Author Archives: jentarantino

About jentarantino

i went to culinary school back in the mid 90's where i soon discovered that most of my favorite things to eat begin with celery, carrots and onions; or at the very least, one of the three. i cooked professionally for a very short time, but never stopped being a "home cook". i used the skills i acquired in school to teach myself to bake and kept up on food trends by becoming addicted to cooking shows and food magazines. i will eventually open my own soup shop, but until that happens, this blog will be my culinary outlet. i hope it inspires you to... stand lovingly over a simmering pot, wait anxiously for rising bread dough, frost cupcakes with care, marinate, brine, and most importantly... make it yourself!

the mac and cheese recipe you’ve always wanted

Posted on November 15, 2009 by jentarantino

i am such a creature of habit. as soon as the weather starts to get cold, all i want to cook and eat is old comfort food classics. it’s only november and i’ve already made my chicken pot pies twice, … Continue reading →

Posted in cheese, pasta, recipes, side dishes | 2 Comments

the best chocolate chip cookies i’ve ever had

Posted on October 29, 2009 by jentarantino

in an ongoing effort to save money to buy a house in seattle, my husband and i have been hosting potluck dinners every sunday with six of our close friends. we switch off making the main dish, side dish, and … Continue reading →

Posted in desserts, recipes | 3 Comments

french macarons, oui oui!

Posted on October 13, 2009 by jentarantino

i am sick of cupcakes! i make them for every occasion and i feel like they’ve “jumped the shark”. i know they’re adorable and delicious; especially my recipe, but i was looking for something a little more “grown up” to … Continue reading →

Posted in desserts, recipes | 2 Comments

fowlproof roast chicken

Posted on October 5, 2009 by jentarantino

when i first started cooking, roasting a chicken was always a daunting and terrifying task. i can’t tell you how many times my chicken looked perfect on the outside, but was a poster bird for salmonella on the inside. then … Continue reading →

Posted in meat dishes, poultry, recipes | 3 Comments

focaccia bread

Posted on September 30, 2009 by jentarantino

my husband and i are house-hunting and getting more and more nervous about signing our life away on a little piece of property. we are waiting for our agent to get back to us about one house in particular so … Continue reading →

Posted in breads, recipes | 1 Comment

pulled pork bbq sandwiches

Posted on September 26, 2009 by jentarantino

it was moving day and we enlisted the help of several of our dear friends to help us out. we were only moving to a bigger apartment in the same building, so hiring movers seemed like a waste of money. … Continue reading →

Posted in meat dishes, pork, recipes | 1 Comment

perfect pickles

Posted on September 23, 2009 by jentarantino

summer is finally winding down and, if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for a way to preserve that sunny feeling and use all those veggies your friends keep dumping on you from their over-abundant gardens. pickling is the answer … Continue reading →

Posted in recipes, vegetables | 1 Comment

fried chicken

Posted on June 5, 2009 by jentarantino

after a bit of a life imposed hiatus, i thought it only fitting to come back with a recipe that embodies summertime and would, hopefully, get me back in your good graces. please forgive my absence and let’s get cooking … Continue reading →

Posted in meat dishes, poultry, recipes | 3 Comments

salad daze

Posted on May 16, 2009 by jentarantino

as the days get warmer, here in the great northwest, and summer seems like a real possibility instead of a made up season, i become a salad fanatic. but as you can probably gleam, if you’ve been following my blog … Continue reading →

Posted in salads, side dishes, vegetables | 1 Comment

bolognese sauce

Posted on May 13, 2009 by jentarantino

my italian half has taken over and it won’t be satisfied until i feed it a slow simmered bolognese sauce. my version allows you to go about your day, free as a bird, because you won’t be standing over a … Continue reading →

Posted in meat dishes, pasta | 4 Comments