2012 Food Trends - Year Of The Potato

2012 food trends are starting to emerge and it's American comfort food classics (with a twist) that are going to shine. According to the trend report just released by Andrew Freeman & Company, you'll be seeing mixed drinks on tap, custom french fry bars (choose your cut, color and sauce), hand-pulled noodles, savory ice creams, and more Indian street food. Put your formals aside as big name chefs will be embracing more casual dining with minimal gush and exciting edible landscapes. Also in 2012,

Happy Thanksgiving

This photograph comes from my cherished copy of

 The American Heritage Cookbook.

Just Roast It!

Roasted Turkey

Prep time: 20 minutes

Preheat: 425º

Cook time: See “Turkey Notes”

How Long Do I Cook The Bird?

Turkey Notes

What size turkey do I purchase?

The larger the bird, the more meat it will yield per pound. Some general rules:

"Pots, Pan's, & Politicians" ... And The Winner Is?

"Pots, Pans, and Politicians" week is wrapping today as I announce the winner of the celebrity breakfast cook-off . All week I have watched Vermont's top politicians cook breakfast before a live camera and now it's time to pick the "best of show". Not my first rodeo, picking the winner is never easy. WCAX's judging categories are: taste, creativity, originality, and presentation. After watching current LT

Can Howard Dean Cook?

Watch Video
Former VT Governor Howard Dean makes great politics, but can he cook? Turns out, yes he can! As I watched him whip up chocolate blueberry pancakes, it looked like he was quite comfortable in the kitchen. This semi-rare combination of chocolate and blueberries was something his creative mind dreamed up. King Arthur Flour's buttermilk pancake mix worked great as his dry ingredients, and promotes a Vermont made product. Using a fork, he mixed in local 2% milk and the batter quickly came together. He heated his pan, added a coating of oil, and the cameras started rolling. The batter went into the pan, then flipping the pancakes he surprised us all! He casually flipped the pancakes high into the air! Yes, catches air, and he's good at it! He graciously declined my offer to help with dishes saying he was more than happy to do his own clean up. The Dean pancakes were tasty, especially coated in Vermont's gold, maple syrup!

Read my post and see Howard Dean's scores.
Watch as I announce the winner.

What We Learned

Last Sunday I taught a fun and detailed class at Sweet Clover Market. Our topic was the centerpiece of Thanksgiving, the most talked about and worried over, turkey! Surprised? I bet not, because you too are thinking (worrying?) about that turkey. Well my tips for cooking a tasty and moist bird are as follows:

"Pots, Pan's, Politicians"

All week long I have the pleasure to be judging a Vermont governor breakfast cook-off called "Pots, Pans, Politicians". So far it has been great food and lots of laughs! Monday I watched Governor Douglas make oatmeal and on Wednesday Howard Dean will make his morning speciality. Watch this fun competition on WCAX Channel-3 all week long at 6:50am. Friday morning we'll have clips from the week and I will be judging the politicians best dish. This won't  be easy but I'll entertain bribes (joking).

Click for the exciting results.

Correction: Keagan introduced me as a  NECI chef but that has not been true for many years. ;)

Steps You Can Take Now For A Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner

10 easy steps you can do now for a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner.

Moving Into Darkness

As we move into darkness the harvest season is slowing down for me. Yesterday I harvested the last cauliflower. It was so beautiful, I remember when I planted the seed back in March, along with 29 others. I nurtured it all the way to the soup pot. The first week the seeds were planted and kept warm

It's Cookbook Season

Enjoy the season's hottest cookbooks.

Prince Charming's Birthday Cake

2008 was the first time I surprised Prince Charming with his birthday cake. We were having lunch on the green summer grass, close to the edge of the frog pond, it was his lunch break. After we finished our lunch, I told him stay put and close his eyes. Back at the car I lit the candles, walked back over and told him to open his eyes.