German

German Rabbit Stew

No, this is not hasenpfeffer. This stew, which comes from Swabia in Southern Germany, is much lighter -- almost summery -- and is a great way to usher in cooler nights -- and rabbit season.

Fish

Grilled Octopus, Greek Style

As we close out summer, I refuse to give up the grill just yet. And while I did not actually catch these little octopi, I just had to share with you one of my favorite appetizers of all time: Grilled baby octopus, a Greek classic.

Recipe

Salmon Tartare

I always order salmon at sushi restaurants, but I am no sushi master so at home I stick to easier preparations, like salmon tartare, which, if you've never heard of it, is chopped raw salmon. My version has a Northern European flair to it, with dill and a special pumpkinseed oil the Austrians use a lot.

Appetizers and Snacks

Fig Jam with Ouzo

My fig tree is exploding with fruit right now, so I decided to revise my recipe for an old favorite: Fig jam, spiked with ouzo, lemon and bay. I don't eat too much jam and jelly, but this one is absolutely worth your effort.

Salmon and Trout

Salmon Head Soup

In case you hadn't noticed, I actually like the rest of the salmon as much - if not more - than the fillet. This is salmon head soup, done Japanese style. And don't worry, there will be no eyeballs staring back at you: You only use the salmon heads to make the broth.

Recipe

How to Make Elderberry Wine

If you want to make your own fruit wines - wines worthy of the snootiest wine snob - this is how to do it. I've been making fruit wines for 20 years, and here is my method. It requires some special equipment, a lot of patience, and a little math. But the result is more than worth it.

Mushrooms

Pickled Chanterelle Mushrooms

It is chanterelle season in much of America right now, and I am even hearing a few isolated reports of chanties here in California. What to do when you want to extend your season? Pickle your chanterelles. They're awesome preserved this way.

Salmon and Trout

How to Smoke Salmon

There are a lot of ways to smoke salmon, but this is the method I've perfected over the years. Making perfect smoked salmon requires a little attention, and a lot of time. Here's how to do it.

Recipe

Grouse Salad with Barley and Tomatoes

Another good recipe for the dog days of August: Grouse salad with Sungold tomatoes and barley. It's meant to be eaten warm or at room temperature, on the porch at sunset, beer in hand.

Pasta, Risotto, Gnocchi

Meatless Spaghetti Sauce

Taking a break from what has become the Summer of Salmon, this is my go-to summertime pasta sauce recipe. A mix of fresh or preserved tomatoes, lots of fresh fennel and a little bit of anise-flavored liqueur brighten up this sauce for warm days.