Food Adventures of a Comfort Cook

These spears are both edible and healthy

Before the internet and cable and satellite television, home cooks found out about new recipes, food products, growing and harvesting of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs by only a few sources. Cooking and gardening books and magazines at a local bookstore (oh, the smell and feel of a real book’s...

Chile or chili, it’s still green

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo – is the date of this issue of the San Juan Record, so it’s the perfect opportunity to talk about chile peppers. Is it Chile or Chili? If it is the country in South America, it is Chile. If it is the singer from the group TLC, it is Chilli, and when it is very cold outside,...

Perfection year-round

When I was a child, one dessert that adorned the Thanksgiving and Christmas tables was egg custard. A firm, yet smooth and creamy confection within its own small bowl and topped with a sprinkling of nutmeg. No whipped cream or any other topping was needed; it was pure perfection as it was. Once we...

These happy little trees are healthy

Now, as much as I enjoyed watching Bob Ross on PBS Saturday afternoons, my talent in painting went as far as that. I tried many a time with several paint mediums, but my eyes and hand simply did not agree on the images. I didn’t give up on finding my artistic talents, though, and outdoor...

All done up in a bun

There I was, perched upon the edge of the sofa, eyes glued to the television screen, adrenaline pumping… Yes! Tombstone tears into MadCatter, metallic armor flying to all corners of the arena, and it’s a KO! That’s correct folks, we are fans of Battlebots, featured on the Discovery Channel....

Ja-Roen Thai Sushi is still going strong

In September 2019, Sampas Janhom opened Ja-Roen Thai Sushi in Monticello, and the online reviews further his story. Whether they’re local or just passing through, diners are still enjoying his Thai and Japanese specialties. Take, for example, this review on Google: “One of the great surprises...

Copycat McRib using real pork

One of the frustrating things about the pandemic is being unable to fulfill cravings. It could be for a root beer float or an ice cream cone. Perhaps you crave the most awesome fries you have ever tasted or a favorite dinner with a special someone, family, or friends. COVID-19 has restaurants on...

Sometimes being bananas and nuts can be fulfilling and uplifting

“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” – Groucho Marx, A Night at the Opera Ah, the Marx Brothers, four brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo) who made five hilarious movies together before Zeppo decided his life’s goal was to be a successful businessman. Although the other...

Fusion cuisine is not a novel idea

In 2020, there was a barrage of “Lives Matter” movements occurring across this great nation of the United States of America. It got me to thinking about this section of North America and why the sudden divide. “Together we stand, divided we fall” is a meaningful quote that is mainly attributed to...

Ending 2020 upon a note of wishful thinking

As we end 2020, a year of “who, what, where, why, when, and how” questions that are still boggling the minds of many, consider this: “Did we learn, and did we do good?” Personally, the meaning of life is to learn something new, and do a good deed on a daily basis. Learn something new? Yes, it...