Snacks | DanaSlatkin.com

Curried Popcorn

12/21/2011 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

During the holidays, spontaneity rules in my house. Absent the relentless school routine, the last days of the year take shape organically, as a true vacation should. The only rules? No rushing or stressing allowed. But I confess to being a little challenged on vacations. Though the break from lunchboxes and dinner parties is welcome, this Farmgirl needs to keep busy. Too much time away from my kitchen and I start to get disoriented. So here’s my method for vacation reorientation…invite a steady stream of drop-ins, have a ready stash of party-food, and exhale. This popcorn was a big hit at last week’s holiday cooking class. The recipe is based on one by Aarti Sequeira (the Food Network’s endearing Indian … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Snack Recipes

Bran Muffins with Honey and Peaches

01/27/2011 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day. I just can’t leave home without it. Come over shortly after sunrise and you’ll always find a pot of oatmeal bubbling on the burner, eggs boiling, or soy sausages browning. It’s what sets me in motion, filling me up with energy and optimism. But even in my household, there are breakfast skippers — namely my husband and my teenager. They would rather sleep a few extra minutes than be bothered for a morning meal. Can you relate? Not me. The other morning, I was determined to coax the slugs to the kitchen table. I knew the sweet aroma of muffins baking in the oven might do the trick. So I pulled out this recipe, one that I created years ago for a large chain … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Spicy Tomato Chutney

09/07/2010 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

On a recent steamy evening, the kids and I decided to get out of the house for a quintessentially suburban cool down, or as my kids would call it, a mall crawl. After hitting every air-conditioned store that was still open, we headed to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Condiments

Prosciutto (or Poached Egg) and Brie with Arugula and Caramelized Onions

05/03/2010 By Dana Slatkin 2 Comments

Announcing the winner of our April Sandwich Contest! Shonny Ramljak of Los Angeles writes, “[This is] a grownup grilled cheese sandwich. I like the saltiness of the prosciutto ham with the sweetness of the caramelized onions, slightly bitter arugula and the melted cheese. I would serve this with a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc, such as Sancerre, the ultimate summer wine.” Since I am not a prosciutto fan, I tried Shonny’s recipe as an open-faced vegetarian sandwich, using poached eggs in place of the prosciutto. The sandwiches made for a perfect Sunday supper. If you are short on time, eliminate the onions, which take a fair amount of patience to properly caramelize. Instead, try piling on the punch with colorful tomato or avocado … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sandwich Recipes

Puffy Popovers

04/14/2010 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

Spring is in full swing, and isn’t it lovely? Tulips and lilacs are blooming, zucchini blossoms and white asparagus are making their brief yet splashy appearances at farmers markets. And I have finally retired my soup pot to the closet for a while. On the special occasions when my mother-in-law takes me to lunch (about once a year, always in April), we go to Neiman Marcus for popovers. Arriving straight from the oven the minute the waiter finishes taking our order, they are puffy and wondrous. Plus there’s no needless mark-up! Popover batter is very similar to crepe batter—essentially just eggs, milk and flour. Baking them in a dedicated popover pan or muffin tin, the thin batter creeps up the sides and fills up with steam, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Maple Oat Scones with Currants and Buttermilk Glaze

04/03/2010 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

You might recall in a past post that I used to be in the wholesale food business. My company, Beverly Hills Farmers Market, Inc. (named after the farmers market I helped found in 1994), sold baked goods and snacks to local supermarkets, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and the airlines. One of the biggest kicks I ever got was the day British Airways ordered my scones to serve on their international flights. It was a peak moment, an affirmation that maybe I really did know how to bake. It all started with this recipe, which has evolved over the years to include more whole grains and less sugar. This version is my current favorite, one that is perfect for an Easter brunch or a grab-and-go breakfast treat. Bake a double batch and freeze … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Persian Cucumber Yogurt Salad

06/28/2009 By Dana Slatkin Leave a Comment

When something is on my mind, it usually ends up in my cooking. For instance, the minute I returned from a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, I tossed lemongrass and nuoc mam into just about everything I cooked. After reading an article about the bustling night market of Audrix, France, where townspeople enjoy weekly dinners en plein air, there were breakfast tartines on the table every morning and walnut oil in all my salads. Lately, Iran has been on my mind. My heart goes out to all the Iranian people who had their hopes for freedom dashed in the recent election. In solidarity, I invited some of my Persian friends over this week to show me how to make some of their favorite dishes, which they learned from their mothers and grandmothers. Happily, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Salad Recipes

Whole Wheat Cranberry-Almond Scones

04/01/2009 By Dana Slatkin 1 Comment

With a big steaming vanilla latte and one of these, I don’t mind facing an early morning. This recipe is a variation on the one I used to sell to airlines and supermarkets, from British Airways and Bristol Farms, when I owned a baking and snack business called Beverly Hills Farmers Market. These scones freeze beautifully in Ziploc bags, making a quick breakfast or snack a cinch in the toaster oven. Serve them with your favorite jam, plain yogurt, or pumpkin butter. Got a sweet tooth? Try Berries with Chocolate-Coconut Fondue. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes