Pasta in Vodka Sauce (Pasta alla Vodka) is an Italian-American dish whose primary ingredients are tomato sauce, vodka and cream. I was initially reluctant to try this dish when I found it on menus, vodka? Really? While wine is most often used in making Italian sauces, the vodka in this dish actually adds a little …
Jen
Fans of Caesar salad may be surprised to learn that this classic dish was actually invented in Mexico. The chef was actually an immigrant from Italy who was working in Tijuana during the time of prohibition. So while the dish may have originated in Mexico, the Caesar salad is not really traditional Mexican fare. Our …
This recipe joins together two of my favorite backyard barbecue side dishes, potato salad and stuffed eggs with bacon. I really love stuffed eggs. Making them ahead of time, and finding a good spot to store them before they get mushed in the fridge (especially when it is stocked up for a party) can be …
Brussels Sprout Slaw is an easy salad and a great alternative to traditional slaw. This is also a slaw without mayonnaise, making it, in my opinion, a little more refreshing. I’ll be the first to admit that, for many years, Brussels sprouts were not my favorite vegetable. As with most vegetables that I didn’t appreciate, …
In this Puerto Vallarta cooking class, we learned how to take ten simple ingredients, and turn them into one of the best Mexican meals we have ever had. Although, admittedly, making that bit of culinary magic happen required a few special things. The class turned out to be one of our favorite things to do …
If you are traveling to Bucharest and looking for traditional Romanian food, you will quickly find that Bucharest is home to tons of restaurants serving some of the country’s finest Romanian cuisine. Bucharest is filled with so many pleasant surprises. It is a beautiful city, once nicknamed the “little Paris of the east” due to …
Romanian White bean dip (Fasole Batuta) is a frequent part of a traditional appetizer platter. Romanians love their platters to be piled high with cold cuts, rustic meatballs (chiftele), assorted cheeses and often several kinds of dips or spreads. White Bean dip, along with a simple spread featuring eggplant (salata de vinete), and a colorful …
Salate de Vinete, a Romanian eggplant dip, is a very simple traditional Romanian dish. It is similar to the Middle Eastern dish, Baba Ghanoush, but without tahini (toasted sesame seed paste). Our version of Romanian Eggplant Dip also includes green onions for a little extra color and flavor. Salate de Vinete (or Aubergine dip) is …
Taiwan has long been a popular destination for Chinese and Japanese tourists. During our time there, however, we found scant visitors from Europe or the United States. Distance is certainly a factor, but that doesn’t stop Westerners from visiting neighboring locations, such as Hong Kong. However, there are many reasons why the island of Taiwan …
Budinca de Dovlecei is a traditional Romanian food that is similar to crustless zucchini quiche. The difference is less eggs, more vegetables, and a lot more cheese. In order to pack a lot of zucchini into the recipe, the vegetables are shredded. Excess water is squeezed out of the zucchini and then mixed with sour …