Each week on Munch Monster we’re going to feature a fruit, vegetable, herb, and anything else that catches the eye or palette that is in season. We’ll share with you the season each item thrives in, as well as recipes and ideas for using the fruit or vegetable. You’ll even find some items that are in season year round, or for lengthy periods of time, featured here. more…

This year I’m going to be doing a traditional Gascogne dish, Cassoulet, for Christmas dinner. Or maybe Christmas Eve dinner. I’ve made a one day version of the dish before, but this time I’m going as full out as possible with a multiple day preparation. It’s actually an extremely easy and comforting dish if you have the patience. Why not do something extra special this year and leave the turkey back at Thanksgiving? more…

Ingredients

2 medium apples
¼ cinnamon stick
¾ cup pomegranate juice
Pinch of salt
Honey to taste (optional) more…

Ingredients

¾ cup cranberry stilton cheese, no rind please and crumbled up
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1 ½ cup cream cheese, softened
¾ cup sugar
3 large eggs
¼ cup AP flour more…

Ingredients

¼ cup flour
Salt and pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp butter
1 whole chicken, broken down into its myriad parts
4 slices bacon more…

There is no real American cuisine. This is what I’ve heard from numerous people, and when I say that there is I’m challenged to provide examples. Well, instead of just listing off something like cioppino this time around I’d back up my assertion that America has great original cuisine by making a classic myself. more…

Ingredients

Brine
¾ c sugar
¾ c salt
1 tbsp whole juniper berries
1 cinnamon stick
5 to 6 whole dried bay leaves more…

Ingredients

1 fennel bulb
Juice of one blood orange
¾ c white wine
¼ c honey more…

Ingredients

1 c Corn Meal
1 c heavy cream
4 c water
12 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
4 oz mascarpone cheese more…

Ingredients

1 small red beet
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large egg
1 Tbsp ground mustard seed
Juice of 1 blood orange
½ tsp salt more…