loretta's Favorite Members
Updates from loretta's favorite members
hipcook reviewed Crispy Garlic Crumb Steak from All Recipes
Terrific technique which I'm looking forward to trying with chicken and pork. I even overcooked the steaks to try and get enough color on the crumb coating, but the pounding out (and the coating) saved more »
hipcook reviewed Buttermilk Pancakes from The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations from Two Great American Cooks
"Effortless" is right; simple to prepare and delicious. It feels like there's more butter in this recipe than I'm used to - and as the nursery rhyme says, "butter makes the batter better." more »
hipcook reviewed Harissa from Food Wishes
This is a remarkably simple technique for a delicious fiery pepper puree. You can make it with green hot peppers (poblanos and jalepenos are more available to me than fresnos); the color gets muted but more »
hipcook reviewed Soda Farls from The Irish Cookbook
Basically a soda bread griddle cake. I think my technique needs work (and maybe the recipe needs more specificity) - I made my first batch way too thick and ended up having to cut them in half to get the more »
hipcook reviewed Summer Squash Bread Pudding With Feta from The New York Times
Pretty interesting concept. I didn't feel like I got a "bread pudding"; the egg layer and bread-and-zucchini layer were totally distinct. (And the zucchini layer was not nice to look at.) I feel like that more »
hipcook reviewed Beets of Burden Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
I was excited for the "borscht on a bun" concept of this burger. And ultimately, the beet slaw was pretty good (if underseasoned) and it was a pleasant burger topping.
But the poor rating is because the... more »
hipcook added The Irish Cookbook
11th January 2021
hipcook reviewed The perfect traditional Irish barmbrack from Irish Times
A very nice recipe for this Irish fruitcake. Personally, I'd like it to have a bit more depth - some whole wheat flour might be nice, or a touch of molasses or dark brown sugar. But on the whole, with more »
hipcook added Irish Times
21st December 2020
hipcook reviewed Korean Street Toast from Food Wishes
Is this "the best egg sandwich" I've ever had? It is not. Is it better than 80% of the omelets I've had, and 90% of the omelets I've made? It is. It's a wonderful exercise in textural contrasts, with soft more »
hipcook reviewed Beef and Broccoli from The Food Network
Very little effort and it makes a dish as good as you'd get in a restaurant (and better than some). I think it needs just a little hit of black pepper in the marinade, just to wake up the beef a little. more »
hipcook reviewed No-Backyard Baby Back Ribs from I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking
This is a fabulous technique, producing ribs which are ready to fall off the bone nicely perfumed with the spice and cooking liquid.
I say "cooking liquid" because I completely deviated from the recipe.... more »
hipcook reviewed Pumpkin Pancakes with Candied Pumpkin Seeds from The New Chesapeake Kitchen
These were fine, but nothing to write home about. I had trouble with the extra moisture from the pumpkin throwing the cook time off; my first batch was definitely underdone and even the more done ones... more »
hipcook reviewed Candied Pumpkin Seeds from The New Chesapeake Kitchen
Pleasant little snack. The orange flavor comes through more than I'd expected. It did take 4 minutes longer in my oven than the recipe said. more »
hipcook reviewed Loaded Butternut Squash "Cordon Bleu" from Food Wishes
If, like me, you always seem to end up with more winter squash than you actually want, this is a pretty neat approach. I took some liberties with the recipe, and can report it works pretty well as a technique. more »
hipcook reviewed The One Man Yam Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Good burger. Hit with my kid, so we'll be doing this again. I thought it was a little indistinct - the sweet potatoes and candied bacon are certainly nice, but they didn't exactly come together. Next time,... more »
hipcook reviewed Ratatouille with Spelt Penne from The New Chesapeake Kitchen
Most of my ratatouille recipes are built in a skillet or pot. In this one, the vegetables are roasted first and then covered with tomato sauce. The result is that the eggplants, peppers and zucchini hold... more »
hipcook reviewed Classic Strawberry Shortcake – Thanks, Grandpa! from Food Wishes
This was a delightful and easy shortcake recipe. These shortcakes seemed sturdier than the crumbly ones I often make. (That may be because my dough was too wet, but they turned out fine anyway.) more »
aj12754 reviewed Slow-Roasted Tomatoes from One Good Dish
A dish that could not be simpler to make, and absolutely delicious. Topped the cooled tomato with a room temperature slice of mozzarella drizzled with EVOO and some ribbons of basil. A real treat. more »
hipcook reviewed One Horse Open Slaw Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Cole slaw as a burger topping was OK. I like mayo on my burgers anyway, so cole slaw isn't much of a jump. Could have used some acidity - something like capers or a pickled jalapenos or a diced pickle... more »
hipcook reviewed Cast Iron Crisp Roast Butterflied Chicken with Rosemary and Garlic from America's Test Kitchen
Certainly the most Instagram-worthy chicken I've ever made; this was a pretty dish. And darn easy to boot.
