Do you love "Top Chef," too?

Posted by Alexis Tirado

Are you a huge fan of "Top Chef," too? I'm always amazed at the tasks and projects that the contestants have to go through in order to win the Top Chef title. But this is coming from me -- I burn toast in a toaster! I also love watching chef Tom Colicchio -- he's such a straight shooter and tough critic.

So I'm super excited to tune in to Sirius 112 today to listen to Martha chat with Tom Colicchio on her special series, "At Martha's Table." He's going to share his favorite recipes and cooking tips, and talk about an exciting new venture! If you have Sirius, tune in today at 4 p.m. ET. If you don't have Sirius, you can sign up for a free three-day subscription here. You can watch Tom on Martha's TV show today, too!

I'll take photos at the show and post a recap of Tom's tips and more! Tune in on air and check out the blog later!

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More Martini Madness

Posted by Naomi Gabay

Allen has been on a martini kick lately. Here are four new martini recipes to try out this weekend. How do you make the perfect martini?

MARTINEZ
2 ounces gin
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
2 dashes angostura bitters

Stir ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

PERFECT MARTINI No.2
1/3 gin
1/3 Italian vermouth
1/3 French vermouth

Sir ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Serve with a green olive and twist of lemon.

Week 10: Fruit & Veggie Challenge

Posted by Lisa Mantineo

With fall officially underway, we're all looking for ways to use more seasonal fruits and vegetables into our meals. Fall is the perfect time of year to try our Fruit and Vegetable Challenge. The goal of the program is to incorporate more produce into your busy schedule. If you want more info on the challenge, read our first post about it.

Below we have posted some delicious recipes that you might like to try during the upcoming week.

Week 10 Recipes
Orange Compote
Butternut Squash with Sage
Linguine with Fennel and Tuna
Fresh Tomato Sauce

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SEE MORE RECIPES FROM PREVIOUS FRUIT AND VEGGIE CHALLENGES:

Cake Contest!

Posted by Maureen McMurray

Today, we're celebrating Kim and Betsy's one-year anniversary on "Morning Living." Can you believe they've been working together for a year? For their celebration, I decided to have a cake-baking competition. Initially, Kim and Betsy were going to face off but other radio staffers got in on the competition, including me!

Check out the cakes below and vote for your favorite one!

Betsy Karetnick, cohost of "Morning Living"
Flowers anyone?! I thought I'd turn my background to my advantage. I present a basket of flowers -- cupcakes decorated to resemble flowers. I hope they attract our judge's sweet tooth and sense of humor.  I'm planting a bug on at least one of them -- Kim doesn't bug me like she thinks, but I thought I'd rib her anyway!

Kim Fernandez, cohost of  "Morning Living"
I used Martha Stewart's recipe for coffee cake, because there's nothing better on a Sunday than sitting with your family around the breakfast table noshing on homemade coffee cake and your beverage of choice!

Making a Difference

Posted by Naomi Gabay

Have you ever stopped to think about where excess food goes from restaurants, supermarkets, and green markets? In New York City alone, millions of pounds of quality food gets thrown away every year.

City Harvest is a food rescue organization fighting to end hunger in our local communities. They accept 20 million pounds of donated excess food each year and deliver it to local food programs, feeding more than 260,000 hungry New Yorkers each week!

The next time you have a catered event such as a wedding, conference, or office party remember to give City Harvest a call to pick up your leftovers! If you want to start a food rescue program in your area, City Harvest has plenty of tips on how to get started.

One of City Harvest's local programs is a green market, where people can choose their own fresh fruit and vegetables that have been donated. The Martha Stewart Living Radio staff teamed up to take a day to volunteer at one of City Harvest's green markets in the Bronx.

 

Roasted Squash and Goat Cheese Sandwich

Posted by Sandy Gluck

This one is the type of sandwich you might eat with a knife and a fork. Thick slices of butternut squash are tossed with onion and oil, sprinkled with salt, pepper, and sage, and then roasted until the squash is tender and the onions are golden brown.

Tomato jam (you could use apricot or pepper jelly), fresh goat cheese, and arugula get piled into a loaf of Italian bread along with the squash and onions and cut into wedges. It's the first time I put squash on a sandwich, but it won't be the last.

What about you?

SEE THE RECIPE: Roasted Squash and Goat Cheese Sandwich

Check These Out: Mexican Sour Gherkins

Posted by Sandy Gluck

I talked about seeing Mexican Sour Gherkins last week and finally got to take a picture of them. They're beyond cute, and they taste great, too. I haven't tried pickling them but eaten whole (imagine actually trying to peel one of these), they have a refreshing lemony note. Here they are in all their glory, looking for all the world like the tiniest watermelons imaginable:

Knife Skills 101

Posted by Naomi Gabay

Have you ever been faced with a pile of vegetables to chop? Did you get through the pile only to find that your arm was tired? This happens to me all the time, so I knew there had to be a better way to slice and dice all my ingredients! I signed up for a knife skills class at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) with Chef Norman Weinstein, knowing that the best way to learn would be to watch a pro.

I love the kitchens at ICE -- I wish I had this much counter space at home! 

Inspiration from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Posted by Dionne Victor

Andrew visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden last week to scout for a possible story and left with inspiration of his own.

He likes the South American Air Plant 'Marginata' and is planning to plant it in his home garden next year.

 

Smashing Pumpkins!

Posted by Mario Bosquez

Marion Roach, a contributor to Martha Stewart Living Radio (Sirius channel 112), always delights and informs us with her weekly Naturalists Datebook, segment. Marion recently mentioned Pumpkin Lumina (white pumpkins), which piqued my interest.

Pumpkin Lumina (right) looking ghostly among its traditional cousin.