Author: John Reardon

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

Summertime is wonderful. Along with beautiful weather are moments of making memories through family gatherings and celebrations. Summertime is always filled with food and fun. What is it about peach cobbler and summertime that we love so much? Think about it, whenever you think of delicious peach cobbler, you almost always think of warm summer nights, camping trips, and backyard barbecues. It’s as if this amazing dish has become the unofficial dessert of summertime fun!

So how do you take such a well-known, traditional dish, and make it better? How do you improve on something that is so amazing already? Easy, you simplify the ingredients, making it easy to make, then you throw it all in a cast iron skillet and bake it right up. The peach cobbler dessert was among the many items my grandmother used her cast iron pans for. Whenever we visited my grandmother, her home smelled of meatballs, sausage and sauce cooking, with the gentle aroma of peach cobbler drifting into the hall. Shortly after we arrived, my grandmother would ask for assistance to take the cast iron pan of meatballs and sausage from the stove. Then she would pull the black frying pan from the oven. Quickly she would position the skillet on the table to cool with strict directions that we were not to “taste” it before it was officially served. We would all wait anxiously around the big dining room table. Each of us grandkids would secretly hope that we could get the cobbler before the meatballs. However, my grandmother was strict that we ate our main meal before any dessert. Being from an Italian family, meatballs and sausage were always part of the summertime picnic food. As we would help her bring out her culinary delights to our summertime festivities, everyone would sit waiting for her food – because it was always so amazing. My grandmother was a practical person. She believed kitchen utensils should have more than one use. If you could use your cast iron skillet for frying, why not use it for baking? My grandmother passed on the tradition of baking in a cast iron frying pan to my mother and in time to all of my brothers, sisters and to me. 

I am not alone in my story of cast iron. These pans are extremely versatile and can last a lifetime. Everything from frying eggs, cooking a stew and baking a pie can be done in a cast iron pan. With a little care, these pans can become a hand-me-down family heirloom. Owning one can open up a whole new world of cooking, and the flavor that a cast iron pan can add to food is amazing.

In order to be successful when using cast iron, you have to know how to care for it, basically what to do and what not to do to your pans. If you treat them right, they will be so easy to cook with and will quickly become your go-to pan. First, season your pan. Seasoning is basically oiling the pan to give it a nonstick surface and prevent rusting. Even though most pans are sold “pre-seasoned,” you’ll still want to season it before its first use. Give your new pan a good rinse with plain old water and then heat it on the stove over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, add a small amount of oil. Using a cloth, work the oil all around the inside bottom and sides of the pan. Give it a good coat, about a teaspoon for a 10-12 inch skillet, but not so much that there is standing oil in the pan. Then let it cool to room temp. You’ll want to repeat this process a few more times until the surface is glossy, but not sticky, and, if needed, scrub lightly. A properly seasoned pan is naturally nonstick, however if there is stuff stuck to the pan, you can scrape it and scrub with a hard bristle brush. After washing or scrubbing, if necessary, make sure to fully towel dry your pan to prevent rusting.

Our favorite and bestselling cast iron is Lodge. Lodge is seasoned cast iron cookware, so they begin the seasoning process for you. Lodge provides pre-seasoned cookware with no synthetic chemicals; just soy-based vegetable oil. The more you use your cast iron, the better the seasoning becomes.  Lodge is MADE IN THE USA and has been making cast iron cookware in South Pittsburg, Tennessee since 1896. With over 120 years of experience, their cast iron is known for its high-quality design, lifetime durability, and cooking versatility and is FAMILY-OWNED.

I wish I had my grandmother’s original cast iron. Oh, if those pans could talk, the stories they would tell. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, for the hard to find, cool culinary tools. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen.” Celebrate, reflect, and listen to the stories from generations before us. Savor the memories and bring back some of the recipes that those before you cooked. 

Take Care, John & Paula

~ Author Unknown

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

This weekend is Father’s Day. Not sure what to get dad? A home cooked meal with some of their favorite foods is a great way to kick things off. How about cooking something special for him? Many of us have been lucky enough to grow up with dads who love to cook, who have mastered crème brûlée or grilling or taught us to make perfect rice. Others have dads who just love to eat, who will dig into a shared plate happily and are always ready to share a meal. This Sunday, we’ll honor all of them, maybe with pancakes or a special dinner or a thoughtful food-related gift. In preparing that special meal, there may be some cool culinary tools you need to help.

As I reflect on Father’s Day, I realize that the most important part of being a father is being in my children’s lives, to show them my love and to support their dreams and aspirations. I always knew I wanted to be a father and consider fatherhood my greatest achievement.  Once I was asked, “do you miss your children being young?” My response was that I truly have enjoyed and continue to enjoy every stage of my children’s lives. I consider being a father a privilege with the gift of loving and teaching them through every part of their lives watching them change and mature. My children fill me with the important parts of overwhelming pride and joy I have for them. Being a father to them has given me the greatest gift in being their protector, caregiver, and mentor. 

