We Tried Trader Joe’s Papas Rellenas (Potato Croquettes)

Meat and potatoes is a classic combo nearly the world over. And with Trader Joe's Papas Rellenas, TJ's is serving up a Latin American take in the form of mashed potato croquettes stuffed with seasoned ground beef. It's then rolled in bread crumbs and fried for a crunchy outside. All you need is 20 minutes…

ByMichelleFebruary 28, 20240Comments

Cooking Recipes

Copycat Recipe: Tito’s Meat Burrito

This is as close as I've been able to get to the meat burrito from Tito's in Culver City, California. I've had it written down in an old personal cookbook for more than a decade. I think it was originally on some listserv or other. Not sure who credit goes to...but it's delicious! …

ByMichelleFebruary 20, 20220Comments

Product Review

Don’t Wait for the Holidays to Try Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glazed Short Ribs

With meat prices up in general, Trader Joe's Balsamic Glazed Short Ribs will feel like a little bit of a splurge. But at $8.99 / lb. for a pre-made sous vide product it's pretty reasonable. The box I grabbed came in at 2.79 lbs. for a cost of $25.08. I don't usually like buying meat…

ByMichelleOctober 25, 20210Comments

Recipes

We Tried Trader Joe’s Porchetta

Looking for an alternative to that Christmas ham or prime rib? It might not be your nonna's recipe, but Trader Joe's makes it super simple to put a reasonably sized porchetta on your holiday table. An Italian Christmas tradition, porchetta is typically made with pork loin and/or pork belly with the rind on to…

ByMichelleDecember 9, 20190Comments

Events

Friday Night Bites at Feast Portland: Franklin Barbecue

It's Friday afternoon around 4:30 pm, and the evening commute is already starting to heat up. In a parking lot beside a low slung red brick building, a smoker with two huge chimneys sits in one corner and picnic tables are lined up end to end. But rather than cars pulling up in this lot, a line has…

ByMichelleSeptember 23, 20160Comments

Breafkast Recipes

Sunday Brunch: Corned Beef Hash

Around St. Paddy's Day, my grandma always bought an extra corned beef and threw it in the freezer, so at some random time of the year, in June or maybe October, you knew corned beef and cabbage would turn up on the dinner table. Last year with the best of intentions, I bought an extra…

ByMichelleMarch 17, 20121Comment

Main Course Recipes

Char Siu Experiment, Hoisin Pork Results

Last week I posted a one-off with a photo of some char siu chicken legs we had in Kauai. I don't know what the secret to char siu is aside from the red food coloring, but I'm determined to crack it. I went to Uwajimaya yesterday to check out the jarred and packet marinades and see what was in those, but the plan was to make the marinade myself. So, while some Chowhounders said there's no way a restaurant uses ketchup and hoisin, an old recipe in the Honolulu Star Bulletin said different.

ByMichelleMarch 12, 201220Comments

Main Course Photo One-offs

Photo One-Off: Char Siu Chicken Legs

There are a million reasons to want to live in Hawaii -- sunny days, sandy beaches, great surfing. I'm adding these char siu chicken legs to the list. Thanks to the melting pot of cultures in Hawaii, Foodland, a local grocery store chain, offers pre-marinated char siu drumsticks in the meat department. These…

ByMichelleMarch 6, 20123Comments

We Tried Trader Joe’s Papas Rellenas (Potato Croquettes)

Copycat Recipe: Tito’s Meat Burrito

Don’t Wait for the Holidays to Try Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glazed Short Ribs

We Tried Trader Joe’s Porchetta

Friday Night Bites at Feast Portland: Franklin Barbecue

Sunday Brunch: Corned Beef Hash

Char Siu Experiment, Hoisin Pork Results

Photo One-Off: Char Siu Chicken Legs

Book Review: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

26 New Asian and Pacific Islander Books for your 2026 TBR