Instead of tenting the bird, I just put the lid on my cast iron; I think that was a bad choice more »
hipcook reviewed Sympathy for the Deviled Egg Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Didn't follow the recipe exactly, but come on, it's egg salad; make it the way you like. It added some pleasant creaminess and a hearty egg flavor to the burger, but on its own, I don't think I'd do it... more »
hipcook reviewed Banana Foster Quinoa Pudding from Patricia's Pickles, Preserves, & Provisions
As a dessert, honestly, I found this disappointing. It's OK, but it tastes too much like someone tried to make it "healthy". The caramel isn't ooey-gooey enough, the custard isn't rich enough, the rum more »
hipcook added Patricia's Pickles, Preserves, & Provisions
23rd February 2020
hipcook reviewed Meatballs, The New Way from VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good
The role of a panade is played by bulgur wheat (or another cooked whole grain) in this recipe, bringing moisture and adding nuttiness and texture that bread crumbs wouldn't. It's a neat trick and we were more »
hipcook reviewed Is This Your Chard? Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Good burger. Will make again. Cheese, sauteed greens, and caramelized onions combine to make a soft, succulent topping for a burger perfect for a winter's night.
Also a very forgiving concept - I used... more »
hipcook added VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good to his/her bookshelf.
29th December 2019
hipcook reviewed Sticky Asian Salmon from Sous Vide Supreme
I've been making an ersatz Asian-ish salmon for a long time, with a doctored Hoisin/vaguely teriyaki-ish glaze. This recipe doesn't have that level of sweetness in it, but my family reports that's a good more »
hipcook added Sous Vide Supreme
2nd November 2019
hipcook reviewed Plymouth Roquefort Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
It's a neat take on a Thanksgiving burger - turkey, cranberry sauce, and blue cheese for some creaminess and spice. The apple I used added some generic sweetness but got lost; I wish I'd had a firm green... more »
hipcook reviewed Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole from The Food Network
Turns out I do like quinoa, if you cook it in enough half-and-half and cheese. Alton's right; this is squarely in comfort food territory.
This serves up a lot like the old classic broccoli and rice casserole, more »
hipcook reviewed Chocolate Chia Pudding from The Food Network
Pretty good pudding. Nice with a few slices of pear or apple. It's a good strong chocolate bomb; use the best you can. I wanted it to set up a little more firm than it did; that may be because I added more »
hipcook reviewed Bourbon Apple Pear Sauce from I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking
Very nice take on applesauce. I made it to use up some overripe pears, and it worked just fine. It's also amazingly easy, and using the microwave means no worrying about whether the fruit's going to scorch. more »
hipcook reviewed Slow Cooker Cuban Mojo Pork from Lemon Blossoms
This was only OK. I felt like something was missing from the sauce - like the pungency of lime and garlic cooked down too much in the slow cooker. Still, it's low effort and worth more experiments. more »
hipcook added Lemon Blossoms
21st September 2019
hipcook reviewed Strawberry Pepper Icebox Cake from The Food Network
OK, I took some liberties. Kind of a lot of liberties. It's still a good cake. I'm really impressed with the way the graham crackers don't go soggy (even after 2 days) but do soften into a cake-like texture.
