Blog Archives

Spicy Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Fall is almost here! Try this spicy pumpkin soup recipe; it’s sure to warm your bones.

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Spiced Lamb with Honey Balsamic

Spiced Lamb with Honey Balsamic Reduction

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Carne Asada Recipe

If you’re a regular reader of Pittsburgh Hot Plate, you know that I’m a huge fan of Mexican food. One of my favorite is Carne Asada- a flavorful, tender cut of meat that can be eaten plain or sliced thin and put in tacos or burritos.

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Basil Pesto Recipe

Towards the end of summer I usually end up with large amounts of basil- this is also the time of year when my tomatoes ripen and become sweet, and flavorful. One of my favorite meals is homemade toasted bread with basil pesto, and garden tomatoes… don’t forget the salt and pepper!

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Homemade Granola Recipe

Homemade granola is easy to make, and can be a satisfying snack. You can eat it by itself, or with milk. It’s good to carry with you in your car, and is even good to give as a gift. Try this easy to make recipe, and add nuts and dried fruits that you like!

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Grilled Chicken Salad with Walnuts

I’ve always liked chicken salad- it’s easy to make, and makes for a delicious meal, especially during the summer.

Herb grilled chicken salad with walnuts is a tasty meal, especially when served on a rich, buttery croissant.

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Sarah R., Guest Blogger

I love Chef Chuck’s homemade mint chocolate chip cookies. I love these delicious, mouthwatering cookies because you can really taste the mint chocolate chips. The white chips are so good! Together those ingredients make Chef Chuck’s cookies the best!! I could live in a world of them, that’s how great, luscious, yummy, and awesome Chef Chuck’s cookies are.

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Food Safety and Eating Out

“Where are some of the safest places to eat?”
Before I go into the particulars of what food safety inspectors look for, I’m happy to report that all of the dining establishments in Regent Square have received excellent food safety reports! Besides a small infraction here or there, I’ve never heard of anyone becoming sick after eating at one of the local eateries.

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Kitchen Abuse, Paying Your Dues

What does it take to become a chef? These days, it doesn’t seem like much. Every day I run into people that say they’re chefs, but I become skeptical when they tell me about their lack of experience. I’m continually hiring people that assure me that they can cook, but end up being skilled at only one thing; complaining. Not only do these fresh-out-of school kids expect the world, they don’t want to have to work their way up the ladder, putting in the necessary time and effort to truly learn their profession. I hope I’m not dating myself by saying, “When I graduated from cooking school, things were different…you really had to prove yourself before you got promoted…” The truth is things are different. With the gaining popularity of The Food Newtwork, and other food-related shows, everyone wants to become a chef.

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How to Grill Fish

Cooking fish can be difficult. It’s not like meat; if you grill a strip steak, and forget about it, it’s still going to be edible- not so with fish. If seafood is overcooked, even by a few minutes, it can become dry, tasteless, and unpalatable. Here are a few suggestions for cooking fish so that it turns out succulent, flavorful, and delicious.

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