These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Blenheim Apricots
Sea Salts 
Le Crussett 
Emile Henry Pie Dish
Bench Scraper
Lemon Juicer
Silpats
Quality Spatulas 
Quality Olive Oil

Here is a list of some of my most used pantry items that I keep stocked in the kitchen:

Holiday Baking

Here we are again, another fun filled year almost behind us. Last years cookie marathon was such a blast that I decided keep it that way, so no cookie marathon this year. New recipes will be posted and delicious holiday baking will still be had! Actually, I am on day four of my fruitcake recipe. This two week process will be finished and ready to eat on the day of our holiday party.

All In A Weekend

 Last weekend Prince Charming and I drove down route 30 to Southern Vermont. After checking into the lovely Dorset Inn we headed over to our friends' dairy farm. 
A farm that makes cheese and not just any cheese. Taylor farm is the only farm in Vermont making Gouda cheese. The 35 dairy cows keep the farm helpers busy from dawn to dusk and the result is flavorful creamy gouda. We tasted and savored the good times.

Taylor Farm, Londonderry Vermont.

Lights Camera Action

The Summer days were so fun and relaxing this year! Harvesting from my garden was a daily ritual and up until last week I was picking my everbearing strawberries. My frost hardy crops are doing great, come to think of it

Tomatoes Take Center Stage

This wednesday I will be giving a talk and cooking demonstration at the Brownell Library. The evenings topic is focussed on managing our abundant zucchini and tomato harvests. Everyone will receive recipes and ideas for using your harvest. Tastings of-course!

Maple Granola and Remote Camping

Camping has a reputation for packaged foods and unhealthy eating. Not when you camp with my group. Recently we loaded our boats and set out for four days of remote camping.

Potato Season

We never do know what tomorrow will bring. One day I am teaching a cooking class in my home for a group of friends and the next I am in Johnson, Vermont for the filming of a Gourmet Butchering Video, that I am co-hosting with a butcher friend (more details to come). Also new to my fun ever-changing day to day life, is the planning of a localvore dinner at Murray's Tavern in Essex Junction scheduled for September 13th (more details to come).

Pilot Light

A good friend in the kitchen is the oven pilot light. Today I used its delicate warmth to assist my bread rise and to gently dry out my fresh picked herbs.

Herbs with a high resin content love to be dried and used in the beginning of cooking. What are the resin herbs?

Favorite Cookbooks and My New Store

Check out my new store. Click here. You may also find a link to my store at chefcontos.com. On a regular basis I receive many questions about what books I like and what pots and pans I recommend etc. Now you can shop with my recommendations and guidance.

Every Wednesday for seven years I hunt down a New York Times and read the food section. I have had many funny moments doing this, like recently when I asked the shopkeeper if she had anymore Wednesday NYT because all I see is Tuesdays. She looked at me and said "today is Tuesday". Opps.
I try and never miss but sometimes I'm early.

We all like to read and if you are like me you have to much to read. We have our magazine subscriptions, newspapers, and books to name a few. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite cookbooks, magazines, and books.

In the News

Thank you to Melissa Pasanen and the Burlington Free Press for a great story in last weeks savorvore section. Read below.


This Friday on WCAX Channel 3 at 6:40am, I will be teaching you how to cook one of my favorite asparagus recipes (watch last segment on TV). After that I will head to JP's restaurant in Essex Junction where I will be live on the radio with Nolan & Tara (listen live at The Star 92.9) and having breakfast with one of my colleges from the new Five Corners Farmers' Market. We will be discussing the new farmers market in Essex Junction. Opening day is June 18th 4:30-7:30 and every Friday after that until October 18th. I will be doing a cooking demonstration opening day!
Burlington Free Press article: "The smoky smell of the woodstove mingled with the smoky scent of dried chili peppers in the Essex Junction home of Courtney Contos