Makes 4 My friend Mark makes these awesome restaurant style burritos, that I like to turn into a cross between a burrito and a chimichanga. They’re cool cuz they’re baked – not deep fried. This delicious recipe is a cross between a burrito and a chimichanga – but instead of deep fried it’s baked. So […]
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Yes, pancakes can be a little traditional and boring, but this German version (also called the Dutch Baby) is anything but. With some lemon juice, butter and powdered sugar, serve up this tasty canyon of light and fluffy pancake to your guests and soon enough they will be speaking German (let’s just pretend that’s some […]
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Make ‘em on a moments notice by keeping a bag of wings in the freezer – you don’t even need to defrost them. Just yank ‘em out and throw them in the oven – it’s a piece of cake … I mean piece of chicken.
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Topped with pepperjack for some tangy flavor and thrown under the broiler to toast and melt, anybody with hands can put this sandwich together. Find the recipe here.
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Don’t shy away from brunch because you think you have to stand in the kitchen and make 3 dozen fried eggs or a million pancakes. This easy frittata throws together in no time, and is made even easier if you use my favorite ‘Ready Bacon’.
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Think Tiramisu, but with powdered doughnuts – yes, it’s that simple. And a pretty bitchin name I might add…
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More dumplings with this Asian classic that may have seemed nearly impossible to make at home prior to watching this show. In true Sam fashion, rather than make just shrimp or just pork, he had to combine them together into one epic Asian dumpling. Find the recipe here.
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Layers of cake donuts, whipped cream (not that gross canned stuff), vanilla pudding, and fresh raspberries make a delicious dessert that can easily be made for one, or a whole house-full!
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A different version of the typical grilled burger.
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Yes, you read that correctly. Hot butter and doughnuts over some cool vanilla ice cream and some caramel to make it look nice. Find the recipe here.
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This masterpiece is stuffed with melty cheese and salami, salty tapenade and roasted red peppers – just to name a few ingredients. There’s no need to eat lunch out when you know how to make a sandwich like this! Find the recipe here.
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This is the less sophisticated cousin of the classic “Monte Cristo”, but easily as good.
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You can bust this out in less than 15 minutes – and that’s including waiting for the water to boil. But go for the glory – maybe you should make them think you’ve been working your tail off all day!
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Flatbread pretty much just means very thin crust pizza – and this is a delicious one. Many supermarkets now sell balls of raw pizza dough – or you can make your own. Either way you’ll like this.
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This is really rich – not something you want to eat every day but when you do…its REALLY good!
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Normally these crispy shrimp are cooked in hot oil, but in the spirit of Sam’s ‘never-fry-anything-because-its-too-damn-smelly’ mantra, we decided we’d rather throw them into a pan for just a little color. Simple and of course, delicious. Find the recipe here.
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After taking a trip to the fluffy pancake canyons of Germany and stopping off in Mexico for some huevos grandes, our final destination is East Asia for this breakfast version of Sam’s fridge fried rice. Find the recipe here.
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This is no quiche – not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just a wonderful collection of simple ingredients that you’ll love. My teenager had friends over one day when I was making this and they all ate it. All of it. Here’s what they said: Nick: “Sam at the top of his game.” John: “It was a loped out dank piece of pie.” Dean: “It was a gnarly chill pie.” Josh: “It’s a creeped out danky piece of dank cheese pie.” You can see how moved they were. Maybe you should try it for yourself.
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Potato Gnocchi – boiled then pan-fried and tossed with a tangy tomato paste and savory basil pesto. Simple, quick and super delicious – just what you’d expect from us. Find the recipe here.
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Need to take an appetizer to someone’s home? Bring these baby’s along and they’ll be talking about you all night. You don’t even have to say where you got the recipe. Just send me an email telling me how good they were.
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Not to be confused with ‘chicken dumplings’, this old-school comfort food will easily have you coming back for more (I just finished the leftovers two days later and it was just as good). You’ll won’t have a problem whipping this up for family and friends and you’ll have even less of a problem with the […]
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Serves 4 as a small plate Roasting cauliflower is one of the easiest ways to prepare this heady vegetable, and the brown butter and Pecorino only make it taste more nutty and hearty. The onions bring a needed acidity to lighten and open up the cauliflower flavor, and the mint brightens every bite. Thanks to […]
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This is old school food at it’s best – one bite and you’ll be thinking of lava lamps, the Dick Van Dyke show and shag carpet. Taste it again for the first time!
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Oh my god! This is so good it could easily be the national dish of the Philippines (and Sam the Cooking Guy)
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You can buy expensive crabmeat at your favorite seafood joint, but as long as you find yourself a really good quality canned version you don’t need to.
