{Things I Love} :: Summer 2016

My {Things I Love} list is back for Summer 2016 with some fun and interesting objets de desir, places, people, books, recipes, photography, food and drinks that I’m currently crushing on – not necessarily ordered in terms of my favorite – but are all worthy of a huge shoutout for their awesomeness in my opinion. Something that I love but could not add to the list, is playing videogames and using ELO BOOSTING services, but anyways, here’s the list, until next time, Happy End of Summer, and Bon Appetit!

fresh fish cookbook

Fresh Fish Cookbook

Jennifer Trainer Thompson‘s new cookbook has gorgeous photography, amazing seafood recipes and great stories of her living along the New England coast, all the while demystifying how to cook fish simply and deliciously. You’ll find recipes for soups and chowders, shellfish, fish entrees, side dishes, desserts and beachy cocktails for your next Summer seaside feast.

Jennifer is the author of over 20 books, a self-professed hot sauce maker and chicken chaser, and author of the blog Jump Up and Kiss Me, where you can find more of her food stories and recipes.

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https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Fish-Fearless-Grilling-Shucking/dp/1612123376

coconut rose petal ice cream

Coconut and Rose Petal Ice Cream w/ Cardamom Crumble

Not only is this a beautiful Summer dessert, it’s vegan, made with coconut milk and vanilla, fresh rose petals and a cardamom and oats crumble topping.  A dream come true.

Linda Lomelinos of Call Me Cupcake Blog

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Ken & Cook NYC

It’s currently #NYCRestaurantWeek, and we all know what that means. Bingeing on some of the most delicious food and drinks in NYC, without guilt of course, at $42 per person for dinner and $29 per person for lunch including appetizers, entree and dessert. I recently visited Ken and Cook with a friend for dinner the other night and I had a glorious feast of Ahi Poke Tuna, Seafood Ceviche, Filet Mignon with Basil Pesto Mashed Potatoes with a Chocolate Lava Cake w/ Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Tiramisu for dessert. With unlimited Prosecco on the house, at that. The atmosphere was lovely, the staff super attentive and gracious. In a great location in SoHo on Kenmore Street at the best table in the house. Must try – 100% delicious!

http://www.kenandcook.com

nora luther

Nora Luther Food Photography

Being a food stylist and photographer myself, of course I’m obsessed with all things food photography. I discovered Art Director Nora Luther’s food photos from another food blog I visit frequently and was blown away by her photos of food literally flying in the air.  So creative and very cool way to present food in a unique way.

blackberry crostata

Blackberry Chocolate Italian Tart with Coffee Creme Fraiche

OK. I absolutely love fruit tarts in the Summer. But blackberries and chocolate in a whole grain coconut flour crust? Topped with coffee infused creme fraiche? And what a gorgeous presentation at that, by Valentina of Hortus food blog. yes, please. 

pereg flours

Pereg Gourmet Alternative Flours

We all know that gluten-free is all the rage, and Pereg Gourmet just launched a new line of alternative flours this year to give consumers more cooking and baking options for gluten-free diets. They have 6 new varieties including Almond flour, Banana flour, Buckwheat flour, Chickpea flour, Coconut flour and Farro flour. All are gluten free except for the Farro, and are 100% natural, non-dairy and certified kosher. I was fortunate enough to get some samples myself, so it’s time to experiment with some fun recipes for Fall – hmmm, I’m thinking pizza, tarts and pies, homemade pasta..let’s see what I can come up with – stay tuned!

fried chicken gravy poutine

Fried Chicken and Gravy Poutine

O.M.G. – 5 words: fried chicken. gravy. fries. cheese curds. BACON. #yum

http://realfoodbydad.com/fried-chicken-and-gravy-poutine/

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The Capital Grille #GenerousPour Summer Promo

My friends and I visited The Capital Grille the other night on 42nd St in NYC to take advantage of NY Restaurant Week (yes, once again!) and to partake in their #GenerousPour Summer promo. For only $28, were able to taste a variety of 3 whites and 3 reds, handpicked by The Capital Grille to accompany our dinner menu. We had the Clam Chowder (super good!), Dry Aged NY Strip and Grilled Shrimp, Beef Tournados, and Pan-Seared Salmon (all amazing!) with Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes (to. die. for.) and an amazing Creme Brûlée (my favorite!!) for dessert.

