FIDDELHEADS OR FIDDLE HEAD FERNS are one of those vegetable unicorns.  They can be hard to find in many areas, depending on the availability of Farmer's Markets or Farm Stands in your community.  They are the unfurled Frond of a fern and found most prominently in the Spring (naturally).   Sauté them lightly in Olive Oil and mix in with your favorite pasta.  The pasta shown here is chick-pea based BANZA.   Add seasoning to taste.  #DELICIOUS!! 

Last weekend we had pork tenderloin with apples, green beans, sweet potatoes, and wild rice.  Delicious.  Happy Fall.

Perfect Fall Dinner - Pork Tenderloin with apples, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, and Wild Rice - and of course a glass (or two) of wine

BROCCOLI WITH SHALLOTS, CHICKEN STOCK, AND SPICES - LIGHTLY SAUTE / STEAM PH: Jason JobsonIn an ongoing effort to eat more vegetables I have started making some of these super healthy items the main dish.  With your favorite spices and proper cooking time, the veggies packed with the most antioxidants can also be the most delicious.

Broccoli - this member of the cabbage family has been found to be one of the healthiest vegetable we can add to our diet. THE BEST SELLING - HOW NOT TO DIE - DR. MICHAEL GREGOR Packed full of nutrients and vitamins, broccoli releases glucoraphanin and myrosinase when chewed.  These enzymes work together to produce sulforaphane - which seems to be a magic element of health benefits.   In his book "HOW NOT TO DIE" - Dr. Michael Gregor sings the praises of eating broccoli.  He even contends that eating broccoli can counteract the health risks of smoking ..  Pretty amazing! A simple sauté of broccoli with a little olive oil, chicken stock (vegetable stock for you vegans) and spices is one of the best things you can make at home.

CARROTS - These root vegetables are one of my other favorites.  They are packed with Beta-Carotene which the human body converts into Vitamin A.SIMPLE SAUTEED CARROTS WITH PEPPER - SERVED OVER ARUGULA PH: Jason Jobson  Vitamin A promotes healthy skin, immune system, and vision, among a host of other benefits that researchers are confirming year after year.   Eat more carrots!  You can prepare them the same way as broccoli - the less cooking the better.  Nature made them perfect as is!

I had the great pleasure of meeting Chef Amy Chaplin a few weeks ago at a book signing for her wonderful book - At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen.   The event was hosted by an excellent home store called Hammertown Barn - this location in Pine Plains, NY.  There are two smaller locations of the store in Rhinebeck, NY and Great Barrington, Ma.   The owner Joan Osofsky is quite renowned as she has an incredible eye for curating this collection of all things home and garden.  Pines Plains is a charming little town near Millbrook, NY.  That town is known for its rolling hills and upscale horse farms and second homes of the rich and famous. *Definitely worth a visit on a weekend drive from NYC - about 2 hours each way.  I was there over Thanksgiving weekend Joan had several events happening and the Barn and main house on her extensive property were bustling with customers.

Amy Chaplin is a celebrated Chef (James Beard Foundation award winner) with a head chef tenure under her belt at the extremely popular Angelica Kitchen in the East Village in NYC.CHEF AMY CHAPLIN - PHOTO- JOHNNY MILLER   Chaplin has spent years as a private chef (several celebrities can't live without her daily creations) and at long last released this book - At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen.  Growing up in rural Australia, Amy spent her childhood watching (and helping) her parents create every meal they ate - from scratch.   With the nearest store 30 miles away, one can only imagine the creativity it must have inspired.   The book explains how to create healthy, fullfilling dishes for every occassion.  It feels like a relaxation experiment just looking at the beautiful photos by Photog Johnny Miller of vegetables and natural ingredients.   I happily bought he book and intend to spend the holidays experimenting with this masters recipes.    Buy one for the cook in your life, and buy one for yourself as well.  It's one of those books that should be in every kitchen - as a reference and also as a guide.   Be sure to visit her excellent website for recipes, inspiration, and more know-how than you can imagine! 

