Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jan 12, 2012, 6:58 pm
Is it cold where you are? Here in Salem, MA, it’s fr-eeeee-zing. Like, freezing freezing. I think we hit 8 degrees last week. Let me tell you…weather like this makes me want to do one thing, and one thing alone: Cook. (And winter is the season for feasting, after all, right?) How do you ente...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 21, 2011, 8:36 pm
Sigh. Sometimes, time gets away from me. Between drafts of my book and Kraft’s Battle of the Kitchen Bloggers, I never got around to sharing all my Halloween photos with you guys. But, who says you can’t have a little Halloween in December? After all, signs of All Hallows Eve are never far awa...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 16, 2011, 10:31 am
Phew! Here’s a quick look back at my entries into the Breakstone’s Battle of the Kitchen Bloggers, hosted by Sandra Lee. (Yep, the same folks who hosted last year’s Triple Churned Challenge.) The Breakstone’s Battle of the Kitchen Bloggers For the contest, Kraft invited me and 2 other blog...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 29, 2011, 1:01 pm
Death by chocolate? Yes, please! Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better way to go. This ice cream is easy to make, and gets its luxurious chocolate flavor from a generous amount of cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and chocolate liqueur. It actually really tastes just like frozen chocolate ganache....
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 15, 2011, 8:11 pm
It’s pretty much a given that if it has garlic on it, I’ll eat it. This vegetarian pizza is no exception. It gets its rich, mellow flavor from slow-roasted garlic and fresh, baby spinach. Fontina and Parmesan add depth and a little salt. The tangy white sauce balances out the flavors. Vote Hu...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 1, 2011, 9:54 pm
I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I could eat these all night. These shrimp are a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy. Their crisp coconut coating is made with eggs and sour cream, a combination that keeps them ridiculously moist. Because you butterfly the shrimp, then stand them on end, ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Oct 22, 2011, 6:15 pm
Here at The Mouse House, autumn is officially pie season. From pumpkin to pecan, you can almost always find me rolling out a crust at least once a week. (Stay tuned soon for a killer recipe for a showstopping Mile High Apple Pie!) Now, if you’re like me, you’re bound to have some leftover pie d...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Sep 19, 2011, 10:11 pm
I put figs in the same camp as black licorice: People love them—or hate them. There never seems to be a middle ground. If you’re in the first group, then man-oh-man, are you in for a treat. Personally, I love figs. (And black licorice, if you’re keeping score.) They’re sweet; they’re ear...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Aug 29, 2011, 9:04 pm
Hands down, my favorite dessert has always been a dish of good vanilla ice cream drizzled with honey. Kinda boring for a food writer, right? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ll happily consume your fancy final courses. Give me your tortes and tartes, your cheese plate composé with matched desser...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jul 18, 2011, 9:38 pm
Ahoy! So, I’m so excited I might burst! I just signed the contract for my first book deal! (Can you see me glowing from there?) OK. *deep breaths* Here’s the scoop. The book The working title is Slushed: From Frozen Gin Fizz to Watermelon Margarita Sorbet—150 Icy Treats for the Coolest...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jul 9, 2011, 6:35 pm
OK, so that’s sort of a trick title. “How to Reheat King Crab” would be more accurate. In the U.S., almost all the King Crab you’ll find in stores is already cooked. (It’s caught, cooked, then blast frozen to preserve its fresh taste.) This one is more method than actual recipe. The goal...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jun 22, 2011, 9:52 pm
As I write this, my angel food cake is upside down, cooling in the kitchen. Upside down. You heard me right. Making angel food cake is one of the great acts of culinary faith. After separating a dozen eggs, beating them to soft peaks, and baking your cake in a quake-free kitchen, flipping it ove...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jun 6, 2011, 9:50 pm
Let me start by saying: This was not a scientific experiment. This was one little mouse in her kitchen with 2 pots and 8 lbs. of short ribs. If you want science, check out Cook’s Illustrated exhaustive test. (Nitpickers, please pick nits over there.) When it comes to cast iron, to a lot of peopl...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - May 18, 2011, 8:52 pm
I’ve always said that I don’t have a sweet tooth. For the large part, that’s true. I’ll take a handful of salty pretzels over chocolate almost any day. However. Dulce de leche might be my undoing. It’s seriously so, so, so good. I found myself tiptoeing over to the fridge with a spoon i...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - May 3, 2011, 9:16 pm