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This is like a trifle, but using either the guava or mango makes it less sweet and really good.
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I used to make this a different way, until my friend Mark (you’ll remember him from the Potatoes Anna) helped to inspire this more flavorful version. I have always been a proponent of keeping a bag of frozen shell-on and de-veined shrimp in the freezer, and this recipe proves my point beautifully. At the absolute last minute you can have an awesome, delicious and fun meal. But it’s a shame to eat these alone – turn them into a party.
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A wonderful little Greek soup – just like Mrs. Kronopoulos, the wonderful little Greek woman who used to make it for me.
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I’ll be the first to admit that potato soup sounds boring. But this one isn’t. The red onions help it taste great, plus it’s way fun because your guests get to customize it themselves with a choice of cool toppings. Think baked potato – but way better. It’s so good, just serve a salad with it and you’re done.
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Kale – the cardboard of the salad world. But marinating it in this dressing and using avocado help make it so delicious – not to mention healthy. It’s our new favorite.
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Think fish stew – unless that sounds gross. Then just think super delicious seafood in a glorious, rich tomato broth (which is basically a fish stew)
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Serves 6 This is very impressive looking when done, not to mention easy. I know I say that a lot but it really is. You can find the untreated cedar planks at your local lumberyard. Ingredients 1 Cedar plank (dimensions are up to you, but about an inch thick and big enough to fit the […]
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Yes, this is grilled, and it’s as fun to make as it is to eat.
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So good…and a little different you’ll love them. If you’re a beer person (and who isn’t with ribs?) pick up a some Chinese beer, Tsing Tao to go along with these.
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Fresh Mango and Lime Ice. The perfect dessert after a big dinner. The recipe calls for rum and you can use whatever you like – but the coconut in Malibu Rum gives it a amazing tropicalness – is that a word?
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Mango Dessert Tacos. Simple, messy and gooey – just like they should be. No one gets a fork. No one!
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Sour cream and green onions are classic right? Wait until you try it with hot dogs. You’ll be wondering why you haven’t done this sooner…
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Crab Rolls. You’ve heard of a lobster roll? It’s basically lobster salad in a hot dog bun. This is sort of the same thing except with crab – hence the name. And hence the lower price…
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Burgers, dogs, or anything grilled – this is a delicious addition. Tri it with the Chili Rubbed Tri Tip. Get it..tri it? Man, am I funny…
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So easy but so really good. You can find Five Spice seasoning in any supermarket spice aisle. And if you can’t – go yell at them and tell them you want it.
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A Southern California classic…never had em? You are in for a treat.
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From our dear friend, neighbor (and grandmother to our dog Haley) Peg.
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Bunuelos: dough that’s been deep fried and sugar’d. If you know me, you know I don’t make my own dough. And I certainly don’t deep fry.
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Stupid good.
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I know what you’re thinking – cold soup deal is a foo-foo dainty little thing that belongs at an old ladies garden party. Wrong – it’s big and bold and full of flavor and deserves to be made.
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There’s this big mystique about lobster being hard to cook. Frankly it’s no more difficult than a grilled peanut butter and jelly – it’s just more expensive. Try it and see.
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My mom used to make this and serve it in a pie dish for company. And since it’s not 1969 anymore – my version is a little different…
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This is fabulous – a great change from the everyday Greek Salad.
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My friend Terryl makes a fancy version of this by making her own dough from scratch. Ok – so mine isn’t from scratch, but it sure is good.
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Ridiculously simple morning treat? Yes. Warm, sweet and amazingly delicious? Yes. Impressive? Absolutely yes. Will you want it again? – Oh yes, yes! Low cal and low fat? You’re kidding right?
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I shot a show on the USS Asheville – a fast attack nuclear submarine. And I have Shari and Jared Hofer to thank for starting the legwork. Jared was on the Asheville, and his wife Shari had written to tell me that the food on the sub was better than the aircraft carrier where I had also done a show. The Hofer’s are now stationed in Italy – hence the recipe.
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Okay so it’s not really a recipe as much as it is a really, really tasty party trick. If you got people coming over and have a can of breadsticks lying around, don’t make breadsticks–make these.
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Makes 2 Who says Asian & Mexican food can’t mix? Ingredients 4 green onions, white & light green parts only, sliced into thin shreds 1/4 cup jicama, sliced into thin shreds 1/4 pound salmon fillet without the skin, cut into small pieces 3 tablespoons Hoisin sauce 1/2 tablespoon Asian chili paste 2 corn tortillas Peanut […]
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When I was a kid, my dad (Bruce) used to have vanilla ice cream topped with maple syrup and peanuts alomost every night after dinner. I added the waffle but the idea is the same and it rocks!
