10 Pantry Staples

There are certain foods I always keep in my pantry because they always help  me whip up a delicious last minute meal

1 - Dried Mushrooms

These are fantastic for a last minute dish. They add depth to just about anything. Stew, pastas, gravy, a roast, - you name it. There are a bunch of varieties but I always get porcini’s and if I’m really getting crazy with myself: morels.

2 - Vanilla Beans

Yes, they are expensive but a little goes a long way with these gems. They are perfect to perk up any dessert or fruit salad. A must for any kitchen.

3 - Sea Salt

Thanks to the good ol’ iodized salt we all grew up with, cases of goiters and thyroid gland problems have significantly dropped over the years…and we are all thankful. However sea salt is much more flavorful and you tend to use less of it. I’m not saying get rid of the trusted salt you use. Just try this one as well

4 -  Curry

Curry powders can add so much zing to a boring chicken/beef stew - they are worth picking up at the store. Curries usually include  - but are not limited to - turmeric, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, and red pepper. If you are one of those 10 people in the world who hate curry (and my father is one of them) you may skip this but if you are just not familiar with curry - try it.

5 - Lemons

I always get lemons every time I go food shopping and I am STILL always out of them at the end of the week. Lemons and limes add freshness to so many things: meat, poultry, fruit, vegetables, beverages, etc. Fresh lemons are much better than those ‘lemon in a jar’ bottles. Call me crazy but those bottles always taste like chemicals to me.

6 - Herbes de Provence

I’ll admit - this one can be a little costly. But its worth it in my opinion and it should last you a long time. It consists of lavender, savory, fennel thyme, and rosemary. If you are big into roasted chickens this is a must. It’ll perk up your chicken salads, roasted chicken breasts, grilled fishes, veggie stews, etc.

7 - Mustard

I’m not talking French’s Yellow Mustard - although there is nothing wrong with that. I love classic yellow mustard on hot dogs and sandwiches. But a really nice mustard  — whether its dijon (my personal fav) honey, whole grain, french/english, horseradish, chinese, or polish — can do wonders for homemade vinaigrettes, marinades, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, and glazes. Open yourself up to the wonderful world of the mustard seed.

8 - Garlic Powder

Ok, this one is almost a given but it needs to be mentioned. I’m Italian and my husband is half Puerto Rican. We use garlic powder ALL the time. Its not a replacement for fresh garlic and you shouldn’t use it as such. I do use it as a substitute for salt in mariandes, stews, dressings, rubs, etc. Always a necessity.

9 - Vinegars

I love using a dash of vinegar in many of my dishes. Whether its Apple Cider, Malt, Rice, Balsamic, or Wine, you can use them to season veggies, for mariandes, salad dressings, sauces, deglazes for gravy, etc.

10 - Low Carb Pasta

There are many nights when I don’t feel like having a  heavy meal or its late and I don’t feel like going grocery shopping. Low Carb Pasta is great for nights like these , it takes minutes to whip up and can go with anything. You can make a pasta sauce from just about anything you have laying around your house .

My One on One with Jacques Torres

Ok - maybe the title is a bit misleading. I did meet Jacques Torres - in fact I’ve met him twice - but I’ve never really sat down and talked to him. No one on one interview…as of yet. This brief blog is about the best hot chocolate I have ever had in my entire life.

I was getting an emergency passport (again) since I had lost mine and was about 10 days away from  flying to Montreal on business. The stress of taking a day off to get my passport and the possibility of leaving the country in less than a fortnight without one was working me up, so I decided to hit up the Jacques Torres Chocolate place on 350 Hudson (conveniently around the corner from the NY Passport Agency) to soothe my aggravated soul. It was 9:30am so I couldnt indulge too much. I have a strick policy of no truffles before noon - once you start down that path it’ll only end up with you eating a bag of a potato chips, 1/2 lb of prosciutto, and a cup of ice cream for dinner.

Anyway, I walked in and did my typical look around the store. It was completely empty — then again it was 9:30am on a Tuesday. I ordered my wicked hot chocolate to the guy behind the counter without really looking at him. It wasn’t until I heard in a French accent “Of course miss….brisk out today isn’t it??” did I realize it was Jacques Torres MAKING MY hot chocolate. Needless to say it was a perfectly balanced cocoa with a hint of spice…just how I like it. I have a lot of respect for a man who still works his stores by his lonesome at 9:30am even after all his success. Kudos Jacques!!

So next time your in the neighborhood (either DUMBO or Hudson) stop on into his place. Who knows, he might just be the one making your hot chocolate.

Location:
350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston)

Store hours:
Mon - Sat 9:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm

Luscious Lemonade

 My husband isn’t one for soda so we rarely have it in the house. He does love iced tea and lemonade so I usually mix him up an Arnold Palmer using the below lemonade recipe and some San Benedetto Lemon Iced Tea. Its a fantastic mix. Enjoy!

Ingredients

3 large lemons

4 cups water

1/4 cup Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice

3/4 cup of sugar

1 dash of Fee Brothers orange or rhubarb bitters

Cook water, sugar, and lime juice in a small pot on low. After sugar has dissolved, take the mixture off of the heat and squeeze 2 lemons into the pot. Cut the last lemon into the thin slices and put into a 4 cup mason jar. Add bitters in the lemonade pot, mix lightly, and pour into the mason jar with the lemon slices. Refrig overnight or for at least an hour.