I more »
hipcook reviewed Clafouti (Cherry Flan) from Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Vol 1)
It is a delicious baked custard, but I found my cherries lacking in flavor. I wish I'd taken the step to soak them in a liqueur (like the next recipe in the book states). Or maybe just a little cinnamon... more »
hipcook reviewed Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake from The New Chesapeake Kitchen
Frankly, I still don't love rhubarb. But I do like the fact that the rhubarb puree mixes with the uncooked strawberries in a way that preserves the fresh taste and texture of both, and doesn't go gloppy... more »
hipcook reviewed Shortcake Biscuits from The New Chesapeake Kitchen
Excellent shortcakes. Just the right amount of sweetness while still having a good bit of biscuit texture to them. I let the dough get too wet and it was hard to work with, but that's just something to... more »
hipcook reviewed How to Make Tasso Ham from The Sauce by All Things Barbecue
There are lots of different recipes out there for tasso, but here's one you can make in a day. It's just a 4-6 hour cure and a 2-hour smoke. (I did an overnight cure, which turned into more like 14 hours more »
hipcook added The Sauce by All Things Barbecue
28th May 2019
hipcook reviewed Totally Radish Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
The radish-cucumber sauce is a neat idea. I disagree with the recommendation to use a microplane grater; we wanted a slightly larger grate to give more texture. This would be a great condiment on a more... more »
hipcook reviewed The Jack-O'-Lentil Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
The radish-cucumber sauce is a neat idea. I disagree with the recommendation to use a microplane grater; we wanted a slightly larger grate to give more texture. This would be a great condiment on a more... more »
hipcook reviewed Rhubarb Muffins from The New Chesapeake Kitchen
I don't particularly like rhubarb or muffins. But it's Mother's Day and my wife and son like both those things, so I roused myself and made them. They were really quite good!
The little chunks of rhubarb... more »
hipcook added The New Chesapeake Kitchen to his/her bookshelf.
20th April 2019
aj12754 reviewed Crabmeat, Apple, and Mango Salad on Cumin Apple Chips from Epicurious
Very pretty spring-summer colors in this crab salad. Although my taste buds are compromised, the fact that every plate was cleaned by my dinner guests is a pretty good indication that the dish worked. more »
aj12754 reviewed Blueberry-Buttermilk Bundt Cake from Everyday Dorie: The Way I Cook
Tastes as good as it sounds ... at least according to my husband and our two dinner guests, all of whom asked for seconds. I made two small bundts rather than one large, since I wanted something smaller more »
hipcook reviewed Garlicky Pork Ribs with Greens from Martha Stewart
The garlic puree/marinade has some good flavors; we actually let it sit overnight and that seems like a good choice. I was pleasantly surprised that the temperature and cook time did not dry out the pork more »
hipcook reviewed Spaghetti with Pecorino Romano and Black Pepper (Cacio e Pepe) from Cooks Illustrated
I love cacio e pepe, and I'm pretty sure this is the first recipe for it I ever tried. It's worth hunting down the video on this - the tempo at the end is a combination of do all the steps in quick order, more »
hipcook reviewed Colcannon from Boston Globe
We're doing a winter CSA box, which is bringing a lot of winter veggies into the house which we don't actually buy by choice very often - turnips. rutabagas, and so much kale. We know we like colcannon more »
hipcook added Boston Globe
10th March 2019
hipcook reviewed Gumbo Ya Ya from The Commander's Palace New Orleans Cookbook
Terrific recipe. Should go into my frequent rotation. I didn't let my roux go quite long enough, and I would have liked a little more of that deep dark flavor, but I bring this up because even with a roux... more »
hipcook reviewed Sit and Spinach Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Nice enough burger. (I used arugula instead of spinach, which was fine.) The instruction to reduce the lemon juice and red wine vinegar with the burgers is odd; it keeps the burgers from browning and the more »
hipcook reviewed Cajun Butter Steak Bites from Cafe Delites
Basically a blackened steak recipe, made in bite-size portions. This was a hit in my house, though we found using a commercial Cajun seasoning and slightly less meat than called for led to being significantly more »
hipcook added Cafe Delites
25th February 2019
hipcook reviewed Scottish Eggs from The Frugal Gourmet on Our Immigrant Ancestors
Pretty solid recipe. I might like a little more advice on good seasonings to add to the sausage. The technique of flouring the hard-boiled eggs to make the sausage stick to them better is genius and I... more »
aj12754 reviewed Roasted Butternut Squash Soup from Everyday Dorie: The Way I Cook
Some recipes just make it a pleasure to be in the kitchen ... fun to put together and delightful aromas fill the kitchen. And then it all comes together in a good-to-great result at the table. This is more »
aj12754 reviewed Cinnamon Jam Loaf from Bake from Scratch
Basically a sour-cream (or buttermilk if that's your preference) pound cake, with two thin layers of jam (I used a raspberry-Chambord jam made by a friend), topped with a nut streusel (I used walnuts) more »
aj12754 added Bake from Scratch
31st December 2018
hipcook reviewed Curried Squash and Mushroom Soup from Moosewood Cookbook
We made this without the mushrooms, which were missed, but it made a nice somewhat spicy soup. I tend to find butternut squash soup too sweet, but the heat and lack of dairy in this one seemed to help. more »
aj12754 added Frank Stitt's Bottega Favorita: A Southern Chef's Love Affair with Italian Food to his/her bookshelf.
