Recipes
Nigella Caesar Dressing
This genius twist on Caesar dressing is a snap to make and boasts all the flavors in a classic Caesar. The twist? We've managed to make it vegan and low cholesterol with a little spice magic. Worcestershire powder is the umami bomb instead of the traditional anchovy, and black salt with its slightly sulfurous taste opts in for the egg. This recipe makes about a half quart. It keeps well in the refrigerator and can be used for Caesar salad or a flavorful marinade for chicken or fish. Of course it wouldn't be a Caesar without the croutons so we've included a suggestion for those too. Happy Salad Season! This recipe was so delicious we added it to our permanent inventory. Now you can buy Nigella Caesar premixed on our website! Just substitute 1/4 cup in place of the spices in the dressing recipe above.
Learn more
Sassy Bacon Draped Meatloaf
I've finally nailed a simple and satisfying meatloaf recipe! A generous loaf draped in bacon is always a universal hit, but with classic comfort food, the brilliance is in the details. What set this loaf apart from all the rest was quick sauté on the onions before mixing them in. Their natural sweetness develops, complementing the Vietnamese cassia cinnamon in our bewitching Sassy Steak Spice. It's completely worth the extra step. Tip number two is to leave the loaf pan for banana bread - sculpt this masterpiece free-form in a shallow Pyrex baking dish to allow the bacon to properly crisp, moistening your loaf as it cooks, smoky juices mingling with the beef and spice...Delicious! Any leftovers make great sandwiches the next day, too!
Learn more
Chuck's Gumbo
Down on Western Avenue, around the corner from our brick & mortar storefront, folks still talk in hushed tones about a little place called Sesto’s Cafe, and the legendary gumbo of Chuck Smith. Chicken and sausage are served up alongside the classic trinity of celery, onion, and bell pepper, with a touch of Herbes de Provence, for mouthwatering and memorable flavor.Sesto’s is gone now, but its legacy lives on in Chuck’s famous recipe, which he generously shared with us. We’ve made a few changes, to keep his secrets safe, but this bayou classic is still worthy of every bit of its formidable reputation.
Learn more
Caribbean Curry Carrot Soup
A word of advice from a novice gardener: Carrots are much bigger than carrot seeds. Somehow, fifty-odd square feet of garden space doesn't seem like that much when it's being planted, but it can produce a surprising haul, most especially in the carrot department. Praise be that carrots are delicious, so their being excessively plentiful is a problem I'm thankful to have! This soup is hearty and delicious, made velvety by the soft puree of carrots, and the sunny flavors of Caribbean Curry. We've dressed it up a little with the prawns, but this soup can easily be made vegan by omitting them and using red miso paste in favor of the Worcestershire powder.
Learn more
Memphis Beale St. BBQ Brisket with Whiskey Sauce
Beef brisket is one of my favorite cuts of meat. When cooked just right, it is incredibly tender and flavorful, and one of the most affordable cuts to boot! However there are an abundance of horror stories out there of under or overcooked brisket that end up tough, dry, chewy, shrunken or shriveled. Don't fear! With a little practice and close attention you can easily avoid these common pitfalls.Briskets come in a wide variety of sizes, from a small one pound size common in the supermarket, to massive fourteen pounders meant to spend an entire day in a smoker; in this recipe we call for about a three pound brisket. Feel free to use whatever size you need to feed everyone at your table. but be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Having an in-oven probe thermometer will be a huge asset here, since being able to pull it out of the oven right at 185°F and letting it rest for a while will give your brisket the maximum amount of time at just the right temperature to melt the fat without overcooking. The key to a tender brisket is cooking it just long enough to allow the connective tissue to breakdown, without leaving it dry and tough.Also, when making the whiskey BBQ sauce, be sure to use a whiskey you would drink. The old adage about not cooking with something you wouldn't drink yourself isn't just for wine!
Learn more
