Nothing fancy, just a humble homemade sweet pickle relish. But it's downright good. In fact, it's the best I've ever had. It adds a wonderful dimension to your sandwiches, hot dogs, pasta and potato salads. So easy to make with instructions for canning so you can enjoy … Continue reading →
Chocolate Almond Quinoa Cake
This Chocolate Almond Quinoa Cake recipe is possibly the BEST chocolate cake you've ever had. Incredibly rich, moist, and delicious, it's also naturally gluten free! Chocolate Almond Quinoa Cake. No flour, just quinoa and almonds. 100% gluten free. And quite … Continue reading →
Indian Red Lentil Dip
If you think this sounds and looks familiar, you're right! A while back I posted my recipe for Masoor Dal, an Indian red lentil soup. It's my favorite Indian soup and I've discovered that the way I enjoy eating it best is as a dip. This is a thicker version of Masoor Dal … Continue reading →
Doro Wat (Spicy Ethiopian Chicken Stew)
There is a reason why Doro Wat is the national dish of Ethiopia and one of the most famous of all African dishes - it's fabulous! This authentic Doro Wat recipe captures the very best of Ethiopian cooking! Doro Wat is one of the most famous of all African dishes. … Continue reading →
Berbere (Ethiopian Spice Blend)
Central to Ethiopian cuisine is Berbere - a fiery hot spice blend bursting with flavor! Now you can make your own right at home with our homemade berbere recipe! What is Berbere? Berbere is a hot spice blend that is an integral ingredient in Ethiopian cuisine. Both … Continue reading →
DG’s Steak Sauce
Whether you're partial to Heinz 57 or are an A1 Sauce loyalist, you're going to love this homemade steak sauce! With a deeply robust, sweet-spicy, and smoky flavor, this sauce will enliven anything you put it on - and you may never buy store-bought again! … Continue reading →
Pakistani Chickpea & Pistachio Fudge (Besan Ki Barfi)
Besan Ki what?? The name, yes the name. And it's precisely the name that drew my attention to it in the first place and intrigued me enough to give this traditional Pakistani treat a try. If you had come across a sweet called "barfi", wouldn't you have wanted to try it … Continue reading →
Bobotie (South African Meatloaf Casserole)
One of the most flavorful and delicious casseroles you will ever try, Bobotie is an absolute feast for the taste buds! The national dish of South Africa, Bobotie features meat, fruit, nuts, curry, and a host of other spices and ingredients that combine to create the most … Continue reading →
German Picnic Salad
Thank you to Honest Cooking and Castello for sponsoring this post! Though I do try to exercise self-control, I'm a bit of a cheese addict. Growing up in Europe with regular access to the world's best cheeses rendered me into something of a cheese snob. I can't help it. … Continue reading →
Grilled Chicken and Roasted Cherry Tomato Salad with Herbed Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette
This past Friday was the first official day of Summer! Salads are one of my favorite things to eat on hot days. Not that the weather's been hot here in WA, in fact right now it's pouring rain, but it was a beautiful weekend for the most part and that called for a yummy … Continue reading →
Herbed Champagne Dijon Vinaigrette
Everyone needs a good vinaigrette recipe on hand. This one is it. Robust enough to dress up a main dish salad, yet delicate enough to accentuate any accompanying flavors. If you haven't tried champagne vinegar before, you really need to. Preferred by many chefs, … Continue reading →
Baharat (Middle Eastern Spice Blend)
An authentic and versatile spice blend, this Baharat recipe is quick and easy to make and serves as a wonderful all-purpose Middle Eastern seasoning blend! What is Baharat? Baharat, Arabic for “spice”, is a special an all-purpose spice blend widely used in Middle … Continue reading →
Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Two years ago CNN conducted a poll among 35,000 individuals to determine the world's 50 most beloved foods. The results were unexpected. Guess what ranked #2? You got it, Nasi Goreng! Nasi Goreng, the national dish of Indonesia, translates as "fried rice." A few weeks … Continue reading →
Curried Hash Brown Scramble
