I had dinner with Rob, my old engineering colleague, and his wife, Remone, when visiting Holland earlier this year. Amongst other things, Remone is an amazing cook. She kindly gifted me with a jar of her homemade Sambal and included a printout of the recipe. I was thrilled! I love Indonesian cuisine for its variety […]
Last year my kids came home raving about the Korean fried chicken they had at a restaurant. That being the case, I did some research to make it at home. It seemed pretty easy to make but there were variations in the dredging flour, the pieces of chicken used, and the sauce in the recipes […]
Our family always orders this dish when we go out to a Korean restaurant. It makes for a fantastic shared appetizer or a main course. The pancake is crispy and flavorful and the dipping sauce adds savory, sweet and sour notes to the dish. Although, it is quick and easy to make at home. I […]
Achiote (Annatto) seeds have been used in Mexico, the Carribean, and the Philipines to impart a deep orange-yellow color and fruity mildly peppery flavor to food. I make a cup of this oil and use it for recipes from these regions. Prep time: 3 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cup INSTRUCTIONS Add both […]
I keep this sugar in my pantry to add a punch of flavor over baked goods like sweet-tasting bread or muffins. I have used it over fresh berries and as a chip seasoning. It’s easy to make and keeps well in a glass jar. Hands-on time: 3 minutes Yield: 4 ounces INSTRUCTIONS Add both ingredients […]
My family and I love tamarind chutney. It has a sweet and sour fruity taste that is in perfect balance on the palate. It is a must if you are serving Indian high tea as many of the savory offerings are paired with it. I use it: As a condiment for samosas (triangular, filled pastries), […]
Tamarind is used in many countries. Mexico uses it for making sweets and drinks, Asians, especially Indians, use it in cooking, for drinks, and in chutneys. Tamarind imparts a sweet-tart taste and is very nutritious. It can be purchased as a concentrate, a pulp or as dried fruit in a plastic block. I use the […]
This chutney is used as a relish during a meal, a condiment alongside pakodas (savory fritters) and samosas, a filling for Indian high tea finger sandwiches or as one of the sauces used in making Behl Puri (a diced salad with crisp, puffed rice). This chutney can be made with mint only (leaves only), coriander […]
I had a version of this dip at Margaret and Franco’s home at one of their parties and decided to try out this version for my entertainment offering. I have served it for book club and large parties and have been asked for the recipe by several people. Hands-on time: 10 minutes Yield: 2 cups […]
I like to throw cocktail parties where I serve a variety of hearty appetizers and some signature drinks in addition to the usual wine and beer. Here is yet another quick recipe for an appetizer (or, an afternoon snack, as I served this to my kids as well). You can make a lot of this […]
I made this on a lark when I was trying to finish some milk that was coming close to its expiration date. It turned out to be a new favorite with my kids as it tastes surprisingly like mac-n-cheese but without the macaroni or the cheese. Imagine! Guilt-free mac-n-cheese. It is made in the same […]
My daughter was sick last week and I wanted to offer her a light meal that I hoped she would enjoy. I decided that crêpes were just what the doctor ordered (See my blog on crêpes). This way, I could get her and her siblings to eat a good amount of vegetables and fruit without […]
I learned to make this recipe from my friend, Carol, a professional chef married to an Italian national. She used this sauce in a lasagna she brought to a pot luck. It was the best tasting lasagna I have ever had. All other recipes pale in comparison. The sauce is made of simple ingredients and […]
Béchamel, the mother of several other sauces, is a lovely white sauce that is so versatile and easy to make that it has become my go-to sauce for many Euro-centric recipes. The sauce is made with different consistencies depending on how you plan to use it. For example: Thin béchamel is a lovely base in […]
This Bolognese sauce has tender, juicy bits of meat and is so dense and rich in flavor from the oxtail that it has become a favorite of my son’s. Bolognese is so versatile that it can be used not only to make a luscious lasagna but also as a topping for baked potatoes or crepe […]