My favorite wines were the Provenance Sauvignon Blanc from Napa CA, and the Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry Cabernet (a bordeaux blend), also from Napa. We managed to stay for a few hours with full bellies and lots of generously poured vino and escaped for less than $100 each, including tip. Now that’s a delicious steal.

http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/events/the-generous-pour-wine-tasting

peach burrata salad

Peach Burrata Salad

This fresh summer salad is the perfect recipe for a light lunch or side dish for dinner. The saltiness of the prosciutto with the subtle heat of the red onion and the creaminess of the burrata is a seriously magical combination. And it’s stunning to look at too, is it not? I’m thinking a side of sparkling rose would just top it off beautifully.

http://www.designlovefest.com/2016/08/peach-and-burrata-salad/

french country cooking cookbook

French Country Cooking Cookbook

Another lovely cookbook from one of my favorite food bloggers, Mimi Thorisson of Manger. Filled with gorgeous as ever French styling and recipes and photos that will make your mouth water and wish you too were living in the countryside of France. Available Oct 25, and for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online…can’t wait to get my hands on it!

lobster tails

Lobster Tails with Mojo de Ajo & Grilled Corn Salsa

I love anything grilled, and this recipe absolutely screams Summer. Grilled lobster tails with garlic, chipotle, cilantro and lime marinade and a side of grilled corn salsa with more spicy flavors like jalapeño, onions, and basil. Sounds divine. Must make tonight.

http://www.upcloseandtasty.com/blog/2014/july/lobster-tails-with-grilled-corn-salsa

caprese mac and cheese

4 Cheese Caprese Mac and Cheese

O.M.G. Pasta. Heirloom tomatoes and basil. All baked into a bubbly pot with 4 melty cheeses – cheddar, havarti, mozzarella and brie. Tieghan from Half Baked Harvest does it again. Gorgeous and delicious as always.

 

Homemade Spring Fettuccine with Pancetta, Peas & Asparagus

PastaHero1

Spring is finally here in full bloom, and I’m so excited to cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients! One of my favorite pasta dishes to make for spring is this tasty and fresh  Homemade Spring Fettuccine with Pancetta, Peas & Asparagus. 

PrepFreshIngredients

It features homemade fresh spinach and egg fettuccine made with flour, eggs and olive oil, topped with crispy pancetta, fresh scallions, garlic, baby green peas and asparagus in a tasty parmesan cream sauce.

FoodProcessor

You simply make the dough in your KitchenAid 14-cup food processor,

CutDough

knead it and cut it into a few pieces,

RollPasta

then use the KitchenAid pasta attachment to roll it out the pasta sheets

CutFettuccine2

and cut into lovely fresh fettuccine

PastaNests

AddBrothCream

served with a gorgeous Parmesan cream sauce with fresh veggies all tossed around with the pasta and cheese right in the pan.

PastaHero2

It’s so delicious and easy to make and tastes like Spring in a bowl!

Homemade Spring Fettuccine with Pancetta, Peas & Asparagus

Yield: Serves 6 to 8.

This Spring-forward recipe features homemade fresh spinach and egg fettuccine made with flour, eggs and olive oil, topped with crispy pancetta, fresh scallions, garlic, baby green peas and asparagus in a tasty parmesan cream sauce. It's light, easy to make and totally delicious!

