My name is Benjamin, and I welcome you to A Reason To Cook. I never really cooked before, but now that I am engaged to the most amazing woman in the world (her name is Chelsea), I finally have A Reason To Cook.
The trouble is, I am a Kitchen Novice.
My focus is food that is not only Delicious, but Cheap, Healthy and Easy to Cook! My goal is to learn how to cook by testing and reviewing recipes, while sharing tips & tricks I discover along the way. Once you try the recipes, please share your successes as well as your failures with us. Now that we have A Reason to Cook, we can help each other in the kitchen!
Got a recipe for us to try? Please send it to: benjamin@areasontocook.com
We are not talking about Sam Adams, the Statesman and Founding Father. He was brilliant, to be sure. But this is a Food Blog, so we’re talking about Sam Adams, the beer.
Recently, Chelsea and I have grown fond of “Sam Adams Light” (shock!) which has more body and flavor than most “regular” beers. Seriously, I [...]
This past weekend, in my continuing quest to try new things in the food world, I encountered a curious fruit called a “Persimmon.”
Known to the ancient Greeks as “the fruit of the gods,” I am mildly ashamed to admit I’d never tried one.
The farmer introduced me to two varieties: “Fuyu” and “Hachiya” Persimmons. I [...]
Here’s another simple recipe, courtesy of my good buddy from college, Dave Smooge. Dave was never the most patient or low-key guy, yet I’m not surprised he was able to ‘cook’ this dish. It’s super easy!
Then again, no heat or fire is necessary to enjoy it. Sorry, Dave. Just callin’ it like it is.
A very [...]
Here’s a splash of gorgeous, edible color… courtesy of the Studio City Farmer’s Market.
Yum!
Nearly every weekend at the Farmer’s Market, we encounter some food we have never tried (or often never heard of). I decided aReasonToCook.com is the perfect excuse for me to explore these food mysteries. This past weekend, we came across a small display, with a hand-written sign offering “Jujube $3.00/lb.”
In response to our inquiry, the [...]
This yummy recipe originates from Susan Hadler’s brilliant The Complete Book of Vegetarian Grilling… book, which is filled with exceptional recipes.
Hadler’s recipe, developed to yield 6 servings, calls for roasting three “Anaheim” Chiles on a traditional Gas stove-top. I used my outdoor (propane) gas grill to cook ‘em. Also, I cut Hadler’s original recipe [...]
That’s right, I said it: These are the “World’s Greatest” Chocolate Chip Cookies. This recipe calls for Whole Grain Oats (chopped fine) and Walnuts (chopped). The nuts are optional, but the ground oats are integral to the recipe. Also, it’s important to use KOSHER SALT. This element is courtesy of my sister, Jillian. She won’t [...]
This yummy salad recipe stems from Susan Hadler’s The Complete Book of Vegetarian Grilling — Over 150 Easy and Tasty Recipes You Can Grill Indoors or Out
The original recipe, designed to yield 6 servings, calls for roasting the Red Pepper and toasting the Walnuts separately, using a traditional stove-top. I used my outdoor, propane [...]
Here is a wonderful, highly functional recipe for singles and couples… Hand-Cut Pesto! This is my own recipe, which has evolved through several attempts (read: FAILURES). I always wondered what “Pesto” is; From Dictionary.com, Pesto is a noun:
a sauce typically made with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and grated Parmesan blended together and served hot [...]
This was the very first dish I prepared for Chelsea, after committing myself to becoming a decent cook for the both of us. It comes from an AMAZING book Chelsea got for me (which I highly recommend): Fresh From The Farmer’s Market by Janet Fletcher (pictured at left).
Chelsea got my copy at her favorite store, [...]
