I always get anxious for fresh produce in the spring. Last week, I stopped at the local farmer’s market and was devastated to learn it would be TWO weeks before their snap peas came in. Sigh… Summer tomatoes are a long way off yet as well. But if you want that bright summery flavor without … Continue reading
My family and I LOVE Texas Chili. It’s savory and spicy and meaty. And it’s one of those few mysterious meals that may actually taste better the second day. Texas Chili is also very simple. Once you are done throwing everything into a big pot, it simmers for hours. This leaves you time to get … Continue reading
Chicken Piccata is one of those easy weeknight dinners that is still so tasty and elegant that I never get tired of it. It’s lemony and buttery with a little hit of sour from the capers. Capers are little unopened flower buds that are pickled, giving them a pleasant tangy flavor that really works in … Continue reading
In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share a tradition from my Mother’s family. Here is my my Mom and I. Happy Mother’s Day Mom! This salad has appeared at nearly every Hogan family gathering since long before I was born. And I’m sure it will be served for many more years to come. … Continue reading
If you live in Pittsburgh, and you haven’t visited Wholey’s Fish Market, you need to drop everything and drive to the Strip District now! They have an amazing assortment of fresh seafood, with tanks full of fresh fish and lobsters. My boys attempted to catch some with their hands, but were stopped just in time. … Continue reading
We are living in a great age of pizza. It’s exciting to see restaurants launching new, tasty and just plain weird pizzas – octopus anyone? These days, there seems to be a wood-fired oven pizzeria on every street corner, guaranteeing perfectly crisp crust with those lovely blackened edges. Sure, grease-ladened pepperoni pizza has it’s place … Continue reading
As we all know, getting kids to eat can be a chore. My oldest son is my picky eater and sometimes I have to get very creative with that boy. One surefire way to encourage him to dig in is to plop down a platter of chicken legs. “Chicken legs!” both boys will holler at … Continue reading
For most of my life, ribs have seemed out of my reach. They were the domain of barbecue joints or the local smokehouse. How could a home cook replicate eight hours in a specialty smoker with mesquite chips smoldering away? Well, last week, that all changed. I found a way to make ribs that are … Continue reading
Foodie In The Making 