Blog Hop | Katherine Martinelli

Homemade Harissa and a Pepper Blog Hop

February 24, 2012February 12, 201799 Comments

This is one of those things that’s been on my list to make for a long time: homemade harissa. The fiery, vibrant red, North African pepper hot sauce is completely addictive and revs up anything you add it to. Stews take on new depth, dips get kick, and tagines will never be the same. Popular in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, harissa has also become a hip flavor in the States where you will find harissa aioli, harissa-marinated steak, harissa grilled shrimp, and harissa oil. Continue reading “Homemade Harissa and a Pepper Blog Hop” →

Feta and Herb Scramble and a Breakfast Blog Hop

February 17, 2012February 12, 201761 Comments

I don’t post that many breakfast recipes. Many of the ones I have do double duty as dessert and/or breakfast, like my applesauce cake or banana-walnut bread. Most days, I keep my breakfast simple. A cup of coffee. Oatmeal with brown sugar and dried cherries. Yogurt with date honey and homemade pumpkin granola. I’m not usually hungry right when I wake up, and often don’t eat until it’s nearly lunch time. On weekends there’s nothing like enjoying a luxurious brunch (with eggs Benedict and homemade hollandaise sauce of course), but more often than not something simple and flavorful, like this feta and herb scramble, graces our table. It almost seems silly to post a recipe, but I make it so often – and it’s so delicious – I wanted to share it. Continue reading “Feta and Herb Scramble and a Breakfast Blog Hop” →

Chocolate Covered Strawberries and a Valentine’s Day Blog Hop

February 10, 2012February 12, 201788 Comments

It’s that time of year. If I were in the States right now I’m sure I would be inundated with chocolates packaged in red hearts, balloons shaped like hearts, and stuffed animals holding hearts. I am not against anything that celebrates love, but I do think people get a little carried away on Valentine’s Day. My husband and I have never once celebrated it. Rather than acknowledging our love on a random day that Hallmark has chosen with millions of other couples, we opt to love and appreciate each other every day and have an especially nice meal on our anniversary. In high school and college my girlfriends and I (even when we had boyfriends) would go out for a nice Valentine’s Day dinner. Now that’s my idea of V-Day. Continue reading “Chocolate Covered Strawberries and a Valentine’s Day Blog Hop” →

Boneless Buffalo Wings and a Game Day Blog Hop

February 3, 2012February 12, 201761 Comments

I’ll be upfront: I am not a football fan. But I am brimming with New York pride (Go Giants!) and, although I can’t follow a game, I love the Super Bowl. Just not for the football. For me, Super Bowl Sunday is all about the food. And, let’s be honest, one food in particular: wings. Or, as my husband and I like to call them, wangs. Our love of wangs (as well as us calling them that) dates back to college. He was in an improv comedy group and after every show they’d blow the proceeds on wings and beer. The wings were always boneless (i.e. chicken tenders coated in wing sauce) and were, without fail, devoured in minutes. And so, somehow, boneless wings have become a sort of comfort food for us. Continue reading “Boneless Buffalo Wings and a Game Day Blog Hop” →

Turkey Enchiladas and a Mexican-themed Blog Hop

January 27, 2012February 12, 201763 Comments

Oh how I miss good Mexican food! Israel is a food lover’s paradise, but reasonably enough Mexican is not one of the country’s culinary strengths. As a friend of a friend once said, “Why we should have Mexican food? We are not Mexican.” Point taken. So that leaves it up to me and my kitchen, where I’ve managed to produce some satisfying alternatives. I first saw the recipe that inspired me on Pinterest, and was immediately sold on the idea of a chipotle sour cream sauce. While I had yet to find chiles in adobo (I just did in Tel Aviv and am so excited!), I had brought back some chipotle powder from the States and was excited to put it to good use. Continue reading “Turkey Enchiladas and a Mexican-themed Blog Hop” →

Halibut with Zucchini en Papillote and a Fish Blog Hop

January 20, 2012February 12, 201753 Comments

If your new year’s resolution had anything to do with a healthier diet, then this simple, elegant dish is a good place to start. I absolutely adore halibut for its delicate, clean flavor and firm texture. And its nutritional benefits are through the roof – super low in fat and calories, halibut is an excellent source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin b12, and more. Cooking en papillote – or in a parchment paper bundle – is a great way to seal in these nutrients without introducing a lot of extra fats to your meal. You simply put whatever you’d like to cook, along with a bit of liquid and flavor if you like, into a pack made of parchment, seal it, and bake. The result is a healthy meal that is more flavorful than simply steaming but just as healthy. Continue reading “Halibut with Zucchini en Papillote and a Fish Blog Hop” →

Tofu Tacos and a Tofu Blog Hop

January 13, 2012February 12, 201754 Comments

I know, tofu can be a sensitive subject. Every time I’ve posted a tofu recipe I’ve had multiple comments saying “looks good but I/my spouse/my children don’t like tofu.” Here’s the thing: tofu is what you make of it. It doesn’t have all that much flavor on its own, but is great at absorbing the flavors of whatever it’s cooked in. If it’s a texture thing, tofu comes in a variety of textures from silky to extra firm so you should be able to find one that suits your mood. I’m just saying, give tofu a chance. This coming from a meat eater. An avid one, in fact. But I think we all know that we should be cutting down on our meat intake for a variety of reasons, which will help the environment and our health. Continue reading “Tofu Tacos and a Tofu Blog Hop” →

Homemade S’Mores and a DIY Blog Hop

January 6, 2012February 12, 201749 Comments

I’ve made homemade graham crackers AND homemade marshmallows, so you know where I’m headed. Yup, you’re usually one step ahead of me. S’mores. From almost entirely homemade ingredients. Does it get better than that? I didn’t think so. For those of you that have somehow been deprived of the amazing invention known as s’mores, these impeccable little treats consist of chocolate and toasted marshmallow sandwiched between two pieces of gram cracker. The residual heat from the melty marshmallow melts the chocolat ever so slightly and causes everything to gel together in a magical way. Continue reading “Homemade S’Mores and a DIY Blog Hop” →

Pomegranate Mojito and a Cocktail Blog Hop

December 30, 2011February 12, 201754 Comments

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and that means I have cocktails on the brain. One of my favorite cocktail discoveries as of late is this refreshing Pomegranate Mojito that was concocted by my friend Ben Brewer of Israel Food Tours. I came upon it while doing research on Jewish cocktails for an article in the Jewish Daily Forward and simply fell in love. Although in the article I proposed it as a Sukkot-appropriate drink, the truth is I could sip on this all year long. Continue reading “Pomegranate Mojito and a Cocktail Blog Hop” →

Precipizi and a Holiday Blog Hop

December 23, 2011February 12, 201735 Comments

Precipizi, an Italian Jewish Hanukkah treat

Can you believe that we’re midway through Hanukkah and that tomorrow is Christmas Eve? It’s wonderful to be home in New York celebrating the holidays with friends and family. My husband and I are fortunate enough to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, and so get the best of both traditions. In honor of my Italian heritage, this year I did a bit of research into how Italian Jews celebrate Hanukkah for an article in the Jew and the Carrot (check it out here). And so I was introduced to Hanukkah Precipizi, which is similar to the struffoli that is also popular around Christmas time in Italy. Hanukkah is all about fried food, a celebration of oil in all its glory, and these certainly fit the bill. Continue reading “Precipizi and a Holiday Blog Hop” →