Ingredients

  • Basic Egg Pasta Dough:
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • Generous pinch of sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil, optional
  • Spinach Pasta Dough:
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained
  • Generous pinch of sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil, optional
  • Pancetta, Peas and Asparagus Parmesan Cream Sauce:
  • Sea Salt for pasta water
  • 4 ounces Pancetta (Italian-style bacon), cubed
  • 4 scallions, trimmed and sliced length-wise
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup shelled fresh peas, blanched or frozen baby peas, defrosted
  • 6-8 stalks fresh asparagus, trimmed and halved
  • 2/3 cup chicken stock, low sodium
  • ½ cup heavy cream or half and half
  • ½ pound fresh egg fettuccine pasta
  • ½ pound fresh spinach fettuccine pasta
  • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Basic Egg Pasta Dough:Place the eggs in KitchenAid 14-cup food processor and pulse to beat. Add 1 cup of the flour, salt and olive oil and process on speed 2, adding more flour until a ball forms on the blade. If you add too much flour, the dough will break into pellets. If this happens, turn the mixture on to a pastry board and gather it into a ball, adding a touch of water, if necessary. If the dough becomes too soft, knead it on the board, adding more flour. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, 5 to 8 minutes then cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 20 minutes until ready to roll and cut with the pasta attachment.
  2. Divide dough into 3 or 4 pieces and process with the KitchenAid pasta roller until pasta sheets are flattened to desired thickness, starting with setting 1, processing several times up to setting 3 or 4. Next, feed the dough sheets through the KitchenAid fettuccine pasta cutter and toss fresh pasta with flour or cornmeal to dry, covered with plastic wrap until ready to cook.
  3. Once ready to cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the fresh pasta for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pasta floats to the top. Drain and toss with a small amount of olive oil to avoid pasta from sticking together, while preparing Pancetta, Peas and Asparagus Parmesan Cream Sauce (recipe follows).
  4. Makes about ½ pound. You can also double the recipe for a full pound and freeze a portion of it to use later.
  5. Spinach Pasta Dough:
  6. Place the eggs in your KitchenAid 14-cup food processor and pulse to beat. Add 1 cup of the flour, spinach, salt and olive oil and process on speed 2, adding more flour until a ball forms on the blade. If you add too much flour, the dough will break into pellets. If this happens, turn the mixture on to a pastry board and gather it into a ball, adding a touch of water, if necessary. If the dough becomes too soft, knead it on the board, adding more flour. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, 5 to 8 minutes then cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 20 minutes until ready to roll and cut with the pasta attachment.
  7. Divide dough into 3 or 4 pieces and process with the KitchenAid pasta roller until pasta sheets are flattened to desired thickness, starting with setting 1, processing several times up to setting 3 or 4. Next, feed the dough sheets through the KitchenAid fettuccine pasta cutter and toss fresh pasta with flour or cornmeal to dry, covered with plastic wrap until ready to cook.
  8. Once ready to cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the fresh pasta for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pasta floats to the top. Drain and toss with a small amount of olive oil to avoid pasta from sticking together, while preparing Pancetta, Peas and Asparagus Parmesan Cream Sauce (recipe follows).
  9. Makes about ½ pound. You can also double the recipe for a full pound and freeze a portion of it to use later.
  10. Pancetta, Peas and Asparagus Parmesan Cream Sauce:
  11. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the fresh egg pasta for about 2 to 3 minutes and drain. Cook the fresh spinach pasta for about 2 to 3 minutes and drain. Toss lightly with olive oil and set aside while making sauce.
  12. Prep the fresh ingredients (trim and slice scallions length-wise into thin strips, mince garlic, measure out peas, trim and halve fresh asparagus, chop parsley) with your KitchenAid paring knife and Chef’s knife and place on your KitchenAid Bamboo Cutting Board.
  13. Measure out the other ingredients (chicken stock, cream, and grated Parmesan cheese) in small bowls and set aside.
  14. Heat your KitchenAid Copper Core large skillet over medium-high heat, cook pancetta for a few minutes until crispy and browned, drain and set aside.
  15. Drain the fat from the skillet and add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the scallions and cook until wilted about 2 minutes. Scatter in the peas and asparagus and cook until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
  16. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the sauce to a simmer and cook until liquid is reduced by half.
  17. Add the heavy cream or half and half, and continue to simmer until liquid thickens a bit, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  18. Stir the cooked pasta with a little olive oil, and add it directly to the sauce in the large skillet, stirring to coat the pasta with the sauce.
  19. Cook over high heat until liquid is reduced to make a creamy sauce. Remove from the heat and toss in the grated Parmesan cheese, and garnish with fresh parsley and freshly ground black pepper, serving immediately in warm bowls.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2016/04/homemade-spring-fettuccine-pancetta-peas-asparagus/

Designing Dining Workshop at Bard Graduate Center NYC

DesigningDining-JPEGFlyer-1

I’m excited to announce that I will be participating in the Designing Dining Workshop at Bard Graduate Center in NYC on Saturday April 16th! This three-session workshop (over 3 weekends, see schedule above) investigates the visual design, materials, and traditions of presenting creative tablesettings. Participants experiment with table stylings, craft their own metal spoon, and learn how best to photograph food and drink.

I will be teaching the Session 3: Framing Food workshop where I will be discussing the principles and history of food styling and photography, with a hands-on workshop experience for participants to style and photograph their own culinary masterpieces at the event.

