Corn on the cob is one of our favorite summertime dishes. I could make (and have) an entire meal of it alone. Thoughts of the kernels dripping with butter and salt brings so many fond memories of summer meals with family and friends. So why change such a simple and perfectly wonderful way of eating … Read more
Nothing takes bland to bold more quickly than a fresh salsa. It can dress up anything from a humble plain tortilla chip, add a huge dose of flavor to a simple garden salad, or bring grilled foods to a whole new level. Best yet, salsas can pull this off while adding few calories and little, … Read more
Kimchi is a spicy fermented condiment, similar in concept to German sauerkraut. Both of these two cabbage-based foods are used as strong flavor enhancers, but there are sharp differences between the two dishes. Korean kimchi is characterized by its intense spiciness and pungent notes. Traditional kimchi is made with gochujang, which is a paste made … Read more
Caldo Verde is a popular Portuguese soup recipe whose name translates simply to “green broth.” The soup gets its characteristic green color from hearty green leafy vegetables in the cabbage family (forms of kale or collard greens are often used). It gets its rich creamy texture from potatoes and a spicy punch from the use … Read more
Fideuà is a pasta lover’s answer to Paella (or Arroz a Banda). It is a Spanish recipe, originating from the Catalonia/Valencia regions, often using a favorite ingredient of the area – a healthy pinch of prized saffron threads. Just like its rice based cousin, Fideuà recipes have many variations. Common ones include smoked chorizo sausage … Read more
Dishes from the country of Georgia, which is situated above Turkey between Europe and Asia, tend to be on the heavy side. Fans of comfort food will find plenty to enjoy during a visit to this beautiful Caucasus region of Eurasia. Georgian tables are often filled with dishes meant to share, such as freshly baked … Read more
While traveling through South Africa I become totally enthralled with Peri-Peri or (Piri-Piri) Sauce. The spicy condiment, made with birds-eye chili peppers, is a favorite hot sauce in Africa. The peppers are grown in Africa but were embraced by the Portuguese who are credited for inventing the sauce. There are many versions of Peri-Peri sauce, … Read more
What are Charro Beans? Charro beans (also called Ranchero Beans or simply Mexican Bean Soup) are a simple dish of slow cooked Pinto beans flavored with bacon and chiles. A charro is a traditional horseman from Mexico, originally from the Jalisco region of the state of Mexico. The Spanish terms vaquero (cowboy) and ranchero (rancher) reference … Read more
Savory Blackberry (Rachuli) Sauce was one of the first sauces we tried when we arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia. For those that are unfamiliar, Georgia (formally the Republic of Georgia) is a post-Soviet country nestled between Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Black Sea. Before we arrived, we knew about the cheesy bread (khachapuri) and the … Read more
Slow cooked pork cheeks are a Spanish secret that I can’t believe we hadn’t discovered before a recent trip to Sevilla, Spain. We had ordered Cola de Toro, which is a braised oxtail that is cooked until it’s falling apart, at a small but well-reviewed tapas restaurant. The waiter explained to us that if we … Read more