Texas: Here I Come!
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
To say I’m excited to return to Texas next week is an understatement (schedule deatils below). When I last visited in 2013, for the promotion of the Mad Hungry Cravings book, I had more fun than should be allowed on a working trip. Austin is always amazing, a favorite with which I feel a kindred spirit. Keep… View Article
Mad Hungry Family Book Tour 2016
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
Sitting on the plane bound for Seattle from NYC has me reflecting on the actual mechanics of writing a cookbook, and how satisfying it is when the time finally comes to share it. The process is a long one. I’m not sure folks realize what it really takes to make a heartfelt, workable cookbook…. View Article
Mad Hungry Family Is Here!
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
My new book Mad Hungry Family: 120 Essential Recipes to Feed the Whole Crew, is so much more than recipes. It’s all about the why—Why cook meals for your loved ones in this get-it-quick and premade era? Alongside the recipes are the stories—the proof-of-concept “how-to.” From the outset of committing to cook for… View Article
The Finch: The Best Dining Experience I’ve Had in Years
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
Black Bass Japanese Sweet Potatoes Shrimp, Trout Skin and Roe (and a bunch of amazing spring vegetables) Last week I ran into a former colleague at the Union Square Farmers Market here in NYC. Gabe McMackin worked closely with me at Martha Stewart during a time when we were developing food products for… View Article
Springtime Rhubarb Chutney
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
One of the amazing things in my new life as a self-employed entrepreneur (better late than never) is the renewed ability to really cook with the seasons. To have time to leisurely visit the markets and to experience the first fruits and vegetables of the spring is a gift. For fifteen years, my job was to find, curate, expose, and… View Article
Fish Dinner
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
I love to eat fresh fish but I’m afraid it’s a less welcome dinner choice (than meat) for the guys in my life. Every time I make it I try to gussy it up a bit, so someone says, “that’s actually tastes really, really good!” I buy fish when it’s fresh, affordable and reasonably close to the… View Article
Mexican Food
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
It’s called Budin Azteca. My husband requests it for his birthday dinner every year. Since posting a few Instagram photos, I’ve had many queries about this dish. It’s no wonder so many folks LOVE Mexican food. Our household is no exception. The ingredients, flavors and techniques make for a very sophisticated and deeply nuanced cuisine. Even to say Mexican food is… View Article
Rosé Wine Season Begins
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
Once the weather starts to warm up, rosé season begins around our house. A great rosé (and by “great” I don’t mean expensive) drinks beautifully with a variety of foods, and on its own as a cocktail. The amount of rosé to choose from at the liquor store has increased along with its popularity, unfortunately many of… View Article
Categorised in: Beer, Wine and Spirits
Shrimp Scampi Versatility
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
It’s handy to have a few dishes up your sleeve that can be prepared in several different ways depending on how you are feeling, or more importantly, how your fridge, freezer, or pantry are stocked at that very moment. Shrimp scampi is one of those dishes. The recipe brings a few ingredients together to create a deeply familiar and deeply… View Article
Stir-Fry Strategy
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
I make this type of meal at least once a week. It’s not the same type of stir-fry my mom made in the 70’s with leftovers from last night’s dinner. No disrespect, because I loved that dish (often based around leftover teriyaki pork). But over my last few decades of professional cooking, I’ve learned a lot… View Article
Orange Marmalade
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
In my perfect world I have fresh clean produce to pickle, jam and jelly on a regular basis. Saying that makes it seem like I’m an expert preserver, but thats also in my dreams. When I do come across something amazing, like concord grapes in the fall or strawberries in June, and I have time,… View Article
Easter Leftovers’ Shepherd’s Pie
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
Romaine, Asparagus, Tomato Salad and Lamb-Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie Lamb and Sweet Potato Leftover Shepherd’s Pie Yesterday, I made this pie with the leftovers from the Easter Lamb. Ordinarily there are no leftovers in our family, but there was a lot of good food at our feast, eaten at my brother Peter’s house, on a… View Article
One by One
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
After fifteen years working for another company, I’m three months into the official launch of my own venture. Just getting to the launch part took several months of lawyers, accountants, web developing, soul searching, lawyers again, and more soul searching. Brick by brick, bird by bird, one step at a time, whatever you want to call it—that’s… View Article
Potato Salad for Easter
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
When I arrived at my mom’s for Easter, she’d been combing through all my books to find her potato salad recipe, but with no luck. It was a bit of a surprise, as there are very few of her gems that haven’t been published. After a little digging we realized that it wasn’t in one… View Article
Rose’s Tuna Salad
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
A reader wrote to ask for my mom’s tuna salad recipe (which I couldn’t help but mention in this description of Rose). Today, once again, a Quinn said, “there’s nothing in the house to eat.” Looking beyond the near-empty fridge, the crisper and pantry held a few secrets and about-to-go-sour ingredients. Surely, a tuna salad was well… View Article
Why Cooking Comforts
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
I can only speak for myself. Happy, sad, or in between, my kitchen is my safe haven. Stand up and chop the onions for dinner. Beat the butter and sugar for cookies. Roll the meatballs. Thats what cooking can do for you. Anchor yourself in firm footing: Do you know what I mean? Personal, national,… View Article
Categorised in: Stories
Eat Out To Eat In
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
Cooking at home and eating in is what I happily do most days. Eating out is usually an adventure, rarely my first choice, and always for just a few different reasons–either inspiration or celebration–rarely in between. That means the options are either little known and affordable ethnic spots or special primo product ones. Over all… View Article
Get on the Granola
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
This happens every Sunday that I am home. A big batch of granola is made to stock up for the week. First off, even at the most affordable markets, the price verses quality of packaged granola drives me completely nuts! The worse brands are too much money. And half the time it’s rancid, which is what happens… View Article
One More Soupy Weekend
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
Here in NYC, on the second to last March weekend before Easter, one last snow storm is supposedly heading our way. While my family and friends seem really bummed about it (we’re ready to jump head first into barbecue season), I turn to my number one winter coping skill, souping-braising-stewing. As long as I have… View Article
A Riff on Chicken Fricassee
Published by Lucinda Scala Quinn
There was a whole chicken in the fridge and an increasing number of people to feed, so my plan for roast chicken flew out the window. Instead, I cut the bird into 10 pieces (breast parts in half), and put the back bone, wing tips and neck into some simmering salted water for a quick… View Article