Restaurant Review Criteria

Pictures is how I do the review. Pictures of the food I order, eat and like. If I don't like it, I don't post it. Animal-Free is the primary non-negotiable criterion. Service is not what I review. If a restaurant is so dirty that I can't stand the smell of it, I'll walk out asContinue reading "Restaurant Review Criteria"

BROWNED SPAGHETTI STICKS

Browned Spaghetti Sticks For Rice Pilaf dishes 1 T. extra virgin olive oil 50 (or as many as you want) stands of dried spaghetti , broken into 4ths or 6ths Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Place broken spaghetti pieces into skillet and cook till lightly browned. Shake pan or move them around withContinue reading "BROWNED SPAGHETTI STICKS"

BLACK RUSSIAN CROUTONS

BLACK RUSSIAN CROUTONS Bakery-style black bread makes superior croutons for soup or salad. Why not give it a try next time you see some authentic Russian black bread! Makes as many as you want preheat oven to 250 degrees 1/2 loaf bakery-style Russian black bread or pumpernickel, cut into 1/2 inch cubes Place cubes onContinue reading "BLACK RUSSIAN CROUTONS"

The X-MAS TREE effect in plate presentation

When a chef is critiquing a plate of food one of the things they look for is color - all the major food colors. You get so accustomed to that x-mas tree of colors on your plate, that if one is missing you go into x-mas tree withdrawal. Oh my God, I lost the  cookingContinue reading "The X-MAS TREE effect in plate presentation"

FENNEL SEED – the perfect plant meat spice

It's not the same as star anise. It's close, or should I say star anise is close to fennel seed - a cousin, seems like the same DNA, but is it really? I mean, do I really want to be putting licorice into my savory sauces? That's what star anise is, basically, the taste ofContinue reading "FENNEL SEED – the perfect plant meat spice"

HOW TO MAKE SCORCHED RICE

SCORCHED RICE What to do with the white rice you get at a Chinese restaurant? Don't eat it there. Take it home and make a pan-fried rice dish to enjoy during the week! Makes almost 6 cups 2 T. liquid butter alternative 6 fresh sweet mini peppers, cored and cut into little chunks 2 stalksContinue reading "HOW TO MAKE SCORCHED RICE"

BROWN SUGAR SUSHI & THAI RESTAURANT

EATING OUT ANIMAL-FREE A RECENT VISIT: 13 May 2019 Brown Sugar 4 2 We had the entire restaurant to ourselves. Quiet background music, take your time attitude, no eavesdroppers or rubberneckers hanging about, nobody shouting for attention, nobody there to stage an ‘ism’ or ‘ist’ attack. Just we 2. Perfect timing. Nice. Lots of animal-freeContinue reading "BROWN SUGAR SUSHI & THAI RESTAURANT"

WHY WE COOK.

From Chef Davies-Tight: The folks over at Penzeys Spices sent me this email today 23 July 2016. It's an interesting slant on cooks. Give it a read. WHY WE COOK. Five years ago today the world lost a great talent, a great mind, and a great heart in the passing of musician Amy Winehouse at theContinue reading "WHY WE COOK."

SHARON’S ORANGE TEA

SHARON'S ORANGE TEA Vodka, Marsala wine and champagne over ice with fresh squeezed orange juice. Skewered with fresh lime and pitted sweet red Bing cherries! Cheers! Makes 1 For each Sharon's Orange Tea: tall glass with ice cubes 1 shot vodka 1 shot Marsala wine 3 shots fresh squeezed orange juice, strained to remove pulpContinue reading "SHARON’S ORANGE TEA"

BLOODY SHARONS

BLOODY SHARONS After a long day on our Saturday which is really Monday, we woke up on Tuesday, which is really our Sunday not wanting to leave the house! So we hunkered down, binged on a Narco series on Netflix and sipped on Bloody Sharons! Cheers! Serves 2 Decided to go the healthy route withContinue reading "BLOODY SHARONS"

Are cast iron pans unsafe? 

by KamalPatel  Jun 8, 2016 For well over a thousand years, cast iron has been used as a reliable cooking surface. Actually, it's been used since the appropriately named “Iron Age”, roughly 2500 years ago.Fast forward a couple millennia, and we’ve been thrust into the “Spend all day on the Internet Age”. People are starting to questionContinue reading "Are cast iron pans unsafe? "

