Top 10-ish List of the Week

10. Spaghetti with Walnut Sauce Prohibition was a revolutionary time in American history in which theoretically responsible alcoholism went head to head with the religious beliefs of a Christian minority.  Chief among the gangsters of the Prohibition area were Al Capone with his Chicago-based syndicate.  His favorite dish was this Sardinian walnut sauce pasta recipe from Cookstr. […]

10. Eggplant Rollatini There is an argument among some in the food community that edible fruits are generally a safer health choice then vegetables, and nightshades are their example.  Inflammation, arthritis and diabetes are negatively impacted by the alkaloids (insect deterrent) naturally present in this family of foods.  From the website Garlic and Zest comes […]

10. Fisherman’s Eggs When the rapper Notorious B.I.G. sang about having “Juicy Sardines” for dinner, the man definitely knew his seafood!  From the Sophisticated Caveman comes this recipe that has both great photography and sunny-side up eggs to boot!   9. Miso Soup with Sardine Balls No, this isn’t testicle fish soup.  From Saveur comes this […]

5. Joey Bishop’s Rusty Nail This marriage of the Scottish liquor Drambuie and whiskey was invented in the 1960’s at the 21 club in Manhattan.  From Esquire comes this recipe that was advertised by the Rat Pack as “the best things happen between 10 pm and 2 am.”  Today this expression is a favorite among […]

7. Cast Iron Creole Grouper When it comes to rap and seafood, no one loves this fish more!  A definite potential Ghostface Killah grouper dish comes from Aggies Kitchen.   This recipe uses a spice mix from Emeril himself (whose frequent use of the word “Bam!” to entertain the masses disguised just how good a chef he […]

8. Angry Chicken When any couple has a falling out (let alone the most famous musical duo of their generation) what to serve?  From Genius Kitchen comes this recipe that uses a Cajun spice blend to give it an “angry” flavor.  This is a quick and easy recipe to knock out.   7. Pissed Off […]

  8. Pig Rectum Calamari The N.P.R. show This American Life featured an episode on fake calamari.  This question of Is That Calamari or Pig Rectum has been subject to some debate about whether its true or not.  While large amounts of boneless, inverted pig rectums are sold to China and Korea, whether American restaurants […]

10. Fusilli Carbonara with Frisee and Lemon This recipe from Martha Stewart is not only delicious but also visually stunning.  The mix of red, yellow and green colors makes this a dish that just grabs your attention.  If your budget is a little tight and a good quality Parmesan cheese is just too expensive, try […]

9. California Turkey Club Wrap From the website Tastes Lovely comes this recipe which is 1930s and 40s classic!  Like a burrito, wraps are a ready to eat, one-handed meal delivery system for your mouth.  Feeling a bit classy, cut your club into bite-size portions and whip out the toothpicks.   8. Cous Cous and Roasted Asparagus […]

10. Spaghetti con Scungilli Italian American cuisine in Billy Joel’s home of Long Island is synonymous with the land itself.  As Italian immigrants became more established, moving from the Manhattan to Long Island was a sign of prosperity and success.  While Brooklyn Italians opted for the much closer Staten Island, in Long Island 25% of […]

8. Ben Franklin’s Suckatash While today corn is a staple of American cuisine, in Ben Franklin’s time it was something used as animal feed.  From Spoon University comes this recipe that was a favorite of our founding fathers!  And don’t be afraid to add some Parmesan cheese, also a Franklin favorite from his time in Europe! […]

10. Cauliflower Tater Tots You’re having a Vanilla Sky moment when things are not what they appear to be.  The French call it “trompe l’oeil” but closer to home in New York City we say W.T.F.!!!!?  From the Food Network while these look like potato tots, this recipe is actually made from cauliflower!   9. Bloody […]

7. Pizza with Foie Gras & Morel Mushrooms Combine a popular Napolitan classic with fancy French fois gras, and you get the classic definition of a nouveau riche baller!  From the site For The Love Of comes this recipe that wisely uses ricotta cheese in place of the traditional mozzarella blend.  The morel mushrooms are […]

5. Carbonite Bark Chocolate Imagine Han Solo’s reaction to this surprise desert choice during his mandatory dinner with Darth Vadar!  And as a preview to what’s in store comes this clever chocolate bark recipe from the Star Wars website.  Click here to see it (but you’ll need the mold to make it.)   4. Death […]

  5. Scorched Stormtrooper Heads Are you sitting in the middle of the Tatooine desert starving to death, surrounded by dead stormtroopers?  What would Master Yoda do?  Hmmm, well he was a green, alien-looking scavenger from outer-space that feeds on things he found in a swamp….he’d say try this recipe from the StarWars.com website!  Embrace […]

7. Spam It’s not easy to introduce an air of intrigue when it comes to pre-ground, canned pork.  But the Hormel corporation’s brand has done just that since World War II!  With just 6 ingredients, it’s often confused with ham based on taste.  This sketch is also the reason why junk e-mail today is also […]

5. Monkey Bread Elvis love of carbohydrates and sugar almost met its match with this recipe.  A mix of biscuit dough, nuts and sugar, nowadays Monkey Bread is also known as a cinnamon roll!  The name comes from the tendency of diner’s to rip it apart with their hands like a primate.  This recipe is […]

6. Meatballs Meatballs with spaghetti is an Italian American dish that, like with Alfredo, failed to catch on back home. Over 3 million people from southern Italy immigrated to the U.S.A. in the early 1900s.  The movie starts in 1945 with the first and second generation of these native Italians.  Clemenza is both their resident […]

10. Jessica’s Severed Toes in a Blanket Jessica Hamby, the rebellious vampire equivalent of a teenager who already knows everything.  If she wants to sulkily munch on someone toes, be prepared for a lot of whining if you say no.  From Woman’s Day comes this fun recipe.  Click here to see it!   9. Bill’s […]

9. Rocky Mountain Oysters (Bull Testicles) Also known as bull’s eggs and cowboy caviar, bull testicles have been served by ranchers for hundreds of years.  How many of their guests actually knew what they were eating is a different story.  This is definitely a dish worthy of Indiana Jone’s Temple of Doom meal.  From the […]