Chef Tom’s Cowboy Soup and Story

If I were on a Cooking Show the Story Title (daily prompt) would be my Secret Ingredient. The genre would be my choice for flavor profile.

Flavor Profile (Genre): Western

 

Chef Tom’s Food n’ Noir

Stories are back.

Reminder: these are from a writing program called Round Robin. Some RR’s are three weeks long and some are six. I have to write a short story every day based on a “prompt” I get from my teacher. The rule is to set the timer for twelve minutes and start writing, and stop when the timer goes off. I can do some research beforehand, and do some editing and polishing up afterwards, I just can’t make the story any longer.

I decided early on that I would treat the daily prompts like a “secret ingredient” on a cooking show. I have to come up with something tasty with whatever the teacher gives me. To come up with a “flavor profile” I choose a different literary genre. I love the variety, like trying out a new language. With some of the stories I really like the characters and the setting and the pace, so I’ll re-visit the storyline and keep it going.

Below is my attempt at Noir, or Hardboiled Detective. Four chapters so far. The titles are the daily prompts.

If you really want it to be fun, play the Noir jazz tunes at the end of this post while you’re reading.

Chef Tom’s Secret Ingredient, and some Brilliant Music Discovery

Here’s a ‘secret ingredient” that can save many a boring meal. It’s a simple thing, but can truly elevate whatever you’re cooking. Steaks, chops, fish, veggies. You slice off a chunk and voila! You have a savory (or sweet), luscious sauce.  Basically, you’re blending aromatics into softened butter, rolling it all in a log shape in plastic wrap or parchment, and popping it into the fridge to solidify for use immediately, or in the freezer to use whenever you need it. Feel free to invent your own flavor combinations. Your imagination is your only limit.

Chef Tom’s Chicken, Tuba, and Carl

Sami Tamimi is Yotam Ottolenghi’s business partner. His new cookbook is called Falestine (there is no letter P in Palestine). This is one of the first recipes I tried, and it was SO good!

Chef Tom, Cowboy Eats, A Short Story, Kempters and Sleepy Man

 

Saddle up, Pilgrim ….

Chef Tom and The Desserts of Yotan

I have posted recipes from my favorite chef here before. The man has some of the most innovative, inspiring, and crazy-delicious recipes ever. I love his refined rusticity. Here are three of his sweeter offerings. I made the Sweet Labneh and Rhubarb just today and it is killer.

Chef Tom – Crumbles, Crisps, Cobblers, Brown Bettys, Pandowdies, and Buckles …They all Good

What makes a crisp a crisp or a buckle a buckle? Spring has sprung and in many areas of the world, with spring and summer comes an overabundance of fresh fruits. Makes this an ideal time to get our comfort food desserts sorted out.

(adapted from NY Times Cooking)

Chef Tom’s Grown Up Grilled Cheeses and The COVID-19 Songbook

Thank You, Cheeses!

Welcome to Grilled Cheese Heaven.

Who doesn’t love grilled cheese sandwiches? Not on anyone’s diet, I know, but SIP requires comforting our aching souls in any way we can, right?

Nothing plain about these recipes. You can always do these as they are written, or you can use them to spark your imagination, then take a close look at your Quarantine Cuisine Pantry and build your own. If you DO make it out to the store, make a list of the key ingredients you’d LIKE to have and then spend the weekend challenging the elastic on your fat pants.**

Chef Tom – Short Ribs and Short Stories

A Reminder: These short stories are from a writing program called Round Robin. Write something every day, set the timer for 12 minutes, the title of each piece is the daily prompt. Stop writing once the alarm goes off.

Chef Tom Shares Three of his Very Short Stories and One Very Tasty Soup

If you would be so kind as to indulge me, the next few submissions will include (very) short stories I’ve written as part of a program called Round Robin. For eight weeks we had to write something every day based on short “prompts” from the instructor. We had to set the timer for 12 minutes. No longer. Hence their brevity. Had to squeeze as much into a few paragraphs as I could. Some stories, as you will see, even have multiple chapters. – Chef Tom

Alarm goes off…stop writing.

WARNING: These stories are for entertainment only. If you’re not up to escaping for a couple of minutes and allowing each short story to unfold on its own without much in the “deeper meaning” department, please do not read.