MOSCATO GRAPE SAUCE

MOSCATO GRAPE SAUCE from SECRET ASIAN WOMAN Sauce Collection Use to sauce veggies and veg meats. Also makes an elegant salad dressing for greens, fruit and veggies! Makes 3-1/4 cups 1 lb. sweet red seedless grapes, about 2-1/2 c. 2 c. water 1/3 c. sugar 1/2 t. sea salt 1 c. Moscato wine (white semi-sweet)Continue reading "MOSCATO GRAPE SAUCE"

STRAWBERRY MUSTARD SAUCE

STRAWBERRY MUSTARD SAUCE from SECRET ASIAN WOMAN Sauce Collection A light sweet sour strawberry mustard sauce for stir-fries and veggie meats! Makes 3-3/4 cups 2 c. strawberry preserves 1 c. red wine vinegar (not Balsamic) 1 t. sea salt zest of 1 lemon 1/3 c. light brown sugar 1 T. dry mustard 1 t. gingerContinue reading "STRAWBERRY MUSTARD SAUCE"

GARLIC: POWDER vs GRANULATED

Garlic powder textures like cornstarch. Granulated garlic textures like salt, but doesn’t melt or dissolve. The finer the granulation, the better. Shop around. Most markets now carry only the granulated, yet label it as garlic powder. Ninety-nine percent of the time I use granulated labeled as powder. I know it’s confusing, but that’s what manufacturersContinue reading "GARLIC: POWDER vs GRANULATED"

MINOR’S MUSHROOM BASE

I buy Minor's Mushroom Base at Gordon's Food Store. It can also be purchased online at amazon.com and elsewhere. It's a great product that enhances the mushroom flavor of whatever dish you use it in. It's salty, because it's highly concentrated, so you don't need much. It's also gluten-free.  

HOW TO MAKE: BAKED ZITI

SHARON’S BAKED ZITI Layers of mushroom and roasted pepper garlic and fennel tomato sauce, cooked ziti pasta and Tofutti soy ricotta and cream cheese combined with cashew crumbles and flavored with herbs and white truffle oil, all topped with Italian Panko crumbs flavored, again, with white truffle oil. Baked till steamy hot! Superb, rich, light!Continue reading "HOW TO MAKE: BAKED ZITI"

BLOOD SAUCE

BLOOD SAUCE I had a hankering for the blood - yours - but knew the urge to be a displaced, misplaced, life-ending genetic marker needing repression, so instead I went for the plant - ahhh - so good to be home where I belong! Cheers! Makes 1-1/2 cups 2 T. sesame oil 1/4 c. light brownContinue reading "BLOOD SAUCE"

GRILLED ALMOND BUTTER PUB SANDWICH

GRILLED ALMOND BUTTER PUB SANDWICH Perfect blend of taste sensations. Great on all breads - even raisin. So easy, so good. Perfect Pub fare! An ice-breaker, conversational sandwich! Makes 1 or 2, depending on size of bread (square or deli size) 1/3 c. Jif Almond Butter, room temperature 3 T. chopped sweet onion 3 T.Continue reading "GRILLED ALMOND BUTTER PUB SANDWICH"

SESAME PRUNE SAUCE

SESAME PRUNE SAUCE Melt in your mouth delicious - cold or hot! Unique, intriguing, mysterious! Makes 4-1/2 cups 14 oz. can Roland's Classic Coconut Milk (high fat content is why we use Roland's - thick is what we want), at room temperature 1 c. shelled walnuts 1 t. sea salt 12.3 oz. Silken extra-firm tofu,Continue reading "SESAME PRUNE SAUCE"

SWEET MEAT SAUCE

SWEET MEAT SAUCE Secret Asian Woman Sauce. Use to sauce your veg meats, side dish veggies and stir-fries. Taste the meat of the seed! No animal here! Makes 3-1/2 cups 3 c. water 1/3 c. unsulphured molasses 1/4 c. ready-to-use chopped garlic (Gia Russa brand contains no preservatives, oil or salt) 4 T. white BalsamicContinue reading "SWEET MEAT SAUCE"

