New York area foodies and cooks are in for a treat! Chefday, a Brooklyn-based start-up, delivers pre-measured, fresh ingredients right to your doorstep in order to cook custom recipes designed by NYC restaurant chefs. Seriously, why hasn't anyone come up with this idea sooner?
Some of the city's finest chefs have created recipe designed just for you! All recipes come with a video of the chef in action, cooking your meal. The videos even pause to wait for you at the end of each step. Your fresh ingredients also come with a recipe card. Each recipe allows you to choose different serving sizes, so whether you're cooking for two or eight, they've got you covered. The freshest ingredients are picked from the chef's food suppliers and your food can be delivered between 3-5pm or 7-9pm on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at your office or home.
Toni Marie Ricci got the surpise of her life when she found out she was married to a mobster. Michael 'Mikey Scars' DiLeonardo wooed her in, but forgot to metion that he was a Gambino capo working for John Gotti, Jr. After discovering that her husband had an illegitimate child with his mistress, Toni Marie did not get mad - instead, she got even - by testifying against her ex-husband at his trial. Toni Marie was recently on the hit show, I Married a Mobster, which features a different woman each episode, who shares her story about the rise and fall of their marraige. We chat with Toni Marie about her reasons for doing the show, what she's up to now, and the importance of advocating for women who have suffered abuse.
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ has the taste and atmosphere of those memorable summer weekend barbeques that endures through every generation.
An original menu with the blessing of a southern kitchen, and cocktails to amplify any occasion, Brother Jimmy’s owner, Josh Lebowitz has had mouth-watering success with his Manhattan and Caribbean locations.
This past Tuesday, at Brother Jimmy’s Murray Hill restaurant, Lebowtiz and friends celebrated the publishing of Brother Jimmy’s BBQ cookbook. With the help of Bro Jimmy’s Executive Chef, Eva Pesantez, nightlife writer Sean Evans and the slightest bit of ghost writing by yours truly, this impressive handbook covers all the southern essentials.
Chickpeas, also commonly known as garbanzo beans, are a versatile culinary option. While they are quite bland alone, they can tastily accent a variety of dishes while adding necessary nutrients. Lots of people eat prepared falafel or hummus on a regular basis, yet never think how some simple home cooking can bring out the wonders of chickpeas. A can of chickpeas can simply be opened, drained, rinsed, and then added to a plethora of hot and cold meals!
Salad
A perfect and filling, chickpeas taste great with just about any type of lettuce. While these beans may not go well with fresh or dried fruits, there are many different vegetables that compliment chickpeas, including carrots, cucumbers and red onions. Once the salad is chopped and completed, some appropriate dressings are balsamic vinaigrette or red-wine vinegar with extra-virgin olive oil.
Soul Tempeh is a delicious vegan concoction that mixes healthy food with fried food, American cuisine with Asian cuisine, and bitter greens with sweet starches. A light dish prepared this way tastes great, but is not super greasy and overly filling.
- 18 oz brick of tempeh, chopped into 20-24 small pieces
- 2 medium yams, peeled and chopped
- ½ bunch of kale, stems and leaves coarsely chopped, 1 cup water
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 cup uncooked Basmati Rice, 2 cups water
- Canola Oil
- Dash of Salt
- Dash of Pepper
- 1 medium glass bowl
- 2 paper towels
- 1 small egg pan
- 2 wooden spatulas
- 1 large skillet
- 1 large pot
- 1 medium pot
- 1 measuring cup
- 1 large knife
- 1 masher
You're a young, busy, urban professional. Your time is precious, and you can't always afford to spend it in the kitchen. Take-out and Delivery get monotonous and the dollars quickly add up. Make these five products your go-to gadgets to expedite your culinary endeavors.
1. Magic Bullet Blender
Great for making single servings of any liquid. You can have smoothies in the morning and frozen cocktails in the evening when you're entertaining friends. Your Magic Bullet kit contains a high-torque power base, two blades, two cups, four lids and four party mugs with color-coded 'comfort lip rings' for instant sippage. There's also a cookbook of '10 second recipes' included for everything from soups to omelets. You can pick up a set at Bed, Bath & Beyond for around 50 bucks. (Note: I've had one for almost five years and it still runs like a champ.)
Let's face it, weight gain can be absolutely exhausting, especially around the holidays. Deliciously satisfying, but exhausting! The unfortunate end result is always the same, rather than thinking of how much fun you had, you obsess over the new filler renting space on your stomach and thighs. Nine times out of ten, the meal itself isn’t too bad for you, as long as you steer clear (Ok, a taste won’t hurt) of the fatty appetizers and side dishes. With that being said, it is safe to say dessert is the point of contention for most. Dessert options are always the same, between fat grams, too much sugar, carbohydrates, and of course, fruit. Even though you know you should opt for the fruit, some meals demand a sweeter finale.
While your family is sitting down to carve the turkey and pass the gravy next Thursday, ours will just be beginning our Thanksgiving cooking. See, we do things a little differently in my family. Thanksgiving happens on Friday in the Friedman household. What started as a way to get two Thanksgivings for the price of one has turned into an opportunity to share a bit of our family with friends who would otherwise be busy with their own celebrations. That is always the problem with Holidays isn’t it? Finding a way to see everyone in one day.
And, of course we need that extra day. As one of the most important holidays in the Friedman Family, Thanksgiving involves major homework and a serious game plan. It begins at least a month in advance. I scour cooking magazines, websites, and blogs, looking for the recipes that will come together to create the perfect Friedman feast. After I’ve narrowed it down to three or four options per “category” - you would be surprised by the number of ways mashed potatoes can be done - the rest of the family weighs in, consensus is found, and we all go to work on our chosen dishes.