Recipes by Erin Berdan

Braised calamari stuffed with shrimp and spinach by Erin Berdan

It's hard to recall life before DVRs. I don't really watch much TV, but most of the shows I do watch are on thru the day - no, not soaps. I'm talking about cooking shows, of course. Most air thru the day so I have our DVR set to record my favorites: Giada at Home, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Jamie at Home, occasionally Tyler's…

Braised red cabbage with bacon by Erin Berdan

Kids in the kitchen: Oreo Truffles by Erin Berdan

Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake by Erin Berdan

The coming of Spring means different things to different people. In our family it means a lot of celebrating. There's Easter, Mother's Day, and birthdays galore. Both of my nieces have Spring birthdays, as does my brother-in-law. This year was a perfect storm of sorts with Easter falling on my brother-in-law's birthday and just 3 days…

Cabbage rolls with lamb, rice and a hint of cinnamon by Erin Berdan

Lobster salad with avocado, pesto and tomato vinaigrette by Erin Berdan

Lobster is one of those foods that makes any day feel like a special occasion. We're lucky enough to live in an area where we can get Maine lobsters any time of year, often for less per pound than the cost of deli meat. Usually I simply steam them and serve with drawn butter and corn on the cob. But I found a recipe for a lobster…

Authentic Greek chicken souvlaki by Erin Berdan

The second dish on my Greek menu is chicken souvlaki. With a simple four ingredients, this chicken is full of flavor, especially when served with homemade tzatziki. It wasn't in Greece that I fell in love with chicken souvlaki, but rather at Pithari Taverna in Highland Park, NJ. Grilled to perfection, it's juicy and flavorful - and I…

Korean BBQ: Marinated short ribs in lettuce leaves by Erin Berdan

When I was a kid, my dad worked in downtown New York City, so trips to Chinatown were frequent treats. We'd ride the train in with mom, visit the South Street Seaport, and head to Chinatown for supper. We were exposed to lots of different Chinese food, but it wasn't until colelge that I became familiar with other Asian cuisines. My…

The ultimate steak sandwich by Erin Berdan

I have a love/hate relationship with leftovers. On one hand, they mean a night off from cooking, but on the other, they mean I have to have the same thing twice in one week. So often I try to make dishes where the leftovers can be given a makeover. This sandwich is a perfect example.On Saturday night, I made surf and turf for dinner.…

The perfect mojito: perfect for father's day by Erin Berdan

With Father's Day a couple days off, I'm sure everyone's planning menus and getting the grills ready. We've got it a bit easier - my sister's hosting Father's Day this year, so I'm just bringing an appetizer. (Of course I still have no idea what I'm bringing, but the night is still young.) This weekend is also my Dad's birthday so…