Starch Posts
Basic Cooking: Perfect Mashed Potatoes
I could eat bowls of buttery mashed potatoes for dinner—which is probably why I don’t make them too often. (Hello, carb coma!) There are a zillion recipes out there for making mashed potatoes. Here’s how I make mine. They’re simple and creamy—and just a wee bit tangy from the addition of a little sour cream. [...]
Fiery Chili Lime Rice
I’ve said it before: I love hot food. This rice is a fabulously spicy side that’s packed with flavor. Turn it into a more substantial meal by tossing in some sauteed shrimp or leftover roast chicken or pork. This rice gets a triple kick of heat from cayenne, chipotle, and Aleppo chili flakes—and a potent [...]
Three Cheese Risotto
Ah, risotto. So creamy! So delicious! All that cheese! And you wanna know what? You don’t need to go out to eat to enjoy it. It’s not remotely as hard to make at home as some folks might think. This risotto gets a smooth, rich balance of cheese-y flavors from Gruyere, Taleggio, and Parmesan. A [...]
Making Gourmet’s Panfried Smashed Potatoes, Step by Step
Ever since this month’s Gourmet magazine showed up at The Mouse House, I kept going back to this recipe. When I found a bag of the sweetest little red bliss potatoes, I took it as a sign. The skins are crisp, the potatoes are soft and fluffy, and it’s ridiculously fun to fry a whole [...]
One Potato, Two Potato, Part 2: Duck Fat Hash Browns
What’s the best thing about making duck for dinner? The leftover duck fat. At least, so says The Mouse. What’s even better? Using that fat to fry potatoes. Mmmm, mmm, mmm. Right now, I’m not sure you could convince me there’s a more delicious thing on the planet. So, last week, I made a couple [...]
Deep-Fried Ravioli
Fried ravioli! These are so yummy, it’s almost ridiculous. They’re oh-so-crispy on the outside, and oozing with creamy, molten cheese on the inside. Start with fresh ravioli. (Frozen will work, too. Just thaw them completely in the fridge first.) For this recipe, I used a four-cheese ravioli made locally. Use any quality ravioli that you [...]
Garlic & Spinach Parmesan Rice
This is fast food, Mouse House style. We eat a lot of rice. It’s almost always our starch of choice over pasta. This rice is bursting with fresh spinach flavor. It’s salty, garlicky, and laced with a heavenly amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. And hey, with a little bit of fresh garlic and all [...]
Toasted Pecan Rice Pilaf
This is a quick and easy rice dish you can whip together on a weeknight in short time. It’s packed with buttery, toasted pecans and bits of fried ham. A fresh bay leaf and pinch of clove give it a distinct and warm spiciness. I used the same absorbtion-cooking technique that I use to cook [...]
8-Cheese Macaroni & Cheese
I have three words for you: ultimate comfort food. Cover anything in cheese, and I’m generally a really happy mouse. The more cheese, the better. Eight cheeses? Now that’s my idea of heaven on earth. Now, this is not haute cuisine (though if you tried, I suppose you could call this a sort of White [...]
Decadent Sweet Cream Rice Pudding
Rice has got to be one of my favorite foods. Fried rice. Buttered rice. Jambalaya. Rice crackers and krispies. You name it, I most likely have a closely-guarded stash of it in my cupboards. I especially love rice pudding. I can eat bowls of it at a time, which is why I don’t make it [...]
