Ask Chef Phyllis: About two years ago, my company sent me to Bangkok, Thailand. Instead of the European style food that was available, I chose to enjoy local Thai foods from street vendors. Sad to say in all the specialties I tried, I only recognized the flavors of garlic and ginger in the dishes I […]
Author Archives: Phyllis Quinn
02
Jul
Jul
Ask Chef Phyllis: My parents attended the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It might have been part of a honeymoon trip that they never forgot. They both lived into their 80s and talked about the event as though it were yesterday. Their favorite memory was one of eating veal piccata with a bottle of […]
18
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis: I was at a backyard BBQ and the big news was a “beer can” chicken. Well, a few of them. They were cooked on something that looked like my mom’s angel food cake pan, but it was really just a cookie sheet and an empty tall beer can. The chicken looked ridiculous […]
04
Jun
Jun
Ask Chef Phyllis: My Sicilian mother was a great cook, but she served a lot of meals cold that Americans would serve hot—like meatloaf. On summer evenings, she served her meatloaf with hard-boiled eggs in the middle, along with a kale and bean salad. I’ve figured out how to duplicate the meatloaf. Can you help […]
Ask Chef Phyllis
Chef’s Secret to Crunchy Fish Crust: Pistachio-Crusted Salmon, Halibut, or Orange Roughy Fillets
21
May
May
Ask Chef Phyllis: My aim is to prepare fish for my family at least once a week. In the past, I tried prepared frozen flounder (I think it was flounder) or cod fish fillets coated in egg and bread crumbs, which I usually pan or deep fry. Of course, the kids really like this the […]
07
May
May
Ask Chef Phyllis: My Sundays are just as busy as the other days of the week. Is there something festive and a little bit special for the slow cooker? My family loves pork. —Charlotte Miller, Moncks Corner, SC Back in the day, a chef would be delighted to share his recipe with customers, especially if […]
30
Apr
Apr
Ask Chef Phyllis: Will the butter I make from raw cream spoil? It has an unfamiliar odor that I’m not sure I like. Is it bad or unsafe to use? —Joanna Lynch, Colorado Springs, CO No, the butter is good and usable. Many homemade butter makers let the cream sour before turning it into butter. […]
07
Apr
Apr
Ask Chef Phyllis: I often have trouble with pie crust. At holiday time, when I need pie crusts the most, I wind up buying them from the supermarket. After reading the ingredients, I’m disappointed. Can you help me make a healthier pie crust? —Patricia Schaeffer, Central Islip, New York To make a healthy pie crust, […]
24
Mar
Mar
Ask Chef Phyllis: My husband and I have been vegetarians for many years and are always looking for something new. At a Denver restaurant, we recently enjoyed a Black Bean Sweet Potato soup/stew that had a licorice flavor. We asked our waitress and she told us the ingredient was fennel. I’m not familiar with fennel. […]
10
Mar
Mar
Ask Chef Phyllis: Thinking about a menu for six to seven dinners a week gives me nightmares. Can you help with some recipes for the slow cooker that will satisfy my meat-and-potato family? — Loretta Edmiston, Riesel, Texas Yes! Here’s a French Beef Stew with Wine that feeds 4 to 6 good appetites, freezes well, […]
24
Feb
Feb
Ask Chef Phyllis: Your chili recipe got me thinking about my mom, who was a very good cook. She wrote her recipes on 3×5 cards and placed them in a wooden box that looked very old to me when I was a child. The recipe box sat on the counter next to the stove for […]
10
Feb
Feb
Ask Chef Phyllis: Valentine’s Day is special to me, but my husband is gluten intolerant. Cakes are so festive—and he loves chocolate. Any suggestions? —Loretta Spano from Port Richey, Florida How romantic to do something special for your husband! This gluten-free Chocolate Flourless Cake will make his day. Ingredients Cake 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips […]
31
Jan
Jan
Ask Chef Phyllis: I don’t like the kind of chili that restaurants make out West, with pinto beans. I’m looking for a recipe with red kidney beans that my mom used to make on the stovetop. Can you help? —Mike Corbin, Sante Fe, NM Oh, yes, I remember a huge pot of chili con carne […]