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This is not that thick, army green gross stuff. This is fresh, bright and really delicious. But if you want the old-school version, I’m sure you can find it in a can in the back of an old supermarket somewhere…
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Who says iceberg lettuce is only for burgers or rabbits? Try this awesome, crispy throw-back for dinner one night while watching Walter Cronkite & serving roumaki as an appetizer.
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This was the crew’s favorite when we shot Grill Cheese Day – and for good reason. It’s crazy delicious…
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Warm, soft and delicious. That is what she said…
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This was an instant classic in my house and has become the Sunday afternoon crowd snack of choice for sporting events or Tivo’d showings of Martha Stewart’s Apprentice. Ok so maybe the crowd is a lot smaller for the Martha showings. Fine then, it’s just me – you happy now?
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This is not as goofy as it seems. If you like a PB & J, and who doesn’t?…then this is a must-try. Give it a whirl for lunch one weekend.
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A classic New Orleans-type of sandwich. But instead of deep-fried, it’s done on the grill or on a grill pan…
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My first bite and I was like “what the hell…I should have done this years ago”
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I love a Reuben, but always make it with coleslaw instead of sauerkraut. So it just makes sense that if I was going to turn it into a dog I would do the same.
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You’re probably tired of me telling you that there are things you should keep in your freezer for last minute appetite supression. Scallops are one of them because they freeze really well and defrost quickly. Sea scallops are the big ones and bay scallops are the little guys – this recipe uses the big boys.
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2 ingredients – OK, technically 3 if you count the stick. Larger shrimp like at least 31/40′s are great. That just means there are between 31 and 40 shrimp per pound.
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You can make your own banana bread from scratch, but why bother? Buy it as a mix or buy a loaf already baked. My vote is for the mix – keep a box or 2 in the pantry and make it the night before. Either way, this is a great and easy morning change.
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You can use either fresh corn that you grill or a can of corn – and trust me…the can is very easy and still really really good. Don’t knock it until you’ve made it.
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One of the best reasons to buy a deli-roasted chicken.
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This is an awesome appetizer. A different take on the average bruschetta.
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You’re laughing right? Well I’m serious about how good this is – so don’t laugh until you’ve tried it. This is maybe a twice-a-year recipe. It’s for the morning after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner – and it requires that you still have some stuffing left – and frankly is the best reason to make extra.
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‘Crostini’ too fancy-sounding? Then let’s just call this ‘mushrooms on bread’. Better?
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Bring on the brunch baby, cuz this is one of my favorite things to serve.
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This is a great opening to a romantic meal for two. Don’t be put off thinking crab is difficult to deal with – it’s not.
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This is usually made with pork that is slowly cooked for something like 6 hours. That doesn’t work for me, but this does…
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Traditionally eggplant is breaded & then deep fried for this sandwich – but we’re not doing that. We’re going natural and all delicious. I wanna make one just thinking about it…
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Think: juicy, smokey shrimp toppled upon a mound of smooth, cheesey grits. Now once you stop drooling, go make it and chow down.
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Too many people overcook scallops and it’s time to stop. If you overcook yours, I’ll have to come over and knock you in the head. You simply need lots of heat and little time.
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Think about this – melty blue cheese married to caramelized red onion that’s been sweetened with a little brown sugar. On second thought – don’t think about it – just make it.
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The thing that makes risotto a pain in the ass (oops, can I say ass?) is that you have to baby-sit it by stirring, stirring and stirring. My recipe is not traditional, but it’s also not a pain in the ass. Give it a whirl.
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Too simple? Perhaps. Not fancy enough? Perhaps. Delicious? You betcha. These little snacks have been pleasing the British for centuries – so who are we to argue?
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Paella can be one big pain in the, well – you know. This…is not.
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You…someone special…the lights down low…candles flickering…romantic music and a smooth dark chocolate fondue to share…one fork…two mouths. Or it could be just you and the chocolate…whatever works, right?
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Not only is she fabulous, but at only 3 ingredients, she’s a meatball genius. These things are great.
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This dish was named after Italian prostitutes, who would come into restaurants late after a long night of work. The chefs would prepare a simple meal of leftovers. Obviously the ladies liked it, and the dish is now a common item in many restaurants. Don’t worry, eating it won’t cause you to buy extra high heels and install a streetlamp in front of your house.
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Only three ingredients, but it tastes like fifty. The black bean & garlic sauce is available in the Asian aisle at any supermarket. Look for the Lee Kum Kee brand.
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Hearty and delicious – and it works just as well with ground beef or turkey.
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Think Asian turkey tacos served in lettuce cups.
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