HOT AND SOUR CAULIFLOWER SOUP

HOT AND SOUR CAULIFLOWER SOUP A hot and sour cauliflower soup with spinach, leftover baked potato and carrot ribbons floating with udon Japanese noodles and cilantro oil in a white miso, garlic, coriander and smoked paprika broth! The best hot and sour soup I've ever tasted! Makes 24 cups 20 c. water 12 firmly packedContinue reading "HOT AND SOUR CAULIFLOWER SOUP"

AFC BLOOD RED ITALIAN SAUSAGE BURGER

AFC BLOOD RED ITALIAN SAUSAGE BURGER Hamburg is soft-textured. It's not hard - even when cooked. These burgers replicate that texture. Isn't it convenient to be able to take some dough from the refrigerator, form a patty and fry it? You can also bake the patties and refrigerate till ready to reheat and serve! PerfectlyContinue reading "AFC BLOOD RED ITALIAN SAUSAGE BURGER"

WILD NOODLE SOUP

WILD NOODLE SOUP A new approach to the noodle soup - the broth is in the solid ingredients. Plus meat, meat and more meat. Where's the meat? In the blackeye peas and wild rice. Animal eaters won't believe there's no animal in this soup. Plant-eaters won't believe there's no fake meat in this soup! MakesContinue reading "WILD NOODLE SOUP"

AFC VEG BLOOD BURGER

Taste The Sizzle! AFC VEG BLOOD BURGER© Great news! A homemade burger that tastes and textures just like a beef burger - blood and all! Easy to make. Fry them fresh, or bake and refrigerate or freeze. Taste The Sizzle! For meat-eaters and vegans! I'm lovin' it! Makes 7-8 cups burger dough (depending on howContinue reading "AFC VEG BLOOD BURGER"

VEG SAUSAGE & PINEAPPLE GREEK PITA

VEG SAUSAGE & PINEAPPLE GREEK PITA Fried Veg sausage crumbles, fresh spinach and fried pineapple on grilled Greek Pita flatbread spread with chipotle mayo and beer mustard! A 'take it to the bank' sandwich! Makes 1 sandwich 14 oz. tube Gimme Lean Veggie Sausage by Lightlife - break off enough for 1 sandwich, about 1/4Continue reading "VEG SAUSAGE & PINEAPPLE GREEK PITA"

Santiago Dried Vegetarian Refried Beans

Santiago Dried Vegetarian Refried Beans The package recommends 1/2 gallon boiling water per package of beans, to let set covered for 25 minutes. If you want a thinner refried bean, then increase the amount of boiling water. It's a great product. Use wherever you would traditionally use refried beans. Or get creative by adding herbs,Continue reading "Santiago Dried Vegetarian Refried Beans"

STEVE’S DERBY STEW

 STEVE'S DERBY STEW Mushroom, black bean and tomato stew with fresh garlic, white wine and cilantro. Makes 18 cups 2 T. olive oil 1 T. margarine 24 oz. fresh mushrooms (white and/or baby portobellos), washed, trimmed and quartered (if large, then cut into 6ths) 2 med. sized sweet onions, peeled, then diced into 1/2 inchContinue reading "STEVE’S DERBY STEW"

SLOPPY JOE CHILI BEAN SOUP

SLOPPY JOE CHILI BEAN SOUP A thick, fragrant, big flavor vegetable bean soup with orzo pasta. Hearty like a chili! Makes 18-1/2 cups 3 T. corn oil 4-6 sm. yellow onions, diced into ½ inch squares 4 c. fresh cut green cabbage, ¾ inch squares 1 t. salt 2, 14.5 oz. cans sliced carrots includingContinue reading "SLOPPY JOE CHILI BEAN SOUP"

TOMATO, VEGGIE, HERB AND SPICE SOUP

TOMATO, VEGGIE, HERB AND SPICE SOUP Served with orzo pasta. Simply made and simply delicious!  Grape leaves, a surprising addition. A soup designed for restaurants! Makes 32 cups 106 oz. can whole Italian peeled tomatoes in tomato puree with basil leaf; yes, you read it correctly, it’s 106 oz.  (I used San Marzano brand); cut tomatoesContinue reading "TOMATO, VEGGIE, HERB AND SPICE SOUP"