Click images or links for more info about Amy and Hammertown, to buy the book, and visit Amy's website. PHOTO - JOHNNY MILLER from AT HOME IN THE WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN by AMY CHAPLINPHOTO-JOHNNY MILLER from AT HOME IN THE WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN by AMY CHAPLIN

Easy #sundaymorning in #sharon06069.. What's for breakfast? Purple Barley #pancakes from @haydenflourmills from Arizona and #siropderable from #canada #hmm #thankyou .. #haydenflourmills #laguiole #royalboch #coffee #smile #heritagegrains #ancientgrains @americanmademsl #americanmademsl #purplebarley

A photo posted by JasonJobson (@jasonjobson) on Nov 15, 2015 at 10:04pm PST

The French cookware company that changed the way we cook turns 90 this year!  Le Creuset are arguably the most famous pots in the world.   Their famous cast iron cookware are classics.  They last forever, are almost indestructible, and just so chic.   Ninety years ago the original orange glossy finish was shocking in a world of gray and black.   Today, millions of cooks, hLIMITED EDITION COCOTTE - BASED ON THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FROM 1925omeowners, and apartment dwellers turn to Le Creuset as the ultimate items to have in the kitchen.  The pots are a status symbol, and as decorative as they are functional.

Gracious Home, the famous home emporium on New York's Upper East and Upper West Side of Manhattan are known for carrying all the must-have items for every room in your house.  The store carries a wide range of Le Creuset, and just had special events celebrating the 90th anniversary.   The store hosted an open house in both locations with other French brands on hand to share the celebration.  Le Creuset Cookware, Briochin household cleaners, andTHE LOVELY OPHELIE FROM BRIOCHIN Breville applicances had representatives on hand demonstrating their wares.  French artisan Christophe Pourny was also on hand signing copies of his best selling book - The Furniture Bible, and demonstrating his all natural line of serums, waxes, and furniture tonics.

To mark this special occasion, Le Creuset has created a limited edition "cocotte" exactly like the original from 1925.  The house will only make 1,925 of the pots worldwide ($500.00).   At the same time the company has launched Black & White Pots - not seen before at the house of all things color.

Click images to find out more and shop these amazing, quality cookware items.  If you try them once,  they are sure to be a staple in your kitchen.   When your not cooking in them, you'll be decorating with them!

Happy Birthday Le Creuset!!

Slow #SundayMorning .. #Breakfast @fage #Blueberries, #LaGuiole #MarkHampton @hollandandsherrysavilerow #MichaelHaighCeramics #Sharon06069

A photo posted by JasonJobson (@jasonjobson) on Jul 26, 2015 at 5:43pm PDT

THE SIMPLY DELICIOUS GREEN SALAD AT THE WHITE HART INN - SALISBURY, CT

The WhiteHart Inn is a historic property that has opened more than a century ago.   While a change in ownership saw the Inn close for a few seasons, the re-opening drew cheers from local Salisbury residents.   Also happy are the many parents who visit children at the preps schools in the area.  The super posh Hotchkiss and Salisbury Schools are just around the corner from the Inn.  Both schools attract students from around the world.

Plan a special celebration at the Inn, or better yet, a "just because" weekend get-a-way.  I promise you will be glad you did.   The Inn has well appointed simple rooms, doubles, and suites.  *Be sure to book ahead, the Inn fills up quickly.    The dining room at the White Hart is sophisticated and minimal, just how you'd want it to be.  Some serious artwork decorate the common areas of the Inn's first floor.  A more cozy setting if offered in the casual Tap Room with some comfort food favorites on a menu that changes weekly. 

Have you picked a weekend yet? 

BBQ Brisket Heaven at When Pigs Fly South in Sharon, Ct

It makes perfect sense that in 2014 comfort food is now as fashionable as Haute Cuisine - perhaps even more so.   With the reality of reality TV and the cultural obsession with celebrities being "just like us", it's no wonder that diners gravitate to food that satisfies their appetite as well as their ego.  