I don’t know about you, but I’m so (like, so so so so) happy that summer’s coming. This winter was a long, snow-filled one in New England, and everyone I know is happy to see the thermometer finally rising a little. Which brings me to thoughts of summer plans. Which brings me to barbecues and...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Apr 18, 2011, 7:53 pm
This Easter, give that hard-working bunny a little help and make your own candy. You can do it. It’s easier than you might think. Here are a handful of great candy recipes that you can make at home. They’re tried and true favorites at The Mouse House. I’ve even included a few treats for the, ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Apr 11, 2011, 4:25 pm
I’ve always had an active imagination. I am that auntie who likes to tell your kids stories. If you know me, you know what I’m talking about. And if you have kids under five, chances are that I’ve told your wee ones a tall tale or two. For example, if your kids think that squirrels grow on t...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Apr 9, 2011, 6:36 pm
Now, as you might imagine, Salem, Mass. can be a pretty interesting place to live. And when it comes to celebrating the rites of Spring, I’d argue that no one does it better—this side of ancient Rome, that is. Last weekend, we hit Salem’s fourth annual Spring Fling event, hosted by our favo...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Apr 4, 2011, 3:44 pm
See, I do eat vegetables. (Granted, they’re almost always wrapped in some kind of pork product, but still.) Asparagus, even! Some folks would say it’s not possible. When I was a kid, I hated asparagus so much that I used to hide it behind the couch. True story. Oh, how times have changed. So,...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Mar 28, 2011, 11:07 am
Ahoy! So last year, you guys may remember that we entered the Better with Breakstone’s Challenge—and won! (I’m still totally floored by this.) The good folks over at Kraft have asked us to participate in two more challenges this year: one focused on Easter, and the other at the end of the ye...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Mar 22, 2011, 7:04 pm
Prime Rib: It’s not just for Christmas dinner. I’ll make this whenever I can get my paws on one at a good price (or the rare super sale). It’s a great excuse to have a party. In fact, if you’re sick of ham on Easter, consider giving Roast Beast it’s day in the (springtime) sun. This is a...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Mar 14, 2011, 8:58 pm
So, a handful of years ago, I worked out of my house full-time as a freelance writer and editor. When business was slow, I’d fill in behind the counter at Priscilla’s, a little catering/gourmet take-out joint owned by a friend of mine. Priscilla’s was a ton of fun. And you know how I love f...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Mar 8, 2011, 3:38 pm
If you know me, you know that I’m not a huge fan of making fussy desserts. Creamy. Buttery. Rich. Yes. But fussy, not my speed. (Don’t get me wrong, I love fancy pastry, but life’s too short to make certain things at home…) This dessert is actually the best of both worlds: It *seems* fussy...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Feb 24, 2011, 7:29 pm
Sel de la Terre, Boston’s bastion of Provencal cuisine, is infamous for its rosemary pomme frites. With good reason. They’re cut thin as shoestrings, fried perfectly (crisp not greasy), and seasoned well with salt and rosemary. Believe me, my picture doesn’t do them justice. I hit Sel de la...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Feb 16, 2011, 8:19 pm
What’s the difference between brown eggs and white eggs? Ask your grandmother, and I almost guarantee that she’ll make a strong case for one—or the other. But honestly? Aside from shell color, there’s not really much difference, at least when it comes to cooking. Nutritionally, all eggs ar...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Feb 8, 2011, 8:18 pm
I’m pretty sure I’d be tempted to eat almost anything if you wrapped it in bacon or prosciutto. This is my take on the classic appetizer, bacon-wrapped scallops. My issue with bacon-wrapped scallops is that, depending on the thickness, the bacon doesn’t always get crisp by the time the scal...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jan 29, 2011, 3:00 pm
I get a lot of questions about how to properly cook shrimp and seafood. In a lot of cases, fresh seafood is at its best when it’s prepared simply, enhanced by a few ingredients and spices—not masked by a ton of flavors and heavy sauces. In my mind, the most important thing to know about cookin...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jan 19, 2011, 9:50 pm
If you weren’t watching, I think I could eat this entire pie myself. I don’t really have a sweet tooth, but I’m absolutely mad for anything made with pumpkin. This is classic pumpkin pie at its best. It’s pie you can find in the shiny, spinning dessert case at diners all across America....
