Global Table Adventure | North America

Recipe: Lime & Cabbage Slaw with Yucca | Vigoron

July 12, 2012 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

Today we're taking a bite of Nicaraguan sunshine. This is the kind of sunshiny soul food that satisfies cravings. Bored cravings. Excited cravings. Lonely cravings. I'm ready for winter cravings. I miss my man cravings. I wish I could sing cravings. It's like the fairy godmother of salads. This sunshine is magic. So what is it? Vigoron. A heaping mound of comfort, nestled on top of deep green banana leaves. This is Nicaraguan street food, designed to make your mouth happy. First … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Nicaragua, North America, Potluck Friendly, Salads, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Menu: Nicaragua

July 11, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

Nicaragua taught me three very important things about life. First, eat more sunshine. To do so, simply pile fresh vigoron on your plate. Soaked in lime juice and a happy heaping of salt, this tastes like the margarita of slaws. Done and done. Second, everything is better with an umbrella in it, especially if pineapple is involved. Third, try, try, try, and try again. This is the only way to succeed. Those of you who have been reading this blog for a year or more will know about my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Menu Wednesday, Nicaragua, North America

About the food of Nicaragua

July 10, 2012 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Carnaval in Managua, Nicaragua. Photo by Jorge Mejía peralta.

Nicaragua is best known for her namesake, which means "surrounded by water." She boasts great, rolling waves on both shores as well as in the middle. The Pacific Ocean crashes into her western shore - a treat for surfers. Cross over beautiful lagoons, lush valleys, huge volcanoes, tropical rain forests, coffee plantations, and Spanish Colonial architecture...to her eastern shore and you'll find dreamy Caribbean waters. Oh, and in between? Lake Nicaragua (a.k.a. the "Sweet Sea") home to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Nicaragua, North America, Travel Tuesday

Monday Meal Review: Mexico

April 9, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

THE SCENE: I wipe the sweat from my forehead. "Why is it 92 degrees in March?" I ask the cat. Malky draws his back up into a leisurely stretch, pads lightly onto the floor, and lets out a startlingly abrasive meow. Apparently he doesn't care. He is ready to go outside. I crack open the door enough to smell the humidity and watch his tail flick out into the sunshine. I shake my head and get back to work. The blender cranks into high gear as I buzz together the homemade rice and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mexico, Monday Meal Review, North America

Recipe: Cheesy Roasted Poblanos (Rajas con Crema)

April 8, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

Listen. Not everything has to look perfect. We don't always need lipstick and hair straighteners (In fact, I haven't seen either of those since Ava started crawling). Some days I don't even look in a mirror until night time. Until it's too late. Let yourself off the hook once in a while. Let your hair down. Smear your lips with chapstick and call it good. While you're at it, eat messy food. Because, no matter how it looks, if it tastes good, then all is well in your world. Which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dips, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Strawberry Almond Horchata

April 6, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

There should be a rule. Whenever the weather is sunny and fine, when it is hot enough to swim in the deep seas - you should absolutely swim. Even if you forgot your bathing suit. Likewise, if you are ever offered horchata - the famous Mexican summertime sipper - consider yourself lucky and drink, drink, drink. The freedom of swimming, no matter what - that's what I taste in this drink. This is a summer's worth of happy - chilled and served with a straw. You'll taste almond and rice milk. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Cold, Fruit, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian

Recipe: 5 Step Mole Poblano

April 5, 2012 By Sasha Martin 25 Comments

I'll be honest. On the onset, learning how to make Mole Poblano sounded a lot like learning how to knit a wedding dress. Outrageously epic, but not entirely something I had the skills for. In case you've never heard of it, we're talking a Mexican recipe from Puebla that has a million, gazillion ingredients (ok, really just about two dozen), many cooking phases, and centuries of history behind it. Yikes. After staring at dozens of recipes, drinking several cups of tea, and more than a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Poultry, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Menu: Mexico

April 4, 2012 By Sasha Martin 8 Comments

After letting you all decide our fate for this week's Global Table in polls, I am happy to present the menu - your menu. Each item won lovingly - with no close seconds. These are nibbles for rainy days, sunny days, and everything in between. You'll use your grill and your blender. You'll open wide and you'll dance on the roof. Well, maybe not on the last item... but you should. When was the last time you danced like a cat on a hot tin roof? Are you ready for Mexico? Rajas con Crema … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Menu Wednesday, Mexico, North America