Global Table Adventure

Monday Meal Review: Moldova

April 23, 2012 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

THE SCENE Two days before I cooked Moldova I was invited to Tulsa's local United Nations annual meeting. While there I listened to very intelligent people talk about things which are generally beyond the scope of my daily duties - being a good mother, working hard, and playing harder. Let's just say they talked about how to solve problems on a global scale. And it was amazing. Still, even as cheerleader to the world, I felt out of place. Not because I'm not interested, but simply … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Moldova, Monday Meal Review

Recipe: Mamaliga (Dense Cornmeal “Bread”)

April 22, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

I've done it standing in front of my refrigerator at midnight. I've done it at 8:30 in the morning, right after eating a complete breakfast. I've even done it in celebration of eating all my veggies. I fill my belly with bowlfuls of carbs - pasta, bread, potatoes, or rice - it really doesn't matter. Simply put: I'm carb crazy. Enter Mamaliga, Moldova's favorite side dish (and Romania's, too). Carb-tastic. This thick, dense polenta is made with corn meal (the coarser the better), water, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breads, Europe, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Moldova, Potluck Friendly, Random Carbs & Grains, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Moldovan Preserved Peppers

April 20, 2012 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Logistically speaking, peppers make for really great dinners. They're healthy. They're big on sweet, juicy flavor. The don't go bad quickly. And they go with nearly anything. But when you have a veggie garden, figuring out how to use up all your peppers can be a nightmare. Heck, even if you don't garden it can be a challenge to take advantage of the fresh produce at the market (hello, sale prices!). Today, thanks to Moldova, we're going to solve that. We've already had several great … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Moldova, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Seasoning Blends & Pickles, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Moldovan Veggie & Feta Stuffed Zucchini

April 19, 2012 By Sasha Martin 12 Comments

In honor of Moldova, let's clear out the weeds. Let's make room for a garden. A springy, happy sort of place where you can go to daydream in the morning sunlight, with a cup of steaming hot tea at the ready. A place where you can feel your connection to the earth and the soil. Where you can think those thoughts you never have time to think. Where you can finally stop being too busy. While you're there I'd like you to plant a tiny sprout that will one day grow up into one hundred dream boats. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Moldova, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Menu: Moldova

April 18, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

Two days ago Ava, Keith and I had our fingers in the soil. We planted seedlings from a shop in Bixby called Carmichael's. For our small garden-wall-turned-veggie-patch, we bought tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and summer squash. We rounded things out with basil and two types of lettuce. We all had dirt under our fingernails and smiles in our hearts. We nibbled bits of lettuce and basil straight from the ground. It was glorious. And the timing couldn't be more perfect. The people … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Menu Wednesday, Moldova

About the food in Moldova

April 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

If you're looking for wine, Moldova is waiting for you. For the last 25 million years (give or take a few), grapes have been growing in the region, ripe for the juicing. There's even evidence that, if you were to travel back in time about 5,ooo years ago, you could meander through vineyards sipping wine from cultivated grapes. Not out of glass, perhaps, but you'd be sippin'-happy all the same. Thankfully, you don't have to travel back 5,000 years to enjoy a good selection of Moldovan wine. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Moldova, Travel Tuesday