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Jan 6, 2011, 7:37 pm
Baked Brie should win some kind of prize for Most Impressive Looking Appetizer that Took Almost No Work to Prepare. Seriously. (When they come out with that kind of food award, let me know. I’ll be sure to enter this sumptuous hunk of easy, cheesy goodness.) This is a great appetizer to throw t...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 27, 2010, 12:17 pm
Nothing says “holiday” in New England like a good ole surf n’ turf dinner. Here’s our take on the classic feast, kicked up Mouse-House style. This combination of seafood and meat is a great way to go if you’re planning on throwing a glamorous dinner party this New Year’s season. This p...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 23, 2010, 9:01 pm
Be still my heart. I think I would eat these every day if I could. This is the first of my trio of holiday appetizer recipes that I developed for Sam’s Club. It’s definitely my new favorite munchy type thing. These h’ors d’oeuvres are really easy to throw together on the fly. Basically, yo...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 13, 2010, 10:50 am
As odd as it may sound, I hear it all the time: “It’s the holidays, I have NO time to cook!” We hear that at The Mouse House. I can’t even believe that it’s already mid-December, and we’re starting our countdown for Santa in earnest. Here’s a trio of appetizers that’s easy to bust ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 11, 2010, 12:33 pm
Halloween isn’t the only time of year that Salem gets into the holiday spirit. The city is all lit up, and has been hopping with winter-y events. We stopped by Pamplemousse’s open house this past Thursday night. Here are some pics from the event. Pamplemousse (our favorite kitchen store on t...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Dec 7, 2010, 8:42 pm
Compound butter is one of my favorite substances on the planet. I mean, you take regular ole butter, mash in your favorite herbs and spices, roll it up and refrigerate, and…presto! Instant flavor. On hand. When you need it. This is one of my all-time favorite blends. It’s full of warm, toast-y...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 24, 2010, 8:47 pm
Nom, nom, nom. Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you! I was too busy attacking the artichokes! These artichokes weren’t always so delicious. In fact, at one point, they were actually practically attacking me. Don’t let this pile of beautiful, green artichokes fool you. They may look benign, but...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 23, 2010, 7:31 pm
Alright. In the interest of being honest this holiday season, I should fess up: I don’t really like turkey. I’m one of those people who thinks that Thanksgiving is all about the sides—and the pie, of course. Leave it to my husband, my dear Angry Chef, to make a bird that totally changes an ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 22, 2010, 7:50 pm
Grab a fork and put on your fat pants Happy Thanksgiving week to you all! This is one of our all-time favorite holiday side dishes. It never disappoints whenever we bring it to a potluck. It’s easy to make, travels well, and reheats beautifully. It’s also unapologetically NOT low fat. (Lovers ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 22, 2010, 11:30 am
So, recently, as part of a new partnership, Sam’s Club challenged The Hungry Mouse to make a Thanksgiving feast for four for under $50. Sound impossible? Not if you’re careful when you shop. (And you know us: We’re always up for a challenge.) The catch? The main ingredients had to be purchas...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 20, 2010, 3:29 pm
Alrighty, so a lot of you guys have mentioned to me that you’re surprised that The Hungry Mouse is partnering with Sam’s Club. Most of you say that it’s because you don’t associate it with a place to get groceries. “You go to a place like Sam’s Club to buy a big TV or a palate of paper ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 17, 2010, 1:00 pm
