Creamy Kabocha Squash Risotto
To get into the autumn mood, Natalya and I decided we should try to cook something involving a pumpkin! I found a recipe from the The San Francisco Chronicle Cookbook Volume II called “Carol Field’s Creamy Pumpkin-Flavored Risotto” and decided to give it a go. When I went to the grocery store, I decided to … Continue reading
Baked Eggplant (Aubergine) with Tomato and Mozzarella
I was perusing Jen’s Essential Mediterranean Cookbook (newest edition here) looking for inspiration for a few meals for the week, and came across this hearty side dish. We both love eggplant and had leftover mozzarella cheese, so this was a done deal. I followed the recipe pretty closely, except substituted dried herbs for fresh parsley … Continue reading
Spam Musubi
Mmm… spam. Don’t get grossed out. I know it sounds horrible to have this on a food blog but believe me, you gotta try this just once! Spam musubi, also known as spam sushi, is one of my favorite “once in a while” snacks, and a popular favorite when I visited Hawaii. You can find … Continue reading
Maria’s Broccoli Rabe
Natalya was making Pollo alla Diavola and the recipe suggested to serve the chicken with Broccoli Rabe or roasted potatoes. I decided to try to make Broccoli Rabe as an accompanying side dish, mainly because I had no idea what this vegetable was and I figured, “Why not?” I looked up what the vegetable looked … Continue reading
Housemade Ricotta
When I told a friend I was trying to make my own ricotta, she responded: “Leave a cup of milk in your fridge for 90 days and BOOM! Ricotta cheese.” – Shanmei So that is not really how one makes ricotta and I highly do not recommend trying it to see what happens… Ricotta, which … Continue reading
Roasted Corn Kernels with Garlic Butter
I found this recipe while searching for a quick way to roast corn kernels without using the oven, as I was simply making this as a garnish to my Chilled Corn Velouté. Granted, roasting corn is super simple: peel the husks back from corn, baste with seasoning, and then pop them in the oven at … Continue reading
Baby Greens with a Lemon Vinaigrette
I made this as a garnish for my Seared Scallops and Corn Velouté dish, but my bowl was so small that I couldn’t really garnish this as the recipe intended. I just ended up snacking on the salad as a side dish, and I really enjoyed the tangy simplicity of this vinaigrette. Natalya and I … Continue reading
Tuna Pasta Salad
I think of pasta salad the same way I do of fried rice; a way to get rid of random leftovers in your refrigerator. After making a ginormous pot of chicken noodle soup (also a great way to make full use of a chicken carcass), I had some leftover vegetables and cooked pasta. Normally, I … Continue reading
Chinese Mabo Tofu
Mabo Tofu (or Mapo Doufu) is a popular Chinese dish that originated from the Szechuan province. The dish consists of tofu set in a spicy chili and bean-based sauce that is mixed with minced meat, usually pork or beef. The original Szechuan recipe is made to be powerfully spicy, although in America, the dish’s heat … Continue reading
Brussels Sprouts with Mushrooms
It is unfortunate Brussels sprouts have such a stigma in popular culture; I grew up thinking “Brussels sprouts” were synonymous with “ew stinky” as that is what everyone would say while wrinkling their noses. And by “everyone” I really mean characters from television shows. Due to this misguided train of thought, I had never tasted … Continue reading
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