Lager Pulled Pork with Herby Olivio Biscuits

Winter is here and that means it is time to cook up some comfort! With a polar vortex looming around New England this week, pulled pork and herby biscuits are calling our name.  This slow cooked, bone-in pork butt is loaded with flavor thanks to a tasty rub and a bottle of our good friend Sam Adams. […]

A Better Benedict

Eggs Benedict is synonymous with “Today is Special”!  It is always my birthday breakfast of choice and what I lean to on the big holidays and special occasions.  No surprise, it is on the menu this Christmas Morning (along with my favorite Stickiest Brioche Pecan Rolls)!  But this year, in the interest of closing out 2014 […]

Cider Glazed Pork Chops with Mascarpone Polenta, Onions and Apples

We celebrated Max’s 1st birthday in the heart of October with this quintessential fall dish!  Creamy mascarpone polenta warms you from the inside out and pork chops are such a fantastic tribute to Harvest Season.  Sauteed onions and apples are luxuriously humble and the cider glaze brings us home.  Wishful thinking as a mother that I have […]

Mediterranean Harvest Salad & Homemade Focaccia

This hearty salad is a nod to fall, from here in New England to travels along the Mediterranean.  The creamy butternut squash is roasted with aromatic cumin, sweet paprika and the goodness of Olivio’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil then tossed with hearty lentils, refreshing mint and an earthy goat cheese which balances out the exotic.  Toasted almonds […]

Simple Summer Steak and Potatoes ~ Fire up the Grill!

I love simple food with big flavor!  Grilling wins my heart every time with its ability to elevate great ingredients and limit the time I spend in the kitchen.  AJ and I really stepped up our grill-game in collaboration with Fire Magic Grill.  If you are in the market for a state-of-the-art grill, this beauty is a work […]

Master Your Holiday Meal!

‘Tis the season for big family dinners and holiday entertaining!  Are  you hosting this year?  If you are looking for some last minute inspiration for your holiday meals, check out the Master Your Holiday Meals web cooking series that Brian Dunn, Corporate Development Chef at Roche Bros and I put together with 5 home cooks across Massachusetts! […]

Turkey Sage Meatballs with Cranberry Glaze

This app is a shout out to the Queen Bird and her favorite Berry.  As AJ and I will be heading down to Connecticut to celebrate with the in-laws this year, we wanted to have a little get-together with some friends up in Boston.  Pavlov got it right…there is something about the flavors of the […]

Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup with Lime Roasted Black Tiger Prawns

Cool and creamy soup with a snappy bite of citrus-spicy shrimp…sink your teeth into the last week of summer.  This soup is a mood and complexion booster thanks to the cukes and avacodo.  Serve it as a satisfying starter or as an appetite whetting amuse bouche in a shot glass or demitasse…great for passing as […]

Anna & AJ chat with Cape Ann Fresh Catch Community Supported Fishery

AJ and I are passionate about seafood.  This was our first year participating in the Cape Ann Fresh Catch Community Supported Fishery out of Gloucester, MA.   Their direct-to-you model has been awesome, allowing us to chat with Fisherman Nick when he comes into Cambridge on Monday afternoons for the weekly share drop and enjoy […]

Ultimate “Turkey in the Orchard” Burger – As seen on MasterChef on FOX

AJ and I love spending time in Vermont during the fall.  One of our favorite places used to be the Barnard General Store, just outside of Woodstock, VT.  The General Store was run by three ladies, all confident behind the grill, and was packed with delicious local sustenance. Perched right on Silver Lake, the modest […]

Pan Roasted Monkfish with Siena Farms Summer Vegetables

Monkfish, or  “poor man’s lobster”, came in our Cape Ann Fresh Catch CSF this week!  Monkfish are opportunistic feeders and have a sweet tooth for shrimp, shellfish and sand eels.  The flavor  is rich, sweet and succulent reminiscent of lobster, without the hassle of a shell.  The texture of the meat is more firm than […]

Braised Bluefish with Baby Bok Choy in Saffron Jus

Braised Bluefish with Baby Bok Choy in Saffron Jus We received a whole Bluefish last week in our Cape Ann Fresh Catch CSF.  Bluefish is another great example of why buying whole fish really works to your advantage when it comes to quality and flavor.  One of the reasons why this delicious fish has a […]

Guilt Free Fish and Chips with Cape Ann Fresh Catch Pollock

Fish and Chips are one of my favorite flavors of summer.  I love this recipe because it is a healthy, “bikini approved” alternative to the often deep fried version.  And, the clean up is quick and painless as you do not have a vat of oil to dispose of.  I also love the use of […]

AJ’s Duck Prosciutto

AJ and I love curing our own sausages and meats.  As we live in the Back Bay and have a “galley” size kitchen, duck proscuitto has become a superb “alternative”  to making room in our fridge for an entire dry cured ham.  (Trust me, if it was up to AJ, our produce and condiments would […]

Thyme Ginger Sole with Roasted Kohlrabi Fries and Sorrel Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Fisherman Nick brought us 4 gorgeous whole grey sole this week from our Cape Ann Fresh Catch CSF.  If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a whole fish, here is a great fillet demo from their website.  Flat fish have a different bone structure than cod or salmon so the technique is slightly […]

How to Fillet and Skin a Fish – 5lbs Atlantic Pollock from Cape Anna Fresh Catch

Monday is Fish Day for the Rossi’s!  Every Monday between 4-6p we meet Fisherman Nick in Cambridge to grab the latest catch from Cape Ann Fresh Catch Community Supported Fishery (CSF).  The fish is literally fresh off the boat that morning and I love the pleasure of shaking hands with the guy who caught it.  If we […]

Pan Seared Duck Breast with Pickled Maine Rosehips, Mascarpone Polenta and Micro Green Salad

I love duck.  I actually learned how to perfectly cook duck breast from Gordon’s youtube video about a year ago.  My favorite way to serve this beautiful, rich protein is medium rare, sliced on the bias, and served with homemade pickled rosehips from Vinylhaven, ME, creamy Mascarpone Polenta and a Micro Green Salad.   No […]

Ground Beef Challenge – Tarragon Beef Stuffed Onion Wrap with Shallot Vinaigrette and Horseradish Creme

For the Top 36 Elimination Challenge on Master Chef, the judges launched Ground Beef at us.  I typically only buy ground beef if I am grilling burgers out back.  Instead, I like to use ground turkey, pork, chicken or a mix for most of my cooking (chili, meatballs, bolognese, meatloaf…you name it.)  I thought “Hamburger” […]

AJ’s New England Dirty Lobster…as seen (and tasted) on MasterChef USA/FOX

What does a man who has been born and raised in New England serve to 3 of the most influential guys in the culinary scene? NEW ENGLAND. DIRTY. LOBSTER.   This dish is AJ’s rendition of Jasper White’s amazing Pan Roasted Lobster from the Summer Shack.  My favorite part of this dish is the countless […]

How to Clean a Soft Shell Crab

Soft Shell Crab

It’s soft shell crab season in Boston!  Soft Shell Crab is a Blue Crab that has recently molted its hard shell, making the entire crab delicious and edible.  The meat is tender, delicate and sweet.  When you find these little guys fresh and in season, there are 3 simple cleaning steps necessary to prepare them […]