TOMATO CARROT HERB SOUP for restaurants

TOMATO CARROT HERB SOUP for restaurants Made with vegetarian beans, roasted peppers, corn and spinach. Seasoned with garlic,  basil, coriander and mint. Served with a lemon slice float! Makes 37 cups 6 lb. 6 oz. can GFS Stewed Tomatoes including liquid; remove 3-4 c. solids plus liquid from can, and blend in blender till pureedContinue reading "TOMATO CARROT HERB SOUP for restaurants"

TOMATO RICE STEW for restaurants

 TOMATO RICE STEW for restaurants with cabbage, baby carrots, baked beans and roasted peppers.  Seasoned with garlic, caraway and ginger. Sweet, tart and mildly spicy! Gluten-free and fat-free!! Makes approx. 33 cups 6 lb. 6 oz. can stewed tomatoes 1 lb. baby carrots 1 sm. green cabbage, outer leaves removed, cored and cut into 1Continue reading "TOMATO RICE STEW for restaurants"

KALAMATA RED GRAVY

KALAMATA RED GRAVY Greek olives, beets, onion soup mix, extra virgin olive oil and spices combine to create a light, salty, savory gravy that everybody will love - vegans and animal-eaters alike! Makes about 4 cups 3-1/2 c. water 1 envelope from a 2 oz. box onion soup mix (I used 4C brand) 14.5 oz.Continue reading "KALAMATA RED GRAVY"

PINEAPPLE PINE NUT DRESSING

PINEAPPLE PINE NUT DRESSING Gordon Food Store brand Pineapple Topping combined with pine nuts, cacao beans, Napa Valley Naturals Champagne Vinegar and maple syrup! Tastes like dessert. Serve over salad greens or fresh fruit! Makes approx. 4 cups 1/2 c. cacao (cocoa) beans, soaked in 2 c. water overnight, drain, reserving water 1/2 c. pineContinue reading "PINEAPPLE PINE NUT DRESSING"

ROASTED BEET BURGER

ROASTED BEET BURGERS Large roasted beets, cut into 1/2 inch steaks and served on a pumpernickel bun with veggie mayo, mustard, lettuce, Creamy Original Chao Cheese by Field Roast and Manicini Fried Peppers with Onion. A great way to enjoy a burger if you don't eat animals and can't find veggie replacement meats where youContinue reading "ROASTED BEET BURGER"

PICKLE POT BEANS

PICKLE POT BEANS Beans, sweet pickles, Black & Tan beer, prunes, fresh ginger and soy bacon combined with smoky paprika, coriander, garlic, mustard and extra virgin olive oil. Beautiful achievements of flavors and textures! Rich in all ways! Served with fresh cilantro sprigs! Makes about 15 cups 117 oz. can Bush's Bean Pot Vegetarian 1-1/2Continue reading "PICKLE POT BEANS"

SWEET VEGGIE CREME FRAICHE

SWEET VEGGIE CREME FRAICHE A simple recipe for creme fraiche using only four ingredients! You'll love it! Makes 2-1/3 cups 12.3 oz. pkg. Silken style extra firm tofu 1-1/2 c. Rich's Non-Dairy Whip Topping (it comes in liquid form) 2 T. fresh lemon squeeze 1/4 t. salt Break tofu into pieces as you place itContinue reading "SWEET VEGGIE CREME FRAICHE"

GREEN PEPPERCORN AND CAPER AIOLI SAUCE

GREEN PEPPERCORN AND CAPER AIOLI SAUCE Just Mayo Original and Chipotle flavors mixed with fresh green peppercorn, capers, extra virgin olive oil, Amore Garlic Paste, fresh lemon squeeze and garlic! Tastes better than the egg yolk based aioli! Serve as you would any other aioli. I chose steamed veggies: green beans, spinach and asparagus! Impressive!Continue reading "GREEN PEPPERCORN AND CAPER AIOLI SAUCE"

How To Make: Easy Chocolate Mousse

EASY CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Chocolate Mousse can't get easier than this. Perfect for restaurants that want to serve a small, elegant dessert, requiring little time and only two ingredients. Your dining guests won't believe this mousse isn't made from egg whites in the French tradition! Makes as much as you want Rich's Whipped Non-Dairy Topping, IContinue reading "How To Make: Easy Chocolate Mousse"