A while back, I mentioned that The Hungry Mouse has an exciting new partnership with Sam’s Club. They were the kind folks who sent me all that cheese a month or two ago, which I used to make my Harvest Cheese Bread Wreath. (I should also note that they’re also paying us for our participation in...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 15, 2010, 7:15 pm
This is, hands down, the best peanut butter I’ve ever had. (There, I said it.) Let me back up So last December, I had the pleasure of meeting Lee Zalban, founder and president of Peanut Butter & Co., when I was down at Bon Appetit’s Culinary Studios for their Holiday Bake-Off Party. He’s kn...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Nov 2, 2010, 9:20 pm
Welcome to Part II of my series about Halloween in our fair city of Salem, Massachusetts! If you live in Salem, you’re probably thinking one thing this week: We made it! (Woohoo!) According to the Salem News, we had about 40,000 visitors on Saturday night, and 60,000-70,000 on Sunday. Thanks to ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Oct 26, 2010, 6:36 pm
Happy Halloween! Well, happy Halloween week, I should say. Most of you guys know that we live in beautiful Salem, MA. Now, Salem is also known as Witch City. And—in October—the Halloween Capital of the World. (When you live here, you celebrate Halloween all month long, whether you like it or n...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Oct 21, 2010, 7:40 pm
If you know me, you know I have a great fondness for jam, jelly, and marmalade. It actually kind of borders on a problem. If you’ve been at The Mouse House late at night, you may have seen me sneaking a spoonful or two of jam after midnight. If you catch me, I’ll probably claim that I desperat...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Oct 13, 2010, 7:02 pm
Thanks to everyone who entered to win a Silhouette Digital Cutter! We had 866 entries, which is by far the most we’ve ever had for a giveaway. (And we’ve given away some pretty swank swag in our time…) This was such a success, I’m going to see if we can do it again sometime (no promises, b...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Sep 30, 2010, 10:15 am
So last week, I posted a giveaway for one of the most fabulous crafting tools known to man- and mousekind: The Silhouette Digital Cutting Tool. If you haven’t entered yet, click here to read the post and learn how to enter to win. The contest ends TONIGHT at Midnight EST. If you need any more co...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Sep 25, 2010, 1:54 pm
If you’ve ever met me in person, even once, you’re almost guaranteed to know at least one thing about me: I love cheese. With autumn coming, I’m starting to swing into baking mode. It’s something that I look forward to every year. This cheese bread is moist and dense, and p...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Sep 23, 2010, 8:41 pm
Make etched glass using the Silhouette machine (Photo courtesy of Silhouette) A while ago, the good folks over at the crafting blog How Does She? asked me if I wanted to test and review a Silhouette craft cutter. “A what?” was my response. As it turns out, a Silhouette Digital Cutter ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Sep 13, 2010, 7:07 pm
Autumn’s coming in New England. You can absolutely smell it in the air. The nights are starting to get just a wee bit crisp here on the coast. I’m starting to eye my sweaters and think about apple picking. The surest sign of all that the weather’s starting to turn? I just made ...
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Jessica K. posted an article on The Hungry Mouse - Sep 8, 2010, 10:50 am
Ahoy! So, we have some exciting news! Now, I love Pepperidge Farm puff pastry. Truly, I do. It’s been my puff pastry of choice for 15 years, maybe longer. It’s flaky and buttery and crisp (not to mention reliable and dependent). So, when Pepperidge Farm recently asked us to do a little...
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