At our annual neighborhood Christmas party a couple of years ago, our friend Emily gave JR and me pickles. Pickles that, as our supply dwindled, caused me to ration pickle servings in our house. They were that good. Fortunately, she also gave us the recipe for the pickles (thank you, Emily!), yet, somehow, I had… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Homemade Pantry
Charcutepalooza: Corned Beef
It’s a little difficult to make corned beef look sexy, but, man, please do take a look at those potatoes. Those potatoes make everything on the platter look hot. Of course, that could have to do with just having been pulled from a pot of boiling water, I suppose. On Sunday night, we had our… Continue Reading
Charcutepalooza: Pancetta
I haven’t any idea how I’m going to break it to my friend Tiziano, from whom I normally purchase pancetta, that I will no longer include it in my standard order. Or any order, ever again, for that matter. How standard is this order, you may ask? Well, the last time I was at my… Continue Reading
Charcutepalooza: Homage to Bacon
Gauguin’s painting The Ham has hung on our refrigerator for years. Seven years, 6 months, and 10 days to be precise, as it was a souvenir from our honeymoon sojourn to the great master’s studio on a hill overlooking Aix-en-Provence. Aix’s noble lineage is clear as one walks its shade- and cafe-lined streets; stylish and… Continue Reading
Charcutepalooza: Duck Prosciutto
“Eee-yeah. You always go for that kind of stuff,” JR’s words pretty much spat out at me as he chewed – reluctantly – my first-ever duck prosciutto. JR and I have owned Michael Ruhlman’s Charcuterie for a couple of years without curing one damned thing. One week last winter, I spent nearly our entire weekly… Continue Reading