STAGES OF CARAMELIZING ONION

There are several ways to saute onions - resulting in different degrees of caramelization. The first is to fry the onion in oil and/or margarine till translucent, over medium-low heat. The onion still has firmness and is essentially a stir-fried onion, like the Chinese do. I often say in a recipe to fry till translucent,Continue reading "STAGES OF CARAMELIZING ONION"

USING FRESH TURMERIC

FRESH TURMERIC Lots of people are using fresh turmeric these days. Just as with fresh ginger vs powdered ginger, the benefits of fresh turmeric vs powdered are essentially the same. But if you worry that the powdered isn't organic and/or you just want the taste of fresh, then buy fresh. The first time I hadContinue reading "USING FRESH TURMERIC"

NEW RICE POLICY

Since reading about high arsenic levels in rice, particularly brown rice, I now rinse all bagged rice till water runs clear before cooking it. Place dried rice in wire mesh strainer. Run faucet water over rice, while holding the strainer over a saucepan, emptying pan as needed, till the water runs clear into the pan.Continue reading "NEW RICE POLICY"

SHERATON HARTFORD HOTEL AT BRADLEY AIRPORT

EATING OUT ANIMAL-FREE On a recent trip to Massachusetts I decided to stay at a hotel at the airport the night before I left, since it was an early flight out on a Monday morning and I had to be at the airport seventy-five minutes before the flight, plus the long drive to the airportContinue reading "SHERATON HARTFORD HOTEL AT BRADLEY AIRPORT"

CARAMELIZED WALNUTS

CARAMELIZED WALNUTS Easy and delicious! Walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, water, brown sugar and baking soda, cooked till caramelized and cooled till crispy! Great for topping salads or side dishes! Makes enough to top 4 salads, or side dishes 1/2 c. walnut halves or pieces 1-2 T. extra virgin olive oil 2 T. water 1/4Continue reading "CARAMELIZED WALNUTS"

How To Make: HOMEMADE ANIMAL-FREE BUTTER THAT MELTS

HOMEMADE ANIMAL-FREE BUTTER THAT MELTS Requires only 3 widely available ingredients: Roland Classic Coconut Milk, extra virgin olive oil and salt! Melts and tastes like dairy butter!  Makes a little over 2 cups 2, 14 oz. can Roland Classic Coconut Milk 1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil 1/2 t. salt Before you start you needContinue reading "How To Make: HOMEMADE ANIMAL-FREE BUTTER THAT MELTS"

MAKING CUCUMBER CANOES

The standard garden-variety cucumber is the seediest. So when you don't want the seeds to complicate the texture achievement of your recipe, you simply remove them. Peel the cucumber, then cut each end off. Cut the cucumber in half from end to end. Put one half cucumber cupped in your hand, seed side up. TakeContinue reading "MAKING CUCUMBER CANOES"

TOASTING SESAME SEEDS

Toasting sesame seeds is much like toasting coconut. It doesn't take long. Place sesame seeds in dry skillet, without overlapping much. Turn heat to low. Watch carefully for the first signs of browning, then shake skillet till most are lightly browned and the nut aroma in the air is prominent. Remove skillet immediately from heatContinue reading "TOASTING SESAME SEEDS"

SEEDING FRESH TOMATOES

Seeding a tomato actually means removing the seeds with the pulp, leaving the skin and the fleshy part attached to the skin. In other words, you don't have to pick through the pulp to remove the seeds. The pulp goes out with the seeds. Seeding tomatoes is easy to do once you do it. NoContinue reading "SEEDING FRESH TOMATOES"

PRE-SLICED MUSHROOMS

PRE-SLICED MUSHROOMS. It's always best to buy whole mushrooms and to slice your own. It's not difficult, nor does it take much time. This way you control the thickness, and if you want to cube or quarter them, you have that option. More often than not, groceries slice them too thin, then keep them tooContinue reading "PRE-SLICED MUSHROOMS"

How To Make: PICKLED ROASTED YELLOW PEPPERS

PICKLED ROASTED YELLOW PEPPERS Sweet yellow peppers roasted with extra virgin olive oil, then packed in jars with apple cider vinegar, fresh sprigs of rosemary, garlic and whole cloves. Use as a side dish condiment, on sandwiches, in salads (potato, bean, rice, pasta, greens) or in hot rice or bean dishes! Versatile and delicious! PicklesContinue reading "How To Make: PICKLED ROASTED YELLOW PEPPERS"