Cooking Styles among the Guilty. Recipe or not.

Guilty can really cook.  He just cannot follow a recipe.  Everything I cook, I taste in my head before an egg is cracked or a red coconut curry sauce is created.  The great part of my winging it strategy is my food is really innovative and delicious.   Today I am making a Beef Emancee.  Over the next three or four days I will redefine this peasant stew.  This Provincial classic begins as a Day One masterpiece and then morphs into a Day Four Pièce de résistance .  I love that epicurian evolution. 

Are you ready to fly solo in the kitchen?  Excellent! For this culinary challenge we are going to need a full pantry with lots of fresh ingredients.  I know exactly where to go. There is a new International market in Guiltytown.  That's where all the flavor and spice hang out. Going global in the garden is a big time Guilty Pleasure.  I love buying fruits and vegetables that are exotic. Daring and dicey works well at my cutting board.      

Here's an article from food expert Phillip Dundas on cooking without a recipe.  His insight and suggestions will help you prepare for better results. The Guilty may be impulsive, but but not foolish. Take some time this Holiday and have fun in the kitchen.  Nothing is better than making yourself the best omelet ever and reading the New York Times or Bon Appetit 

The weather turns, the ice cometh and the Lobster Corn Chowder soup boils....December has arrived in Guiltytown.

Soaring temperatures plummeted this weekend as a ginormous ice storm has engulfed the entire country.  It's definitely affected the weekend plans for many Hobbits and Hobbyists. From Dallas to Las Vegas to Portland to Boston to Middle Earth, members of the Guilty Pleasures are fighting back against the Shivers with a time-tested array of personalized remedies.  As you know, nothing warms your soul or lifts your spirits more than trip to the Guilty side of life.

Deep in my hard drive I have developed many positive protocols for Living Well(okay, so my hard drive is really my cranium.  Thankfully my grey matter is still dedicated to proposition that Living Well is the only way to live). I have an endless list of top secret pleasures to rely upon for attitude adjustment.  In this case, when the weather's nasty, I conquer the cold with an incredibly flavorful soup. Not Campbell's, Lipton or Progresso mind you, but a delicious homemade concoction that makes your toes toasty and your smile bright.  No soup does it better in early December than Chef Greg's famous Lobster and Corn Chowder.  The rich creamy broth is made with love and chocked full of fresh Maine Lobster.  It's the best cold fighter ever. Especially when you share it by the fireplace with Thin Mint.

Not matter what you have planned today, you must take the time to curl up on the couch with a steaming bowl of Guilty Goodness.  Make sure you use a very large bowl.  No wimpy cereal bowls please. Size definitely matters when it comes to keeping warm and staying Guilty. Please make sure you share your Guilty Goodness with the Thin Mint of your dreams.

September Breezes are what pleases.

Guilty loves September and with good reason.  The Indian Summer weather is spectacular, business is booming and our kitchen is a creative playground. That's because the chefs love to make epicurean magic when seasons start to change.  Cool breezes flow and the vibe at the work table is inspiring.  From the Gourmet store to the campus to the Holiday table or to a pregame meal, our incredible food is always the star of the show.

Once Labor Day is in the rear view mirror, the month of September is filled with non-stop activity.  There are so many enjoyable ways to savor this moment in time.  My favorite Guilty pleasure is settling into my well worn recliner on Sunday to enjoy a football feast watching the Super Bowl Champs show great character.  For Guilty, game time is a gastronomic journey that starts off with flavorful lunch, like a Carrot and Caribbean lobster soup.  Topped with fresh Basil, this tasty dish from St. Martin is always a touchdown.

Of course, there's more to enjoy than a bowl of soup.  Living well means spoiling yourself and the one's you love.  My first course is usually scarfed down by the end of the first quarter.

The main course is always a game changer.  This Sunday I have an appointment scheduled with Dr. Rib and his famous Barbecue sauce.  Almost Jerk and not quite Memphis, this secret sauce is Guilty to the max.

Guilty loves September.