If you have a can of cannellini beans, take a canned-bean culinary adventure with these Crispy-Crunchy Roasted Cannellini Beans. They make a delightfully noisy out-of-hand snack, as well as a scrumptious topper for salads or roasted vegetables. A word of caution. They are addictive. Enjoy within 2 hours for the most crunch. Unfortunately, after a couple of hours their crunch…
Cathy Thomas Cooks
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Award-winning mixologist Ravin Buzzell unlocks the secrets of smoke and spirits in his unique Old-Fashioned cocktail. Frisky tendrils of cherrywood smoke swirl above the glass. The gray curls hint of rye and cardamom, conjuring up an enticing mystery. He took a cocktail that originated in the 1800’s and improved it, switching it up with components that added palate and visual…
Deborah Schneider, executive chef at Sol and Solita restaurants that include locations in Orange County and Los Angeles, has written an excellent new book, “The Essential Mexican Instant Pot Cookbook” (Ten Speed Press, $19.99). It showcases the vibrant flavors of Mexican food with fresh and authentic recipes for soups, tacos, burritos and tamales, as well as side dishes, salsas and…
Yes, Cathy Thomas Drinks! One of my favorite cocktails of 2019 is the Morrigan’s Dream at the award-winning new restaurant, Fable & Spirit in Newport Beach (Lido Marina area). Mixologist Drew Coyle makes this irresistible concoction with fresh fruit juice, fresh celery juice, gin and Yellow Chartreuse. It’s bright and refreshing. Pretty too, a delicious green hue served in a…
Gratin Crush: teams butternut squash and Yukon Golds. Beyond irresistible. My gratin love started long ago in Paris. My first family meal in the home of my soon-to-be grandmother-by-marriage, I tasted my first cauliflower gratin. It was a pivotal moment. French cuisine had grabbed my palate and my imagination. How could anything taste, smell and look so delicious? There have…
Hatch chilies are such a treat. These beauties are named for the original growing area in Hatch, New Mexico. Growers say that the intense sunlight and cool nights in this valley result in a uniquely flavored chili. (The valley, which stretches along the Rio Grande’s southern-most bend before crossing into Texas and Mexico, is covered with row after row of…
Eggs Benedict with crisp prosciutto? You bet. Pour Company in downtown Fullerton offers an inviting seasonal menu of American classics as interpreted by Nick Oberlin. As executive chef-partner, Oberlin puts his signature twists on everything from Mexican Shrimp Salad – napped with a Caesar dressing spiked with poblano chilies and Cotija cheese – to Smoked Pork Belly Sliders judiciously slathered…
I dream of summertime French breakfasts, when fruit laden clafouti is often the star. The fruit – most often pitted fresh cherries or halved apricots – is baked adrift in a thick, flan-like batter. It’s pancake-y delicious. According to Paris-based cookbook author David Lebovitz, clafouti batter is based on a crêpe batter, so unlike a traditional custard, it contains some…