Itty Bits of Meat, Day Two

Posted on 4 . 8 . 2013 by Marina Chotzinoff

Waiting somewhere in limbo for my husband’s delayed flight I searched the fridge and freezer for a meal that would meet the goal of easy, tasty, non meat-centric. I also saw a good opportunity to use up several small bits of leftovers. Cooked rice, one piece of breaded chicken, a carrot, the last frozen hockey puck of shredded zucchini from our garden, a couple eggs, mirin, soy, dashi. What I really wanted (green onions, oyster sauce) I had used up so I made do with what I had. I thawed the zucchini while I grated the carrot. Both were sautéed … Continue reading →

Sushi Tazu: a Sensory Tug-of-War

Posted on 2 . 19 . 2013 by Marina Chotzinoff

Not all trends fit all types and sizes. While you can sport pieces from the latest fashion mags (fur-lined flip flops anyone?), it doesn’t mean you should. In fact, the true strength of character might be sticking to what is traditional and good. And a recent visit to Sushi Tazu, once a solid standby, proved that just because everyone else is squishing into skinny jeans doesn’t mean you have to as well. Despite my coastal friend’s disbelief that you can get good sushi in Denver, we do get high quality fish flown into this land-locked city. That said, “fresh Denver … Continue reading →

Getting Better at the Simple and Soulful

Posted on 1 . 9 . 2013 by Marina Chotzinoff

Despite the fact that I love a complex, swanky meal and can twist my brain in knots dreaming them up, I have long aspired to a simpler life. Meals involving minimal ingredients, prep, equipment, time, money. I recognize that my simple is different from a lot of people’s simple, but it’s all relative, isn’t it? And lately I have achieved some true simplicity in dishes that have surpassed my expectations in flavor, ease and overall satisfaction. So I am creating a new category to house these gems so that I can browse them occasionally and bring myself back from the … Continue reading →

Sweet Potato Fries with Smokey Tea Pork and Shiitake Mayo

Posted on 10 . 4 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

During the Olympics, Food52 had a contest asking for our best pub food. Thinking back to college and the alarming things we ate at two in the morning, I recalled the gooey baskets of waffle fries topped with bacon, sour cream, cheese and ketchup. They came out crispy and hot and slowly sogged out a bit as you got to the end. I’m sure I had fitful sleeps cured by sleeping in until 10 or 11 and a metabolism to save me from a Senior 70. As I pondered those crispy, gooey baskets my thoughts turned to a more grownup, … Continue reading →

Pork and Sweet Potato: No Better Pairing

Posted on 10 . 3 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

As the end of the day was nearing I realized there was nothing for dinner besides cheese and crackers, some tubes of strawberry yoghurt and the pile of giant zucchini mocking me from the counter. I had a half hour before I had to pick up my daughter and wanted to at least have something started so I opened the freezer. The very first thing I saw was some frozen smoked tea pork. I could eat the stuff five times a week but my husband was a little over it the last time I served it, like, five times in … Continue reading →

Spicy Corn Salad

Posted on 8 . 22 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

One of my favorite recipes for sweet summer corn is a cold, gingered corn soup with a sesame, chili drizzle. All the flavors pair so well and I figured it would be equally good as a side dish. I’ve had a real see-saw of luck on my corn this year. Some ears are beautiful and some are toothless wonders, but most taste pretty darn good. My recent harvest, for example: Sighs and alases, I cut the corn from the cobs, grabbed a couple chilis that could be thin, wimpy jalapenos, or possibly some other red chili (since my three year … Continue reading →

My Grilled Chicken Standby

Posted on 6 . 9 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

Years ago my sister’s neighbor introduced me to Yoshida chicken. This was when I first became aware of Costco and the marvels that hid within. And this marvel was a giant tub of sticky sweet soy sauce that you boiled some chicken in, then threw on the grill. Unlike lots of other grilled chicken I had had that barely had time to marinate or were just dried out breasts, this had flavor throughout and the leftovers were wonderful. Throughout the years I purchased many giant tubs of yoshida to simmer chicken, mix into mayo for a dip or sandwich spread, … Continue reading →

Tomato Bacon Egg Custard…A Work in Progress

Posted on 6 . 4 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

I am used to having the planning of a meal consume my brain for the better part of a day…or days. But this might be the first time I woke up in the middle of the night with an idea as clear as day. This is starting to look a lot more like how my dad ate through life, but decades earlier. It might only be a matter of time before I am actually getting out of bed and trying to concoct said vision at 3 a.m. Lucky for me, I tucked it away, fell back asleep and did not … Continue reading →

It Sucks When You Give Someone Lobster and They Make You Cook it and Eat It

Posted on 6 . 3 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

So, we gave my mom some giant lobster tails and a pile of frozen shallot/mirin/crab love butter to poach them in as a birthday gift. And somehow, tonight, we ended up being invited to her house to cook it….and eat it. Sweet! We came armed with some frozen clam broth we made a couple weeks ago in a separate seafood orgy, some mushrooms, asparagus, a bacon vinaigrette (separate story to come) and a couple bottles of wine to just say thanks for all the beers she offers us when we stop by to visit. We got some shallots and mushrooms … Continue reading →

Nine Years of Marriage Deserves a Mighty Feast

Posted on 5 . 12 . 2012 by Marina Chotzinoff

Yesterday was our anniversary. Often this means we’re headed out to a swanky restaurant. But lately (or I should say this whole year), Ryan has been crazy busy building some fabulous pieces for his clients. His dad came out for a week to help out and has already been put to work painting at the shop, putting up tile in the bathroom and fixing things around the house. So it seemed fitting that we all celebrate at home together. At the last meeting of WAS-SOUP, a group of mom’s who make and swap soups for their kid’s lunches but really … Continue reading →