4th December 2018
hipcook reviewed Spicy Sweet Potato Casserole from The Food Network
These were a big hit at Thanksgiving dinner. The chipotle powder and garlic help cut through the richness. If you're looking for a spicy savory alternative to a sugary sweet potato dish, this works well.
We more »
aj12754 added Braise: A Journey Through International Cuisine to his/her bookshelf.
22nd November 2018
aj12754 added Fish Without a Doubt: The Cook's Essential Companion to his/her bookshelf.
19th November 2018
aj12754 added Essential Emeril: Favorite Recipes and Hard-Won Wisdom From My Life in the Kitchen to his/her bookshelf.
16th November 2018
aj12754 reviewed Cream of Mushroom Soup from Classic American Food Without Fuss:: Over 100 Favorite Recipes Made Easy
Bit of a caveat before posting this review. The rating is based primarily on my husband's taste buds as my will be inoperable for a few months. He liked this soup quite a lot ... but not enough to have more »
aj12754 added Country Weekend Entertaining: Seasonal recipes from loaves and fishes and the Bridgehampton Inn to his/her bookshelf.
9th November 2018
aj12754 added Artisanal Cooking: A Chef Shares His Passion for Handcrafting Great Meals at Home to his/her bookshelf.
4th November 2018
aj12754 added The 150 Best American Recipes: Indispensable Dishes from Legendary Chefs and Undiscovered Cooks (150 Best Recipes) to his/her bookshelf.
4th November 2018
aj12754 added The Best American Recipes 2003-2004: The Year's Top Picks from Books, Magazines, Newspapers, and the Internet to his/her bookshelf.
29th October 2018
aj12754 added The Best American Recipes 2002-2003 (Best American) to his/her bookshelf.
28th October 2018
aj12754 added David Tanis Market Cooking: Recipes and Revelations, Ingredient by Ingredient to his/her bookshelf.
27th October 2018
aj12754 added The Best American Recipes 2000 to his/her bookshelf.
27th October 2018
aj12754 commented on Portobello Mushrooms with Pearl Barley and Preserved Lemon from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook
Tried to vote this useful but the link didn't work so leaving a comment. Can't wait to try this based on your very helpful review. more »aj12754 added Everyday Dorie: The Way I Cook
24th October 2018
aj12754 added Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way
22nd October 2018
aj12754 added Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food to his/her bookshelf.
20th October 2018
hipcook reviewed Chou-Fleur Blanchi (Blanched Cauliflower - Preliminary Cooking) from Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Vol 1)
Yup, it's blanched cauliflower. Though I must admit salting the water is a good step. more »
hipcook reviewed Chou-Fleur aux Tomates Fraiches (Cauliflower Gratineed with Cheese and Tomatoes) from Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Vol 1)
Very successful in my house. A lighter treatment than a cheesy "au gratin" but the butter and tomatoes add some richness. It would be good with a piece of fish. more »
aj12754 added The Best American Recipes 2005-2006: The Year's Top Picks from Books, Magazines, Newspapers, and the Internet to his/her bookshelf.
16th October 2018
aj12754 added Food52 A New Way to Dinner: A Playbook of Recipes and Strategies for the Week Ahead to his/her bookshelf.
16th October 2018
aj12754 added Dinner Illustrated: 175 Meals Ready in 1 Hour or Less
14th October 2018
aj12754 added Once Upon a Chef, the Cookbook: 100 Tested, Perfected, and Family-Approved Recipes
1st October 2018
aj12754 added Frank Stitt's Southern Table: Recipes and Gracious Traditions from Highlands Bar and Grill to his/her bookshelf.