We are currently raffling off one (1) free ticket (worth $250) to the workshop to all three sessions! All you have to do is leave a comment below on why you would like to attend the workshop and I will be choosing a winner randomly who will be contacted by email before the event by March 25th. Make sure to include your email when you comment below!

The Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture is a graduate research institute located in New York City, offering exhibitions, degrees and research initiatives exploring new ways of thinking about decorative arts,
design history, and material culture.

Click here for the full schedule and details for the Designing Dining event

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Almond Shortbread Cookies w/ Blood Orange Glaze

Almond Shortbread Cookies w/ Blood Orange Glaze

Almond Shortbread Cookies

So February is here and so is National Almond Day! I absolutely love almonds – not only are they packed with tons of vitamins, minerals and fiber, but they also taste amazing! I love toasting almonds for salad toppings, making almond crust for chicken or fish, and best of all baking them into lovely, nutty, scrumptious desserts…especially cookies..mmmmm.

KitchenAid Countertop Oven

I recently got a new KitchenAid® 12″ Convection Digital Countertop Oven, and I am absolutely in love with it! Not only is it a toaster oven, but it’s also a fully functioning convection oven with nine different pre-programmed functions, including Pizza, Bagel, Cookie, Asado Roast and Keep Warm. It has a large capacity with enough room to roast a chicken or make a 12″ pizza, and of course enough space to bake a large batch of cookies. I LOVE THIS THING!

Blood Orange Glazed Almond Shortbread Cookies

Since we are in the dead of winter and in the spirit of National Almond Day, I thought a big batch of cookies was in order. I made some delicious Almond Shortbread Cookies with Blood Orange Glaze. They’re super buttery and crisp with a sweet, tart and refreshing hint of blood orange – perfect for a chilly day with a cup of tea. And they’re really easy to make too..check out the link below for my recipe on the Kitchenthusiast food blog and enjoy!!!

CLICK HERE TO GET THE RECIPE AND STEP-BY-STEP PHOTOS ON THE KITCHENAID BLOG

The Most Popular Posts of 2015 :: Happy New Year 2016!

2015 Happy New Year

So here it is, the last day of the year 2015..oh how time flies, and so much has happened! I’m so thankful for all the wonderful opportunities that have come into my life and the lessons learned along the way.  Here are some of my Top / Most Popular posts from The Artful Gourmet blog this year — and wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year 2016!

Neapolitan Pizza

The Secrets to Making Neapolitan Pizza like a Master Pizzaiolo –https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/08/11/neapolitan-pizza-making-with-the-pros/

Crab Salad

Refreshingly Light Get in My Bikini Salad – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/05/21/refreshingly-light-get-in-my-bikini-crab-salad/

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2011/11/02/classic-comfort-food-beef-stroganoff/

Homemade Rustic Pizzas

Homemade Rustic Pizzas: Chicken, Spinach, Garlic & Sundried Tomato Pizza & Pepperoni, Ham & Sautéed Veggies Pizza – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/10/02/homemade-rustic-pizzas-chicken-spinach-garlic-sundried-tomato-pizza-pepperoni-ham-sauteed-veggie-pizza/

holiday dinner menu

An Intimate Gathering Holiday Dinner Party Menu: https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2010/11/28/an-intimate-gathering-holiday-dinner-party-menu/

Chicken French & Lemon Broccolini

Rochester-Style Chicken French & Lemon Broccolini – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/03/17/rochester-style-chicken-french-lemon-broccolini/

Mario Lopez & Avocados from Mexico

Food Styling for Mario Lopez and Avocados from Mexico – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/12/17/food-styling-mario-lopez-avocados-mexico-nbc-live-bethenny-shows/

pasta fagioli soup

Big Pot O’Goodness: Pasta Fagioli – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2011/12/11/big-pot-o-goodness-pasta-fagioli/

Truffle-Pancetta-3Cheese-Pasta

Truffled 3-Cheese Pasta with Pancetta and Garlic – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2011/10/25/crazy-good-truffle-oil-pancetta-three-cheese-pasta/

BDTChowder

Black Dog Tavern’s Quahog Chowderhttps://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2011/09/24/a-taste-of-marthas-vineyard-the-black-dog-taverns-quahog-chowder/

