

Smokehouse Cheese Bread
This recipe is incredibly easy and straightforward, and it tastes just like the authentic cheese bread from the renowned Smokehouse restaurant in Toluca Lake, CA. Annotated Cooking Notes: Allowing the garlic to rest overnight is crucial, but if that's not possible, let it rest as long as you can. The soaking process truly infuses the garlic flavor into the butter. Ingredients 1 loaf of sourdough bread sliced in half 1 stick of butter 2 teaspoons freshly chopped garlic 1 pkg.
Mike Kalustian
3 days ago1 min read


Guinness Stew
This is a rich, delicious stew, and the Guinness truly enhances it with a touch of malted goodness. With some cold nights still in store, this would be perfect, though it's also great any time of year. Annotated Cooking Notes: The secret to a great stew lies in the broth, so don't make substitutions here. A lager or IPA won't do; it must be a dark stout, and in my opinion, it has to be Guinness. Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil (more if needed) 2½ lb beef chuck (cut into 1½ - 2
Mike Kalustian
Apr 262 min read


Potaje de Garbanzos de Baza: Garbanzo Bean Stew
This simple stew is bursting with flavor. I discovered this recipe on Spainonafork.com. It was straightforward to prepare, and even those in my home who aren't fans of garbanzos finished their bowls. The key to this recipe is the thickener, which consists of garlic, a few slices of baguette, and a fried egg. All three ingredients are fried in olive oil and then mashed into a paste. Ensure the egg is fully cooked, including the yolk, when frying. Annotated Cooking Notes : Can
Mike Kalustian
Apr 203 min read


Chocolate Guinness Cake
This is another recipe from the Guinness cookbook. Although I'm not a baker, this recipe is so straightforward that even I can't mess it up. It was incredibly quick and easy, resulting in a creamy, moist, and rich chocolate cake. Annotated Cooking Notes. Always opt for dark Dutch cocoa powder; it makes a significant difference. I've tried it with regular cocoa powder, and the flavor isn't as intense. Ingredients For the Cake 250 millilitres Guinness 250 grams unsalted butter
Mike Kalustian
Apr 152 min read


Poached Salmon
This simple dish can be prepared in a single pan in just a few minutes. If you have a large sauté pan, doubling the recipe is straightforward. However, if you choose to double it, I recommend adjusting the liquid quantities by eye. Cooking Tips: The secret is to place the salmon on top of the vegetables, which will enhance the flavor of the veggies and prevent the fish from overcooking. Ingredients: 3 green onions sliced thin from whites to green half of a Leek, cleaned and c
Mike Kalustian
Apr 121 min read














