Corned Beef Hash

When I was growing up, corned beef hash was a staple for weekend breakfast in our household.  However, my family would always just buy the pre-made corned beef hash from the can and skillet it up to serve with eggs.  When I decided to surprise my parents with a last-minute trip home and to greet … Continue reading

Baked Goat Brie with Honey and Almonds

When I was visiting my sister, I wanted to introduce her to the amazing world of do-it-yourself baked cheese via a Baked Camembert.  However, I was unable to find any Camembert at her local grocery store. I did find a small round of goat brie which immediately captivated me.  I absolutely love goat cheese and … Continue reading

Honey Lemon Salmon on Watercress Salad

As per usual, I wanted to cook a simple healthy meal and came across this recipe on epicurious. The beauty of this particular salmon dish was that it required no complex ingredients, the prep time was only a couple minutes, and it pairs well with so many side dishes. I chose to serve the salmon … Continue reading

Risotto with Prosciutto, Leeks, and Goat Cheese

It has been over a year since I first visited Beretta restaurant in San Francisco, and I still remember the incredible flavors of their risotto with prosciutto, leeks, and goat cheese.  This is still the best risotto I have tasted — primarily because I am obsessed with goat cheese and leeks.  The sweet sautéed leeks … Continue reading

Super Chili

I made this chili for Super Bowl Sunday, and while I am a bit sad the 49ers aren’t playing today, this deliciously hearty bowl of chili has made my stomach very happy! I found two super easy chili recipes on AllRecipes.com that I decided to combine to make my chili: Debdoozie’s Blue Ribbon Chili and … Continue reading

Spicy Butternut Squash Fries

I had some leftover butternut squash from making Butternut Squash Soup, and so I decided it would be fun to make some butternut squash fries.  I have made Baked Eggplant and Zucchini Sticks before but I didn’t want to bread these. I found a lot of recipes online that just suggested tossing the butternut squash … Continue reading

Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class

In December 2011, Natalya and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to South America for a holiday.  In Argentina, we were able to fulfill all our foodie dreams of Argentine steak, chimichurri, and bold red wines.  By the time we had crossed the Andean Lakes into Chile, we were completely beef-ed out and the cow population had probably … Continue reading

Chirimoya Alegre (Happy Custard Apple)

Mark Twain once called the chirimoya “the most delicious fruit known to men” and I wholeheartedly agree.  On my most recent trip to Chile, I was able to taste the rich, velvety sweetness of a chirimoya for the first time.  Chirimoya, also spelled cherimoya, is a fruit native to the Andes and is grown throughout … Continue reading

Fritas de Queso (Cheese Empanadas)

An empanada is a small, stuffed pastry that is either baked (al horno) or fried (frito).  The name comes from the verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread.  Empanadas derive their origins from Galicia, Spain and Portugal from way back in medieval Iberia times.  Today, these savory little morsels are ubiquitous in Latin … Continue reading

Ensalada Chilena

On our most recent holiday in South America, Natalya and I were completely wowed by the cuisine of Chile.  Chilean cuisine and cooking techniques are quite simplistic but what defines Chilean cuisine to me is the ultimate freshness of the produce.  I felt that every fruit and vegetable I tasted in Chile was by far the best I had … Continue reading