli Curry Soft Pretzels

Few quick reminders and updates.

• You can subscribe to get updates on new posts by clicking on the right hand side of the post.
• I am still very much so delivering lunches/food for the week to anyone around the NYC area (most places) and am happy to do it weekly or just as a one time gig. If you happen to have a week where you know you are going to be stuck in and want some good home cooking, let me know. Everyone who has had some home delivery has really seemed to enjoy the food.
• I have a lot of free open dates to cater your events, parties, birthdays, cocktail hours, film shoots, networking events, etc. And with my incredibly talented brother graduating from college in a week, I will have extra hands to throw much larger events.
• Send in your recipes, needs, wants, thoughts. If you have any ideas, are looking for recipes or need tips on anything food related, do not hesitate.
• If you are reading this post than this site is for YOU, don’t forget it.