If You're Ever in a Jam, Here I Am

I've gushed and gushed but now here I go, gushing some more. I love, love, love my pizza stone. It's my little buddy in the kitchen.

When I don't know what to make but just want something nutritious but lots of flavor, I throw it all on my pizza stone and wait 20 minutes for amazing.

The same way I'm sure I man feels about his grill if you're lucky enough to live where you have a slice of yard. Here in the city though, you have to be creative. My pizza stone roasts, grills, chars and gives my foods that rustic tastes that you normally could not accomplish indoors. It's like the power booster for my little barbie oven to achieve the heat it normally can not accomplish.

Chicken sausage with asparagus, potatoes, onions and tomatoes over mixed greens. The sweetness and juiciness of those roasted tomatoes is heaven on earth. Eating fresh produce roasted at its peak with nothing but its true flavor, a little salt takes you to church so to speak. Amen!

Keep Feeling Fascination

Still obsessed with my pizza stone, I decided to do a medley of 'grilled' vegetables and chicken sausage.

I cut green bell peppers, onion, potato and tomato into big chunks and added salt,pepper, seasonings and EVOO.

I let those roast for about half and hour on 350, then added the sausage diced into bite sized pieces until browned and done.

A dash of salt and pepper and you could serve this over anything or just wrap it up in torts. This day I chose to serve alongside Basmati rice and fresh spinach dressed in lemon juice.

I Can't Quit You Baby, So I'm Gonna Put You Down for Awhile

The only planned dinner I had this week was for veggie burgers but I just couldn't get the urge up for them. P suggested tuna burgers. Brilliant! A quick recipe search and who knew they were so easy using canned tuna!

This is a mash-up recipe from several I found:

2 cans solid white albacore tuna, drained
1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
1 large egg
1 large tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 diced jalapeno (or green onion)
1/2 teaspoon of Old Bay seasoning


Directions: Mix all ingredients together in small bowl. Form patties and cook on a pre-heated non-stick pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray until tuna patties are slightly browned. I topped with a thick slice of fresh tomato and a grilled portabello mushroom.

I'm still trying to ween myself off the pizza stone so I couldn't resist roasting the mushrooms for my burgers. I also love lemons, like a LOT. Not everyone will enjoy these but I put a bunch of slices of lemons on the stone with some olive oil and salt until they were slightly caramelized. You can eat the whole thing, they are too good. Again, not for everyone but definitely for me.

You Can't Always Get What You Want

I've been infatuated with this new pizza stone and I've felt compelled to throw everything on it that I can think of. I'm having grill envy. Even here in Brooklyn some lucky tenants near us have grilling abilities. That smell is intoxicating. I'm happy for them. Sniff, sniff. So tonight I made turkey kielbasa sammies on my stone with big thick slices of roasted tomatoes and onions on thin sandwich bread with a slathering of smashed avocado and lime. Better than mustard!

I needed another dose of that leftover pork fried rice so boom, instant side. And green apple slices.

Get yourself a pizza stone if you're living in the city or an apartment or any living condition that prevents you from enjoying your God given right to real grilled food over hot coals in the great outdoors.

It's not exactly the same as that perfect fire roasted grilled taste, but its close enough for rock and roll.