Author: icookueataz

DARK and MINTY

It combines my favorite cocktails. It starts off as a mojito and then finishes like a dark and stormy. If you served it in a copper mug, it’d be similar to a Jamaican mule (rum instead of vodka), but with mint. The fresh ginger gives it an extra kick. And I use crushed ice like …

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PIZZA on the GRILL

I’ve spent about an hour in Naples, Italy, but I spent almost that entire 60 minutes eating pizza. Actually two pizzas, and a Peroni Nastro Azzurro, from two different pizzerias. I wasn’t going to waste my time in the pizza capital of the world not eating pizza. Pizzaioli (pizza makers) in Naples turn out a …

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GRILLED AVOCADO SALAD

I eat a lot of avocado, but recently, I realized, I’ve never cooked an avocado. So I halved one, brushed it with olive oil, and put it on the grill. The result is a puffed-up version with smoky undertones, and a creamy, soft center. It’s a good way to deal with firm avocados that won’t …

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ASPARAGUS IN PHYLLO DOUGH

Back in high school, I used to get my hair cut from this guy, Roberto. When I met him the first time, he told me he liked four things: cutting hair, cooking, shooting, and showering outside. I would always steer our conversations towards the first two things, although invariably he’d start talking about how he …

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S’MORES BRUSCHETTA + MILK STOUT

S’mores bruschetta and milk stout is like a grown-up version of cookies and milk. Mmmm… 6 oz bittersweet chocolate (bar) handful of mini marshmallows 2 graham crackers, crumbled sea salt (optional) toasted bread 1. Chop the chocolate and melt over a double boiler or in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. …

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WATERMELON GRANITA with LIME SYRUP

You see a lot of granita in Sicily/Southern Italy. I ate this coffee granita right by the beach in Reggio Calabria once that was heaven. Location might have played a factor. Watermelon makes great ice because it’s mostly water… Its name don’t lie. Usually when you’re making granita, you freeze the syrup along with the …

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CHARRED CORN

2 ears of corns 1 T olive oil coarse salt 1. Preheat a grill to high. 2. Shuck the corn. 3. Rub with olive oil. 4. Grill a few minutes on each side until charred. 5. Let cool a little, and then cut off the kernels with a knife. 6. Toss with some sea salt. …

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TILAPIA with ORANGE SALSA

Being a personal chef, my grocery cart looks pretty strange sometimes for a single guy in his twenties, especially when the guy behind me is buying a couple frozen pizzas and a six pack. I was making banana nut muffins for a brunch the other day and had a lot of really brown, overripe bananas …

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GREEN-GREEN SMOOTHIE

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! So this smoothie is more of a March 18th detox drink. Lime and broccoli are both good liver cleaners. And most of us are aware of kale’s superpowers. The recipe makes two servings in case you party extra hard, or your St. Patrick ’s Day is extra lucky… I know some …

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GOLUMPKI (cabbage + beef)

Golumpki are Polish cabbage rolls stuffed with beef and rice. It’s pronounced “go-womp-key.” I’m not sure what that “L’s” doing in there. I think it’s Polish people’s way of fishing out the phonies. Now you know. This recipe comes from my Mom, who’s actually Italian, but she got it from my Grandpap on my Dad’s …

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