I made potato salad this past Saturday to take on a family picnic. I ended up boiling more potatoes than I needed, so I put the leftovers in the refrigerator for another use. The potatoes ended up coming in handy for a quick meal on a time crunch. I love potatoes. Made … Continue reading →
Honey Mustard Dilly Cheese Chops
Sometimes in life good things happen by what seems like a sheer stroke of luck. Like spontaneously throwing together a recipe without any pre-meditation and having it turn out perfectly. Like this pork chop recipe. I didn't know what to make for dinner last night. And … Continue reading →
Baked Polenta with Mushrooms, Bacon and Swiss Chard
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. I developed this dish by way of request from Constance (Make a Request!). She wrote the following: "My mom used to make polenta on top of the stove with bacon and onion and then bake it to get a nice crisp crust. Any ideas?" Constance, this gave … Continue reading →
Watercress Salad with Strawberries and Hazelnuts
Whether deliciously complex or refreshingly simple, I love a good salad. The other day the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the beautiful rhododendrons were starting to blossom. I felt like something fresh and vibrant. So I picked up some fresh watercress and … Continue reading →
Chinese Honey-Glazed Beef and Walnuts
Fengmi Niulijirou Hetaoren. Repeat 3 times in a row as fast as you can. That's Chinese for "Chinese honey-glazed beef and walnuts." Sweet and sticky beef with crunchy glazed walnuts - like eating candy. SO good. This dish comes from the Northern region of China. The … Continue reading →
Coco-Ma-Nana Smoothies
The words "sun", "March", and "Washington" aren't terribly synonymous and all that beautiful sunshine we had this weekend was getting me in a tropical mood. So I pulled out my blender and enjoyed a yummy smoothie with my family. A coconut, mango, banana … Continue reading →
Perfect Garlic Dill Baked Salmon
Salmon is one of those things that you can spend just a few minutes of time preparing and it looks and tastes totally gourmet. Here is a simple recipe that you will earmark for frequent use. Serve the salmon with some steamed vegetables and some garlic-mashed potatoes, … Continue reading →
Chicken Machboos (Bahraini Spiced Chicken and Rice)
The national dish of Bahrain, this Chicken Machboos recipe is thoroughly authentic and thoroughly delicious! Seasoned rice and tender moist chicken come together in this satisfying meal that is an absolute feast for the taste buds! Chicken Machboos, or Machboos ala … Continue reading →
Panch Phoron Roasted Potatoes
I introduced Panch Phoron in my previous post. A delicious five spice Indian seasoning blend, it is delicious in a variety of dishes, including added to curries, rubbed on meats, sprinkled on vegetables before roasting, baked in bread, or used in this dish, Panch Phoron … Continue reading →
Panch Phoron (Indian Five Spice Blend)
A robust and delicious Indian "five spice" blend, this Panch Phoron recipe is quick and easy to make and is delicious as a rub for meats, added to Indian stews, sprinkled on roasted vegetables and potatoes, and sprinkled on or incorporated into breads before … Continue reading →
East-West Lentil Stew
This was a creation on a whim. I wasn't in the mood to cook (oh yes, this happens even to me) and Todd was coming home in 30 minutes. I needed something quick to make. I opened my freezer and saw the homemade Mexican chorizo I had made and frozen a few weeks ago. I also … Continue reading →
Pulled Mango Chicken or Pork Sandwiches
If I'm going to give you a recipe for a condiment, like my homemade Mango Chutney, I'm also going to provide you with some creative and tasty ways to use it. So far we've had the Mango Chutney Chicken and the Grilled Cheese and Chutney Sandwiches. Here's another one: Low … Continue reading →
Mint Chocolate Meringues
An elegant and delicious treat to enjoy for your choice of holiday themes: Christmas or St. Patrick's Day! … Continue reading →
Mango Chutney Chicken
I promised you a follow up recipe using this delicious Indian Mango Chutney. I will be posting a curry in the future using this chutney as well. But today's dish is succulent Mango Chutney Chicken. My husband and I loved this chicken...what we got to eat of it, that is. … Continue reading →