Father’s Day is a time to show the father’s and father figures in our lives appreciation and to celebrate those who have guided, supported, and taught us through our lives. This Father’s Day, take time to show the father’s and father figures in our lives appreciation and to celebrate those who have guided, supported, and taught us through our lives. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, to treat dad to some cool culinary tools. For Father’s Day, eat together as a family.  Relish the memories and show Dad how much you love Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Take Care, John & Paula

Our daughter, Aubrey is proud of the pancakes she makes for me every Father’s Day. Here is a delicious buttermilk pancake recipe to make.

Hello  my Foodie Friends!

June is a full month filled with graduations, weddings, birthdays, back yard BBQ’s, and Father’s Day. I know it’s a cliché’ but time does go by so quickly. Our daughter has a birthday coming up this week 

As I watch my daughter grow into the amazing person she is, it just seems like yesterday we were sitting at the Saratoga Race Track with her sitting on her foldable Barbie chair with a Saratoga umbrella watching the spectacular racing horses walking by. We are blessed to have our daughter serving our community as a doctor of Physical Therapy. To this day, she insists that my wife make her an ice cream cake as part of her birthday celebration. My wife has developed various creations over the years. Over the years, I have to admit, I did not mind having ice cream cake as our special birthday dessert. I love ice cream as much as I did when I was a kid. Many of us love ice cream.  We crave for it during hot summer days, even during the cold northeast winters. It is a wonderful treat to have as we watch movies like “Sleepless in Seattle”, or “When Harry met Sally”. Can you tell I am a fan of Meg Ryan! 

One culinary item that my wife relies upon when making her ice cream cake is a spring form pan. Spring form pans are a kitchen essential for producing flawlessly smooth cheesecakes, perfectly crusted tarts, or intricate ice cream cakes without damage to their tops, bottoms, or sides. Meant to eliminate the risks associated with removing cakes from traditional pans, removing your product from the pan is the final step before placing your delicate treats on display, serving to your family or guests, or packaging them to go.

Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place. We have an assortment of springform pans and accessories to assist with adding that special dessert to your menu. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. 

Take Care, John & Paula

To our daughter Aubrey: You give us a thousand reasons to smile every day. We are so proud of the woman you are. Happy Birthday to you, our beautiful daughter!

Although I cannot share Paula’s recipe for her ice cream cake, I have included another fantastic ice cream cake recipe to make.

~ Simon and Garfunkel

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

We are in the midst of so many reasons to celebrate. Among those reasons are individuals who are graduating from high school and college. I can recall the emotions of pride watching each of my children get their diploma from high school and college. For a parent, there are so many mixed emotions. During graduation day from high school, I knew my children would be fine – they would be great. Their high school graduation was just the beginning of some amazing times to come. For me, it was the start of a very different time in my life. As you watch your child cross the stage, you can feel your heart expand and surge. That moment was precious and overwhelming at the same time. During their college graduations, I cheered them and supported them as they navigated living away from home. They are out there living their own lives, and as a parent you can only sit back, hope and wish them the best. These feelings occur at all levels of watching individuals enter into new stages of their lives. That’s the thing about graduations, they bring out all the feels. (And so many tears.).

Over the many years here at our store, many customers come in and tell us stories of the love of cooking that so many younger individuals have. The stories and pictures of favorite meals, menus, and creations are shared and now this person is graduating from school.  Do you know someone who is graduating—what an excellent occasion. Or perhaps the person who is graduating is you, in which case, congratulations! Either way, graduation means presents are in order—and it also means it’s time to move out of that crappy college apartment. That’s why, if you’re wondering what to gift your grad, outfitting their new adult kitchen is the way to go. It’s a new stage of life for your proud graduate, so treat them to some useful culinary tools. 

At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place; let us help you select that special culinary gift to congratulate the graduate. To all of our graduates: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln. Remember my Foodie Friend; “Life Happens in the Kitchen

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

We are at that time of year of celebrating weddings. Typically, the season begins in late spring and into early fall. It’s the most wonderful day for many – the day you get to say your vows with the one you love the most in the world. The one that you want to spend the rest of your life with. And all the people you love most in the world will be right there with you! 

I hold dear memories of my own wedding that include the magical part of being special and surrounded by love.  It includes feeling the delight and sharing that happiness with others and recognizing that these are the people who will remain in your life as a part of your marriage. We were very blessed to have parents on both sides, that made sure our wedding day was unforgettable. Keep in mind that things will happen and not to sweat it. Our day was perfect until we did not have a ride home from the venue! 