Asparagus-Garlic-3-Cheese Tart

Baby Asparagus, Garlic & Three Cheese Tart – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/11/24/asparagus-three-cheese-tart/

Spicy Cajun Chili
Spicy Cajun Chilihttps://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/11/09/spicy-cajun-chili/

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Lemon Butter Sauce – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/05/13/shrimp-scampi-pasta/

Spinach Artichoke Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

Spinach Artichoke Pizza with Cauliflower Crusthttps://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/06/03/spinach-artichoke-ricotta-pizza-with-parmesan-garlic-cauliflower-crust/

Recipes Worth Sharing Cookbook

Recipes Worth Sharing: A Collection of Favorite Regional Recipes – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/03/21/recipes-worth-sharing-a-collection-of-favorite-regional-recipes/

Sun Noodle Ramen Lab

Top Ten {Things I Love} :: Spring 2013 – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/04/07/top-ten-things-i-love-spring-2013/

Southern Feast

A Dose of Southern Comfort & Down-Home Recipes – Part 1 – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/05/08/a-dose-of-southern-comfort-down-home-recipes-part-1/

spicy fish tacos and wine

Cool off with some Spicy Fish Tacos & Summer Wine Pairings – https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/06/01/cool-off-with-some-spicy-fish-tacos-summer-wine-pairings/

Hope you enjoyed these posts and looking forward to sharing more fun stories with you in the New Year!

Wine-Braised Chicken w/ Bacon, Veggies & Herbs

Wine-Braised Chicken with Bacon, Veggies & Herbs

As the weather cools down in the late fall season, there’s nothing I love more than cooking a big one-pot comforting dish on a Sunday afternoon. One-pot dishes are so easy to make, and the enticing smells from the oven are enough to wipe out any winter blues that might be coming on. Welcome my Wine-Braised Chicken with Bacon, Veggies and Herbs. 

KitchenAid 6 Qt Ceramic Dutch Oven

I love making hearty braised dishes with meat and vegetables because they’re easy and so good, especially in my KitchenAid® 6.0Qt Cast Iron Cookware. It’s big enough to make a meal for a crowd, and it’s enameled with cast iron inside which makes it the perfect vessel to cook slow braised dishes, roasts, stews, soups, chilis and any one-pot meals. It even has a grill pan inside the lid! How cool is that?

Wine-Braised Chicken with Bacon, Veggies and Herbs

My Wine-Braised Chicken has tons of goodness inside: chicken thighs, shallots, bacon, cipollini onions, garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme, bacon and carrots. It’s slow-cooked into a big pot of deliciousness with white wine, chicken broth, and then a reduced  au jus cream sauce served over the top.

Wine-Braised Chicken with Bacon, Veggies and Herbs

This is such a delicious and easy recipe to make and it’s pure comfort food perfect for a chilly Winter day. The best part is you only have to cook and clean in one pot, which is awesome. (More time to snuggle under the blankets and watch movies by the fireplace!)

I’d love to hear what you would make in your KitchenAid® Cast Iron Cookware by experimenting with my recipe. Would you use a different meat, like beef or pork? What vegetables would you substitute or add? Would you try a different sauce for the recipe?

Share your take on this Wine-Braised Chicken recipe on the KitchenAid Instagram page using #MadeWithKitchenAid for a chance to be featured!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECIPE AND STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON THE KITCHENAID BLOG!

My Expert Interview on FoodyDirect.com!

Kristen Hess Interview Foody Direct

foodydirect-logolong1

I was recently interviewed by Foody Direct as part of their Expert Interview program. Read the full interview on the FoodyDirect.com Blog!

FoodyDirect is an online marketplace bringing the most delicious food in the country right to the doorstep of your home or office.

Turkey

The restaurants and artisan producers featured on their site are a highly select group. Each has won awards, garnered high praise from critics and blogger and, most important, gets rave reviews from passionate and loyal customers. Each prepares and serves up a menu of mouthwatering dishes and is equipped to ship their sensational food anywhere in the USA.

Truffles

Kosher Food, Gluten-Free, Turkey and Chicken, Desserts, Cheese, Meat, Vegan Food, Seafood, BBQ, Chocolate, Fruits and Veggies – you name it – they’ve got it!

