Oven-Baked Chicken in Red Wine

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

As with many meals I make on a weeknight, the genesis of the idea sparks when I have too much of something hanging around my kitchen. This time, it was red wine.

I’m a devout beer drinker and drink nothing else, except for the occasional cocktail at a restaurant or rare glass of white wine; never red. So when I was gifted with a good bottle of red wine that I knew I could never finish before it went bad, I decided to cook with it. And what did I make? Coq au Vin.

I know you may be saying, “how obvious,” and it is; but that’s where the similarities stop. I love taking inspiration from an obvious choice, like the traditional chicken braised in red wine, but changing it to my own tastes. And most importantly, make it easier to cook.

Click to read more ...

Meatloaf Appeases all Appetites

Special Fork Facebook Contest: Check out our Special Fork Facebook page for a chance to win a signed copy of Melissa’s 50 Best Plants on the Planet (suggested retail: $35), courtesy of Melissa’s/World Variety Produce, Inc.

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

Whenever I’m thinking of a dish to make for company, I always go to meatloaf first. Not that there aren’t more exciting things to make for dinner, but meatloaf is that perfect dish to make to appease all appetites.

On a recent weeknight, I was having guests over that all had certain dietary restrictions. One was pregnant, the other couldn’t eat spicy foods or dairy-rich foods, and my partner likes nothing but chicken breasts or ground beef.

Click to read more ...

Caramel Banana Bread

Special Fork Facebook Contest: Check out our Special Fork Facebook page for a chance to win a signed copy of Melissa’s 50 Best Plants on the Planet (suggested retail: $35), courtesy of Melissa’s/World Variety Produce, Inc.

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

As the weather outside is getting slightly chillier, my need to start baking cinnamon-y, spicy or pumpkin-filled baked goods kicks into gear. I mean, just look at the fervor surrounding pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks; those flavors are what we all look forward to this time of year.

Click to read more ...

Hail, the Caesar Salad

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

One of the greatest salads ever created (and I’d venture to say, the most popular in America) is the Caesar salad. It’s simple, spicy and tangy, and makes use of romaine, one of the most versatile lettuces that’s not iceberg.

I love a Caesar salad as a side to a hefty meat lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, pizza, or any red-blooded Italian-American dish. And even though that wasn’t its original purpose, lets be honest, that’s how everyone loves it.

Many people are intimidated about making the dressing from scratch because they’re worried about raw egg yolks or anchovies and having to make croutons. And while I can’t advocate using a store-bought dressing, I can offer a simpler variation.

Click to read more ...

Five Ingredients make an Easy Meal

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

Since moving to Berkeley from San Francisco three months ago, I’d been living in a small apartment with no kitchen. Suffice it to say, it was difficult for me to cook every night for dinner.

But two days ago, my partner and I moved into a new apartment with a large kitchen and I wanted to commemorate it. So I dusted off all my kitchen tools and set forth making one of my favorite meals to celebrate the occasion: salsa-braised chicken.

This dish is one of those that seems too simple to be good. It only has five ingredients (excluding salt, of course), and is ready in less than an hour and a half.

Click to read more ...