My mother added to our day by making large platters of Italian cookies to add to our dessert offerings. All of the Italian matriarchs in my family joined in together to make the most incredible cookies (that were a hit) being consumed by the handfuls by our guests. Paula and I walked around the reception with two huge platters to share with our guests. Although cookies may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of a wedding, once you start thinking about it, you may realize how much they can be a perfect way to celebrate such a special day. While the wedding cake is still the belle of the ball, cookies can be an excellent support to this main headliner. In fact, cookies are a great treat that are commonly served during weddings or special occasions, we just don’t pay that much attention to celebrate such a special day. As we plan for our daughter Aubrey’s wedding, we reflect on the magnificent experience that our families provided in making sure we had a special day. 

Another part of weddings is what to get for the couple? At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, we offer those culinary tools that many would contribute to a couple’s kitchen and culinary needs. We also offer a wedding registry for the special couple.  Stop in and we can work with you on your selection. Updating the kitchen is often the first thing we think of when starting a new life together. This new step offers a great opportunity to throw out old kitchenware and update your old pots, pans, and knives.  Gifting kitchen tools to someone who loves cooking can be a thoughtful and practical gesture. Consider their cooking style and preferences when choosing the tools, and you might want to pick something unique or of high quality. From specialized gadgets to quality knives or cookware, there are plenty of options to consider. Stop by Compliments to the Chef and let us help you with that special gift. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.” 

Hello  my Foodie Friends!

This weekend is Mother’s Day. For many of us, it brings back memories of our childhood. My memories include the chaos my parents incurred in getting five children to do their homework, eat dinner, brush their teeth and get to bed every school night. I often reminisce about the work my mother had in raising three boys and two girls.  In many of my articles I have talked about growing up in an Italian family.  I was reminded by one of my customers that Italians are a matriarchal nationality. It’s the women who carry on the traditions and hand out the majority of discipline, wisdom and nurturing to the children. As a child, every room in the house where I grew up included constant teaching and training by my mother. The bedroom task was making your bed, dusting furniture, sweeping the floor or vacuuming the rugs and organizing your clothes.  The bathroom was to be kept clean at all times, and the living room was “keep your feet off the couch”!  The kitchen was the most intense training. Washing and drying dishes to cleaning and setting the table. When we all sat at the kitchen table, our family discussions were learning times.  We shared everything from how our day went to how to pass the potatoes. We learned manners, how to hold a fork and at the beginning of the meal watched how much Mom did to prepare the meals and us for dinner.  One of my mother’s favorite cooking tools, as well as my wife’s favorite, is the wooden spoon.  My mother used a wooden spoon for all of her daily cooking tasks. She would let us “taste” her sauce using a wooden spoon. There were wooden spoons for frying the meatballs, stirring the sauce and one that would sit at the kitchen table while we ate. 

Compliments to the Chef would like to salute all the moms who have made life happen in our homes and especially the kitchen. Who was the first one to start cooking a meal and the last to sit down for a meal?  Who was still in the kitchen cleaning well after everyone else had left?  From what room in the house did Mom dole out free advice on dating, school, employment and dealing with disappointment?  Where did some your funniest memories of mom take place?  

Foodie moms are the easiest to please on a special day – especially Mother’s Day. If they are cooking special meals for you or if they are just one who simply loves to eat, there are so many exciting ways of giving a treat these days. Creating a “foodie” theme for your mom can be a fun way to tell them how much you appreciate their cooking.

This Mother’s Day when it is time for dinner, seat mom first and clean up so they can enjoy their day.  Call Mom on a regular basis.  You cannot say “I love you, Mom” enough.  

Stop by and shop at Compliments to the Chef, Your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place for our line of Beechwood, bamboo, and pakkawood spoons and instantly take your culinary, dining, and entertaining experience to the next level. The wooden spoon was a primary cooking utensil used by Julia Child and other great chefs around the world. Each of our beechwood  spoons are made in France where they are lovingly handcrafted to standards of unsurpassed quality. For centuries wooden spoons and wooden cooking utensils have been preferred by chefs for their numerous advantages. Unlike metal or plastic, a wooden spoon can be left in the pot without the risk of melting, burning your hand, or ruining a temperature-sensitive dish. A wooden kitchen utensil will not change the taste of acidic foods the way metal will. Wooden spoons are versatile. Simply wash your kitchen utensil with warm soapy water and allow to air dry. Restore your wood utensils to their satiny finish by treating them with a little mineral oil or beeswax compound.

As we all are working through our hectic schedules, remember that family time is the most important time. Eat together as a family, share stories, talk about your day, listen to each other, enjoy good food, and remember to compliment the chef. Bring your family together for at least an hour a day. Mealtime is family time. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen.” 