1st October 2018
aj12754 reviewed Frank Stitt's Southern Table: Recipes and Gracious Traditions from Highlands Bar and Grill
I received this cookbook today and am already in love. I agree with every word of the above review. Stiitt's comments about two of the women who work with him (p. 25) nearly brought me to tears.hipcook reviewed Grandma's Paprika Pork Cutlets (Omas Paprika-Schweinekotelett) from The German Kitchen: Traditional Recipes, Regional Favorites
Nice approach; went over well with my family. Very similar to a paprikash, but I've not had pork served that way. I also like the more rustic sauce you get with the thinly sliced peppers, though I think... more »
hipcook reviewed Chile Relleno - You - Didn't Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
I want to like the idea of this burger. But the directions for making chile rellenos were entirely too vague for me to follow successfully. They were greasy, the cheese leaked, it was a mess. Maybe if more »
hipcook reviewed Pasta With Anchovies, Garlic, Chiles and Kale from Cooking
A quick dish that's a good combination of flavors. The recipe could be more specific in places; when I make this again I'll be careful to keep the heat closer to medium, and to chop the kale a little smaller more »
hipcook reviewed Sauteed Bananas with Yogurt and Honey from The Cookbook for Kids (Williams-Sonoma): Great Recipes for Kids Who Love to Cook
Dead simple, but a pretty pleasant summer dessert. I might do a large chop instead of a slice next time; as the bananas cook they can become a little chewy (especially if they're not perfectly ripe yet). more »
hipcook reviewed Biscuit-Wrapped Hot Dogs from The Cookbook for Kids (Williams-Sonoma): Great Recipes for Kids Who Love to Cook
It's "pigs in a blanket"; there's not much to it. But heck, it was fast and let me cook with my kid. (His review was that he'd rather figure out how to do corn dogs at home.) more »
hipcook reviewed We're Here, We're Gruyere, Get Used To It burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
These were fantastic burgers. The shredded gruyere and caramelized onions made a fantastic rich creamy topping. Flavoring burgers with onion soup mix is kind of a throwback... but honestly, it still works. more »
hipcook reviewed If Looks Could Kale Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
For some reason, I didn't love these kale chips. They were crispy but maybe a little too much so; seemed a little grainy as they broke up in my mouth. (Maybe early season kale is different than late season more »
hipcook reviewed How To Cook A Basic Burger Best from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Solid advice on how to make a good burger. I think my burgers have been too thick, not wide enough, and overworked, and following these steps may be helping. more »
hipcook reviewed New Bacon-ings Burger from The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
Solid recipe for a basic bacon cheeseburger. I do like the burger technique in this book. more »
aj12754 commented on Bratkartoffeln / Home Fries from Der große Lafer: Aus dem langjährigen Erfahrungsschatz eines leidenschaftlichen Kochs: 60 beliebte Klassiker...
Don't hold back. :-) more »hipcook added The Bob's Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers
17th June 2018
hipcook reviewed Berry and Yogurt Parfaits from The Cookbook for Kids (Williams-Sonoma): Great Recipes for Kids Who Love to Cook
It's a yogurt parfait; it's as good as your yogurt and berries are. But it's also a dish my kid can put together entirely on his own, and experiment a little with plating artistically. So points for that.
(Don't more »
hipcook reviewed Bacon and Spinach Frittata from The Cookbook for Kids (Williams-Sonoma): Great Recipes for Kids Who Love to Cook
Pretty darn good fritatta, really, especially for a "cooking with kids" book. I did make a half-recipe... except for the bacon, which I left at its normal proportion. (Which might mean this recipe should more »
aj12754 reviewed Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad from Epicurious
A little labor intensive given the time it takes to slice the sprouts, but a mandolin makes relatively quick work of that. Add crushed toasted walnuts, pecorino Romano cheese, and a lemon and EVOO dressing. more »
aj12754 reviewed Crab & Avocado Salad from Fine Cooking
Simple, tasty, looks pretty on the plate, perfect for a summer meal on the back deck or patio. Elegant enough for a dinner party. Can be done a few hours ahead, adding avocado shortly before serving, which more »