It’s summertime, and the living is easy. Well, that is, for some of us. In my neck of the woods, summer has only just begun, which means that family and friends will be visiting often. I can hear you saying, “What do you serve summertime guests?” And, while I do like BBQ, I get tired […]
Category Archives: Ask Chef Phyllis
28
Apr
Apr
Fifty years ago, Katharine Hepburn said, “Men and women should live next door to each other and visit occasionally.” In some circles, this idea isn’t revolutionary or new, and today the sentiment seems to be making a comeback. Is everything old new again? The subject of later-in-life relationships is so hot that it got a […]
11
Mar
Mar
Many years ago, I asked my Ireland-born mother-in-law why she didn’t make an Irish beef stew. Her answer was that beef wasn’t plentiful in County Kerry, where she grew up. They had pigs and sheep and lots of fish (which, ironically, Mary Clifford Quinn did not like.) But beef, and therefore roasts and steaks, were […]
03
Mar
Mar
It’s winter up in the Rocky Mountain highlands where I make my home. And those in the know, know that I fractured my ankle over Thanksgiving on a hike I’d completed—totally unscathed—many times. Even though I had to wear a boot for about six weeks after the injury, I took the opportunity to recover on […]
Ask Chef Phyllis
The Tale of a Woman with a Fractured Fibula, and Slow-Cooker Tips for Getting Through It
19
Jan
Jan
On a warmish, balmy Thanksgiving afternoon, I took a long hike while the turkey roasted in all of its unhurried glory. The sides—stuffing, fresh orange-cranberry relish, potatoes in ice water, ready to be boiled—were prepared the day before. This always makes the cook’s life easier on a “last minute” kind of cooking day. (But that’s […]
09
Dec
Dec
It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas…I can almost hear those soft children’s voices singing “Christmas time is near.” This one song brings so many feelings of warmth and generosity, family and friends, delicious aromas and hopes for a brighter future. Don’t you love these feelings too? This is a perfect time to begin a wonderful new […]
17
Nov
Nov
I love this time of year, when Halloween is over but before we really start thinking about the big three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Although these are festive occasions, they can also be downright hectic because they hit us in a row. But the holidays are simply the best time of year to […]
29
Sep
Sep
In my mother’s kitchen, we would put the water on the stove to cook the corn—or what my mother called “summer’s golden child”—before it was even picked. She loved corn. I can see her face and hear her voice as she said, “Shuck it outside and be quick about it.” She delighted in the gifts […]
22
Sep
Sep
One late August afternoon, with a chilly 60-degree breeze whizzing by me, I sat still, nearly motionless. I had that fall feeling. The end of summer was quickly approaching, bringing shorter days, earlier sunsets, and tighter schedules. Although I’m not a fan of endless sunlight, I do like the ease and freedom of long summer […]
30
Jun
Jun
The last recorded song by John Prine is a beautiful ballad called “I Remember Everything,” and it says a lot to me. John Prine, a man of simple words but extreme talent, reached into the hearts of so many. At the very least, I should say that I don’t remember everything, but I do remember […]
26
May
May
Sauces define French cuisine. Although there is some debate, most sources credit Auguste Escoffier as the creator of the five French “mother” sauces: béchamel, velouté, espagnole, hollandaise, and tomato. From this original list, a plethora of secondary sauces were also created. For example, tomato sauce is one of the five sauces, but its secondary daughter […]
06
Apr
Apr
I married an Irishman whose mother was from County Kerry and whose father was from Thurles, Tipperary. (Now that’s a county you’ve heard of.) I was married to my husband Bill for nearly 56 years—almost as many times as I made corned beef and cabbage for our St. Patrick’s Day tradition. Each year, I would […]
24
Mar
Mar
A few years back, I wrote about a throw down I had with the resident cook at the Covered Bridge Inn restaurant. If you remember the post, you may recall me saying that I had another story to tell about those days. So here it is—and it comes with a delicious recipe for grilled cheese. […]
11
Feb
Feb
The ultimate comfort food, soup is in the news! Whether it’s an old favorite that’s been around for years, a familiar soup with a new twist, or a beloved classic from grandmother’s kitchen, we love them all. On the home front, as we’ve been overusing our kitchens for the last ten months, soup has enjoyed […]
22
Dec
Dec
Christmas chestnuts roasting on an open fire…or right in your oven. Here’s to bringing this underused fruit/nut to your holiday table. I’m a New Yorker through and through. Though I’ve lived in Colorado for some 40 years, my East coast accent is still detectable. Back in my younger days, I’d walk to work in high […]
16
Dec
Dec
Many years ago, at a Christmas party, the hostess served a dish called Shrimp Dijon. It was delicious. I live in Chicago, and this dish is a favorite served in many restaurants, but none are as good as the first time I tried it. Not only that, but the restaurant versions had no Dijon mustard […]
24
Nov
Nov
Ask Chef Phyllis I have this problem every year so I decided to call the turkey hotline for answers. They were helpful with the cooking of the bird, but with the leftovers not so much. I like leftover turkey with dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise on a sandwich. Most often, I slice the turkey […]
21
Oct
Oct
I never could have guessed that one day I’d be writing a post while taking refuge from a wildfire at a friend’s home during a mandatory evacuation. Life has a mind of its own, it seems. But on second thought, I have made—with and without fate interfering—many of my own choices. I chose to reside […]
23
Sep
Sep
Tomatoes love the heat, and right now it seems like hundreds of small, homegrown cherry tomatoes, bursting with flavor and aroma, are growing before our eyes each day. (At least it seems like hundreds when you’re the kid picking them!) Who doesn’t love layering a thick slice of beefsteak tomato, dripping with its seeds and […]
08
Sep
Sep
The most forgettable vegetable is currently having its day in the limelight (or day in the sun, if you prefer). Kale was in, but now it’s so last year. Brussels sprouts were all the rage—but after roasting them in the oven, they gave many of us gas. (Which says more about the state of our […]