Take Care, John & Paula

Hello  my Foodie Friends!

Cinco de Mayo celebrations will be coming up soon. Many of us foodies may be planning some celebrations for this event. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Although a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, the day is a popular celebration in the United States. And what better way to celebrate than to eat delicious Mexican food? An essential item needed in most recipes for Cinco de Mayo includes spices. Traditional Mexican cuisine has a distinct taste and it’s made up of a few common ingredients. That spicy flavor is due to things like onions, garlic, chile powders, herbs, spices, and a few that are specific to this style of food. Oregano and cumin bring a lot to that signature Mexican flavor. Cumin has been around since the beginning of history. Its origin lies somewhere in the Mediterranean but has expanded in popularity because it is grown easily all over the world. It has a toasty yet somewhat bitter taste and gives Mexican dishes a certain flavor that cannot be replaced. Chile Powder is actually a blend of dried, powdered chiles, cumin, and oregano. Other spices are sometimes included in the mix, but those are the key ingredients. It is used primarily for seasoning meats and vegetables but has other uses as well.

When cooking with spices, the room fills with aromas that fill our senses. Have you ever walked into a place and smelled your favorite memories? Smells of cooking can trigger memories so strong and real it feels like you’ve been transported back in time and brings a picture as sharp as photograph of a special time in your life.  Through food we exchange stories of ourselves and our families. Spices have a way of transporting you to another place and time. Each spice or collection of spices has a story, and a wonderful, beautiful one at that. Spices are flavor enhancers! That might seem rather simplistic, but it really sums up how to think about spices and get the best from them. Rather than seeing these strange little bits of bark, seeds and roots as something to be used only on special occasions, or just when a recipe calls for them, look at your spice shelf as flavor enhancers to be added to your cooking (or even drinks) in small quantities at any time. You can add pretty much any spice you like to anything you cook – you’ll soon find there are NO RULES to making something taste delicious – the only way to really understand it is through trial and error.

Having said all that, you shouldn’t normally be able to clearly identify a particular spice in your cooking – if you can taste a spice clearly, the chances are you’ve added too much. If you taste your food as you go and add seasonings in small quantities your cooking will improve and your food will have more flavor. The saying ‘you can always add more, but you can never take away’ is a good one to bear in mind, so just add a little at a time, tasting all the time until you’re happy with it.

For some Americans, one perceived impediment to cooking with spices is the dislike of spicy food, even though spices are not spicy hot, per se. Spices can make food richly flavorful and aromatic, but they make it hot only if you add fresh, powdered or flaked chile peppers. That heat comes with a few benefits — spicy hot food reduces the need for salt, plus it helps the body sweat and potentially remove toxins.

At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, we offer many spices that can be used to help you with your Cinco de Mayo culinary creations. Stop in and spice up your taste with some unique flavors you have yet to try. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Take Care, John & Paula

Hello  my Foodie Friends! 

April can still be a chilly month. Having a cup of tea can help those “chill to the bone” days. So, let’s have a hot cup of tea together. It is a well-known fact that I am a coffee drinker but I drink and love tea also. It is a comfort drink from my childhood. As a child, I was not allowed to have coffee, but tea with honey was a favorite. As I grew older, tea time became a special bonding moment that included advice from Mom. I can still visualize her putting the tea kettle on the stove and when the whistle blew, she gave you her full attention. Our time together included chatting, laughing and having a fun conversation while having a cup of hot tea. Looking back, I realize that this time was special and that tea time was my opportunity to have my mom’s company or my dad’s and talk to them.

There are lots of ways to make tea but they always start with hot water. Options for boiling water can include beautiful electric tea kettles along with stove top tea kettles made of stainless steel and ones made of enamel over steel. Electric tea kettles are perfect if you are like me and are multi tasking in the kitchen and home all the time then forgetting about the water boiling.  Having an auto-shut off on an electric tea kettle is a good option for us!  

If you prefer to use a stove top tea kettle, stop by Compliments to the Chef to see our colorful assortment of LeCreuset tea kettles. LeCreuset tea kettles are crafted from fast-heating premium carbon steel and finished with a colorful enamel in a stylish palette of colors to complement any kitchen. Tea kettles are perfect for preparing French press coffee, oatmeal and much more in addition to tea. The LeCreuset tea kettles are made of durable carbon steel that heats water rapidly, and a fixed single-tone whistle alerts when the water has reached a rolling boil. The kettles make excellent gifts and are a beautiful way to add a touch of color to the kitchen.

There are many moments over tea we can connect through everyday conversations. Creating tea time can give us moments to pause, check in, and to enjoy each other’s company. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery Store located at 33 Railroad Place for those culinary tools to help you with your special moments with friends and family.  Remember my friends “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Take Care, John & Paula