Lobster Rolls on the Grill

By Katie Barreira

Everyone knows that the best thing to do with leftover lobster is make lobster salad. It’s so good, in fact, that when shopping for my annual Cape Cod lobster boil I always buy a couple extra crustaceans just to make sure there’ll be enough pickins for a lobster roll lunch the next day.

Served hot or cold, with creamy mayo or drawn butter, lobster rolls have captured New York foodies in their tasty clutches. Having partaken in a gut-busting lobster crawl across the island of Manhattan, I can tell you that I’m partial to Luke’s Lobster, which serves Maine style rolls – a butter-toasted bun piled with chunks of chilled claw and knuckle meat, topped with a light smear of mayo and a hit of their “secret” spice blend.

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Savory Dinner Crepes

By Katie Barreira

Creperies are bubbling up all over Manhattan and even in some unexpected locations, like the food court at the Burlington Mall. Nestled among the ubiquitous offerings, like Sbarro and Chick-fil-A, Appleseed Crepe and Bread is a haven among fast food stands. Vats of crepe batter can be made ahead (the mixture actually improves over time), cooked quickly to order and filled with whatever one’s heart desires.

These same principles apply to your weeknight dinner. The night before, throw all the batter ingredients into a blender, give ‘em a whir and put the pitcher directly into the fridge – no muss, no fuss! When it’s time for dinner, toss together your favorite salad – I’m partial to Caesar or Greek in my savory crepes – grab the pitcher of batter (with its convenient pourable spout) and you’ve got an impressive, satisfying meal in 15 minutes flat. Here’s how!

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Flour Power

By Katie Barreira

All-purpose flour is the workhorse of baking, but what about those other kinds, like pastry and cake flour? Ever wonder about the difference? It’s primarily about the protein. When protein and water combine they produce gluten, the glue of baking. Different flours have more or less protein, depending on their end use. Choosing flour with the right protein content will help your baked goods achieve the best possible texture.

When baking, always follow the recipe as written. Rather than substituting one flour type for another, look for a recipe that calls for the appropriate flour.

Bread Flour: At around 12 percent protein, this high-gluten flour gives a structured, chewy texture to breads.

All-Purpose Flour: About 10 percent protein.

Pastry Flour: About 8 percent protein – soft enough to keep your piecrust light and delicate, but strong enough to hold those flakey layers together.

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All about Chives

By Lori Powell

Just when I feel that it’s safe to plant some things in the garden…a frost warning appears out of nowhere. So far everything is still thriving.

My chive plant returned this year with a flourish and started to flower extremely early this spring, due to the sunny days and high temperatures. Chives are a hardy perennial and a member of the onion family, along with leeks and garlic.

As you can see from my photo, they grow in clumps and can reach a height of about 12 inches. The flowering part of the chive plant is one of my favorites for garnishing salads and other dishes. Chives yield a gorgeous purple blossom that is edible and adds eye appeal to any dish.

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A Drain’s Not the Only Place for Bean Liquid

By Katie Barreira

I’d prefer dried beans to canned any day, but the reality is that canned beans have a place in my pantry and so does their liquid.

Poke around the Web and you’ll see that bean liquid has a bad rap. But the biggest beef is its high sodium content and there’s an easy answer for that: buy low-sodium or sodium-free beans (like Eden Organics). They’re better for you anyway.

Another common complaint is that the cloudy liquid has “gunk” in it. I get it; coagulated starch balls don’t do much for me either, but I’ve found that higher-quality canned beans tend to be less gunky and when in doubt, you can just pour the liquid through a sieve. It’s no harder than draining the beans.

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