Caramel Orange Buttermilk Syrup
My mom makes some of the best pancake/waffle syrups there are. We have several favorites of hers, two of which are her vanilla buttermilk and orange syrups. My husband Todd made some pancakes (yep, those are his gorgeous fluffy pancakes in the picture) and while he did … Continue reading →
Domoda (African Peanut Stew)
An incredibly rich and delicious African peanut stew, this Domoda recipe tastes even better the next day! Domoda is the nationao dish of Gambia and deservedly so because it is so flavorful and delicious! What is Domoda? Domoda is the national dish of Gambia. It is a … Continue reading →
Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta
An authentic, classic Italian dish. Cacciatore is Italian for “hunter,” referring to a dish that is prepared “hunter-style.” Though many variations of Cacciatore exist, hunter-style always calls for tomatoes, onions and herbs, and sometimes bell peppers and wine. … Continue reading →
Pan-Seared Chicken With Pink Grapefruit Cream Sauce
This is a Make a Request! fulfillment for Candy. Noting that I had already made a breakfast and dessert item using pink grapefruit (Pink Grapefruit Buttermilk Muffins and Pink Grapefruit Cream Pie), she requested an entree using pink grapefruit. As I already mentioned in a … Continue reading →
Polenta Lasagna
Polenta Pasticciata con Ragu di Carne, a dish from the Campania region of southern Italy. This is a polenta casserole with a typical Italian ragu di carne. Polenta is made of coarse yellow cornmeal slowly cooked in water or stock until the desired consistency is met. While … Continue reading →
Southern Kidney Bean and Andouille Soup
Rich, satisfying and tummy-filling, this Southern-style soup is slowly simmered with smoked ham hocks and topped with slices of spicy andouille sausage. Kidney beans are extremely healthy. Besides having lots of cholesterol-lowering fiber (one cup of cooked beans has … Continue reading →
Moroccan Chicken, Apricot and Almond Tagine
Moroccan cuisine is considered to be one of the most diversified cuisines in the world. This is because for centuries Morocco has been very interactive with other nations and has embraced and integrated many different cultural influences, not only in its foods but its art, … Continue reading →
Barbecued Pulled Pork or Chicken Sandwiches
Sundays are the perfect day to pull out the slow-cooker. At least in my family. After attending church for 3 hours it's so nice to come home to a ready-made meal. To open the front door, walk in, and be greeted by the aroma of something succulent cooking in the kitchen, … Continue reading →
Baked Chicken or Pork Chops with Chipotle Maple Barbecue Sauce
Well, I still had half a can of chipotles en adobo left over from yesterday's dish (as will you when you make it), so of course today's post had to be something chipotle-related! I was initially thinking pork chops...with a creamy sauce...a creamy chipotle sauce...breaded … Continue reading →
Smoky South of The Border Soup
This one is sure to become a family favorite! I made this on a whim today. My toddler was taking his nap, my baby was happily cooing away...and so I went to work in the kitchen! Some of my best creations come spontaneously rather than from careful, conscious planning … Continue reading →
Andalusian Gypsy Stew
Andalusia is the southernmost part of Spain. Although economically the poorest region in Spain, it is arguably the richer in culture and cultural identity. Bullfighting, flamenco, and Moorish-influenced architectural styles, to name a few, are all of Andalusian origin. It … Continue reading →
Steak With Creamy Chanterelle Sauce
Chanterelle mushrooms. One of the most delectable of all mushrooms. It is described as having a fruity smell, similar to that of apricots, and a mildly peppery taste. Chanterelles have graced dinner plates as far back as the 1500's, but it wasn't until the 1700's that … Continue reading →
Tom Kha Gai
Tom Kha Gai is a highly popular Thai soup known for its intense and aromatic flavors and its rich and creamy coconut-infused broth. Tom Kha Gai translates as "boiled galangal chicken." Galangal looks similar to ginger and is related to it, but has a more peppery and … Continue reading →