Apple Walnut pie

FoodyDirect is a curated national restaurant row. Learn about their Partner’s rich and colorful histories, which you can savor and enjoy in the comfort of your home or office.

kristen hess

In the interview, I discussed my views on how i celebrate the art of food and cooking through my blog with colorful recipes, stories and photography as well as some tips on how to follow your passion and what helped me succeed in the food industry.

Chicken French

and my favorite recipe for Chicken French!

Click here to view Foody Direct’s online store and enjoy the interview!

Meatball Madness!

Meatball Madness

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year simply because it’s a time when the leaves are changing, the weather is getting cooler, and you have an excuse to stay inside to watch football with friends and family and gather around the table with some delicious party food!

Whenever I host a party, I like to create a smorgasbord of food that’s easy for people to grab. I love bite-sized finger foods and tapas-style spreads that are fun to make and eat. My idea for a great fall football party is Meatball Madness – an experiment with different types of meatballs paired with unique sauces, fillings and bases to eat them on.

Meatballs are super fun and easy to make with the help of my KitchenAid® Copper Core 12″ Nonstick Skillet and my KitchenAid® Professional-Grade Nonstick Sheet Pans when I’m cooking for a large crowd. Both are great for cooking meatballs easily and evenly with their high quality nonstick coating, and they are both large enough so I can cook big batches of meatballs.

Greek Meatballs

For this post, I decided to make some Greek Beef Meatballs with Tzatzkiki Sauce served on toasted flatbreads,

Asian Meatballs

and some Asian Chicken Meatballs with a Spicy Peanut Sauce served on Gem Lettuce Cups as thought starters for this party idea, but I’d love to hear from you what other themes, flavors and creative ideas you would incorporate when you throw your own Meatball Madness Party!

MeatballMadness-Group

You can mix and match different themes with different fillings and flavors for the meatballs, for example – you could make Spanish Meatballs made with pork, chorizo and onions and create a Roasted Red Pepper Aioli to dip them in and serve on toasted pita. Or you could make traditional Italian Meatballs with Cheese and Tomato Sauce on mini slider buns topped with fresh basil and parsley. Or make German Meatballs with Bratwurst and Sauerkraut with a Grainy Mustard Sauce served on mini Rye breads – the possibilities are endless and super fun to come up with!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RECIPES AND HOW I MADE THEM WITH MY KITCHENAID EQUIPMENT ON THE KITCHENTHUSIAST BLOG! 

New Work: Food Styling & Photography

I recently did food styling & photography for Newman’s Own Salad Dressing and Arnold Bread for their annual recipe contest websites, advertisements and marketing materials.

I also have been doing photography for Baked By Melissa (the mini cupcakes in NYC!), for their website, social media and advertising and events. Here are some new shots I’ve done for them recently too!

Newman’s Own Salad Shoot

Arnold Bread Sandwich Shoot

Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-324 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-379 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-399 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-414 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-436 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-476 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-514 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-537 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-550 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-583 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-592 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-614 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-642 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-702 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-737 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-758 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-766 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-776 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-785 Arnold Shoot Sept 2015-807

 

Baked by Melissa

Seafood Corn Chowder

Seafood Corn Chowder

Seafood Corn Chowder

Now that summer is coming to an end, I thought it would be appropriate to make one last dish to celebrate the season. And what would be better than something with fresh seafood and something that requires minimum cooking effort in this scorching weather?

Seafood

I decided to make a delicious Seafood Corn Chowder, chock full of seafood – lobster, scallops, crabmeat, shrimp, fresh corn,

fresh veggies

and all kinds of fresh veggies – multi-colored bell peppers, onions, potatoes, garlic and spices, all cooked in a chicken stock finished with cream and garnished with fresh chives and parsley.

Seafood Corn Chowder 2

I made this chowder in my gorgeous KitchenAid® Professional Seven-Ply 8-Quart Stockpot, which is perfect for making soups, stews, chili, and one-pot dishes for a crowd.

Pour Cream

It’s extra large and made out of multi-layered stainless steel so it’s sturdy and heats up quickly and evenly. It also has optional pasta and steamer inserts, which I love, that fit right inside the large pot and lid. This is definitely one of my favorite go-to pots that I use for everything and it all fits conveniently together with a stainless steel lid to seal in moisture and heat.

Seafood Corn Chowder 3

It’s heaven in a bowl, really.

READ THE FULL STORY & GET THE RECIPE ON THE KITCHENAID BLOG HERE