Taco seasoning packets for flavoring the meat in Mexican dinners is an American thing. When I was in college, I ate at La Bambas on the campus of Ball State University almost everyday. I got to know the employees pretty well, and the owner told me that the seasoning in…

This is a recipe I have been wanting to create for a long time. It’s inspired, obviously, by the Taco Bell Mexican Pizza. The biggest difference is that I use corn tortillas, while the Bell uses flour. This is the third pizza I have made for the column, and I…

I am a lucky person when it comes to eating. I have been able to eat what I want without ever having to worry about my weight. Every so often, though, I get the urge to eat healthier, especially if I stop for fast food. If I am at McDonald’s…

I was so happy to make this recipe! I bought the shrimp at the grocery store across the street from my old apartment in Queens. It was fantastically fresh AND I got to grill it on my girlfriend’s porch.  Fresh New York City seafood, grilled on a New York City…

A month or so ago I ate dinner with my parents and Mom had made mini-crescent rolls stuffed with cream cheese. I must have eaten 12 of them. Because it was just an addition to dinner, Mom kept them tame with just cream cheese. She usually adds other ingredients mixed…

Snow covers the grill – again.     The warm weather was upon us. I had grilled for the first time this spring. And then Mother Nature says “Not so fast giddy grill man!” Last night New York got enough snow to create a light-slushy layer on everything – including…

A charcoal grill and the view of the RFK (formerly Triboro) Bridge in New York City. I hope everyone took advantage of the hint of spring that was given to us last week for most of the Midwest and Northeast. I went crazy. Three meals in two days – all…

I love to caramelize onions. Their flavor can’t be beat and they can enhance just about any dish. That’s why I love to make this soup. It is amazing how onions are transformed from their pungent raw form into a savory and sweet delight with just a little time over…