An Invitation: The Inaugural Montclair Fall Food Classic
10 October 2012 § 1 Comment
It feels good to be busy, sometimes…
…and thanks to the unbelievable generosity of the good people at Kings food markets and a wonderful seasonal menu created by some of Essex County’s finest chefs—namely Chef Robert Pantusa of Osteria Giotto and Chef Francesco Palmieri of The Orange Squirrel—I’ve been kept busy for a very good cause.
So mark your calendars: we have a lunch date on October 26!
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, for only $15 (suggested minimum) you can join This Little Piggy for a seasonal lunch to benefit The Salvation Army’s hot meal program. « Read the rest of this entry »
Hot Apple Cakes Recipe
2 October 2012 § 1 Comment
With a slight chill in the morning air Fall fruit is definitely here. Apples and pears are just begging to be baked.
I’m trying to wean one of The Ladies™ from her strawberry fixation. It’s not even as if they taste that good at the moment but she will not be told and is only eating red fruit. Why are some kids so fussy? The other one will eat everything which goes to show it is not the parents. So I’ve taken to sneaking apples into baked products as it is one way to expand her fruit repertoire and save a bit on the grocery bills – those berries are not cheap.
This recipe that I posted on Barista Kids takes an apple and transfers it into a buttery and sugary treat. This recipe is a variation of traditional Welsh Cakes (basically substitute the raisins for apple) and is definitely to be enjoyed with a piping hot cup of tea or coffee.
You can even turn this into a craft activity by getting the kids to roll out the dough and get to work with their cookie cutters while you enjoy that cuppa.
Last of the summer pesto recipe.
4 September 2012 § 6 Comments
So after my spectacular (and mostly fabricated) list of reasons why This Little Piggy has been quiet this summer – you know performing with the Spice Girls at the Olympics.
I was then forced into radio silence through lack of an oven and a broken foot. Two unrelated incidents that made food blogging difficult impossible as hopping up and down the stairs to the grill with a plate of food was a very messy disaster waiting to happen. « Read the rest of this entry »
Kale Hipster Salad Recipe
13 August 2012 § 13 Comments
I can’t believe that it has been so long since I last posted….did anyone miss me?
Northern Spy Food Co’s Incredible Kale Salad, adapted with seasonal ingredients
So, before we get to the Kale Salad, a bit about my summer. Apart from sailing around the world three times, I’ve been busy diving for oysters in Japan, grinding coffee beans in Costa Rica, seeking the finest tea leaves from Sri Lanka and slaughtering my own organic pigs fed on a diet of barley and acorns. « Read the rest of this entry »
Natural Pink Lemonade Recipe
8 July 2012 § 2 Comments
If it is too hot in the kitchen then try this refreshing natural pink lemonade recipe. It does not even require heating a syrup, and will even keep the little ones quiet for all of 5 minutes while they squeeze lemons.
The recipe is in my What’s for Dinner? column on Barista Kids.
I almost did it. I was trying to write this without including the “if life gives you lemons” line…but I just had to get it out of my head. There, said it.
Pork Tenderloin Rub Recipe for the Grill
29 June 2012 § 6 Comments
You might have heard about those black-footed Iberian pigs of Spain that are fed acorns and produce the most flavorful pork ever. Well This Little Piggy was very excited to meet the Møsefund people at the Montclair Farmers Market last week who are selling a distant cousin to the Iberian pig – the Mangalitsa.
Rubbed Pork Tenderloin cooked on the grill
We bought a pork tenderloin as The Ladies™ had eaten their body weight in the bratwurst beer samples, and I felt bad they had eaten so many. The pork tenderloin was so flavorful, but without that greasy aftertaste you get with a lot of pork. I made a quick rub, put it on the grill and bingo a really easy, quick dinner cooked outside in about 20 minutes (and that included 5 minutes of meat resting time). Oh, and it was healthy – yes pork can be healthy – if raised properly. « Read the rest of this entry »
Pea, feta, mint and barley salad
20 June 2012 § 9 Comments
Some foods are just meant for each other: peas and mint are one of those magical combinations. The cool, clean tang of the mint contrasts with the sweet-as-sugar crunchy peas. To make this early summer salad add some subtly salty feta and the flavors will sing against the backdrop of the barley.
Pea, mint, feta and barley salad
The Ladies™ are disappointed as our garden has yielded a meagre three peas. So I bought a few handfuls of peas from the Farmers Market and got The Ladies™ working on shelling them. « Read the rest of this entry »