Southern BBQ has always been a delicacy and personally one of my favorite foods.   As a New Yorker, it used to be a passion reserved for when I travelled in the South of the US.. but no longer!    NYC is now home to so many great BBQ restaurants, I think any Texan or NOLA resident would be right at home.  There are at least two schools of thought when you talk BBQ, Texas or Southern. Both are found right here in NY, and I recently found out - a bit further North! 

It's really no surprise the South has gone high style.  After all, the sophistication of high society of early Southern America was straight from Europe - with all it's finest details.  Of course TV producers have made a fortune in recent years focussing on the less educated or stereotypes of that idea with all these  swamp "dynasty" families that are fictional - posing as real life.  However, read just one issue of the super trendy Garden & Gun Magazine and you will know - this is not your Grandfathers "Southern Comfort"!  (I caught up on reading the latest copy at When Pigs Fly South!).

I spend many weekends in Connecticut, resting and re-charging from the fast pace life that is standard procedure in NYC.   Connecticut is home to countless small towns and villages that will charm the pants off any sophisticated traveller.   Dating back several hundred years, these towns are at their core - Classic American Style.   Think rolling hills and manicured estates, farms,  and rustic homes in rural, small town settings.  The state is a true melting pot.  The rich, the famous, the farmers, the blue collar, white collar, and every collar you can think of call Connecticut home. 

A few weeks ago I am so happy to have finally eaten at WHEN PIGS FLY SOUTH in Sharon, Ct.   I've driven by for a few years and for some reason had never stopped.  After watching them double in size with the recent renovation - I had to stop.  Needless to say,  I will be stopping by often.  With pulled pork or brisket platters and sandwiches you can build an endless combination of meals with sides and sauces.   From baked beans to corn pudding, collard greens to pickles - your taste buds won't know what hit them.   If you live in or around NYC, it's worth the day trip to eat at When Pigs Fly South.   The town of Sharon is charming, and there is plenty to do to fill an afternoon or a weekend.   The Tri-Arts Sharon Playhouse is just down the street and they are always staging a production of some show you won't want to miss.  (Just driving around and looking at the homes is about the sexiest real estate porn you could ever hope for!) The Sharon Country Inn is also just down the road and newly renovated.   You can make Sharon your base and from there explore Lakeville, Salisbury, Falls Village, New Preston, Kent, Millerton NY, Amenia NY, and Millbrook NY - all in one weekend.   All of these towns are just a few miles apart and roll right into each other - as the rolling hills do in New England! 

Oh.. after the BBQ you might want to walk off some of the calories.   There is an excellent running / biking path that stretches for miles between Amenia and Millerton NY - crossing back and forth from NY to Connecticut.   It is pedestrian only and full of beautiful wildlife and nature.

Did you reserve the care yet?

*not leaving NYC?  Then be sure to hit one of these BBQ restaurants in the city that never sleeps (or stops eating).  Each has a different scene - all are fun!  Dallas BBQ  is notorious for the biggest drinks and plates - pace yourself!

Hill Country Barbeque , Brother Jimmy's BBQ , Dinosaur Bar-B-Que , Dallas BBQ , Southern Hospitality BBQ

If you'd like some tips on digging in and doing the BBQ yourself on a gas grill?  Take a look at the article on Jenn's Reviews...

JEN'S REVIEWS - HOW TO BBQ

SHANE'S CONFECTIONERS - CLEAR BUNNY CANDYIt's time for Spring, and along with the warmer weather and brighter days comes a natural desire for sweets, treats, and those specialty baked goods that are a sure sign that the Winter is over! #EASTER

I wanted to highlight three companies that make exceptional items.  All three are family owned businesses.  I know the owners, and I've seen the dedication they have for creating these beautiful treats.  PLUM DANDY COOKIES & MILK - EASTER COOKIESANDIE'S SPECIALTY SWEETS - CANDY "SPRING" BUTTONS

While they shine at Easter, all three of these companies are whipping up treasures every day of the year.  So take note of the Easter treats, but bookmark them for every holiday - actually.. why wait for a holiday?

ANDIE'S SPECIALTY SWEETS

SHANE'S CONFECTIONS

PLUM DANDY COOKIES & MILK