Global Table Adventure | Technique Thursday

Recipe: Coconut Sticky Rice in banana leaves (lemang)

February 16, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

Today we're going to make a tower... a tower of glorious height. And this tall, sturdy tower is going to be made out of rice. Our inspiration? The Petronas towers of Malaysia. Aren't they stunning? I adore the fact that the skyscrapers are connected by a tiny walkway that seems to be a million, zillion miles up in the sky. But that's a story for another day. The fact is, I am simply thrilled to make rice towers from Malaysia. You see, I'm falling more and more in love with glutinous … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Finger Food, Gluten Free Adaptable, Malaysia, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Rice, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Burnt Rice Tea (Ranovola) w/ poll

February 2, 2012 By Sasha Martin 15 Comments

I can't believe I'm going to do this, but here we are: I'm going to show you how to burn rice. It's for a perfectly good cause: a cool, refreshing glass of ranovola, or burnt rice tea. This toasty-tasting drink is popular in Madagascar, where the bottom of the rice pot is reserved to flavor the local river water. It's super easy to do, as long as you don't burn the rice too fast. You have to do it just right. Ahem. Start with a cup of cooked rice spread on the bottom of a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol-Free, Cold, Madagascar, Recipes, Rice, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Pizza. Love, from Macedonia (Pastrmajlija)

January 26, 2012 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

The air buzzes with excitement. Ava pats the dough and we're on our way to Macedonian pizza (Pastrmajlija), an addicting combination of diced pork, olive oil, and cracked eggs. Together, her little hands next to my big hands, we shape the pizza two ways -first in a traditional full-moon circle and then in a Valentine's-inspired heart. While some might say the shapes taste the same, I beg to differ. Anything heart-shaped tastes infinitely better than that same … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breads, Europe, Macedonia, Meat, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Lithuanian Honey Spirits (Krupnikas)

January 12, 2012 By Sasha Martin 28 Comments

The holidays are over. We stuffed our wrapping paper back into the closet and swept the confetti into the trash, right on top of the party hats that say 2012. The cookies and the friendly buffets of family favorites are long since gone, replaced by soulless detoxes and way-too-skinny drinks. I know some of us are even thinking about spring - scanning the frozen ground, vainly hoping to see some stray spot of green, willing a warm gust of air to come our way, instead of a moveable wall of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol, Cold, Europe, Lithuania, New Year's, Recipes, Technique Thursday

Recipe: A Cake for 3 Kings (Dreikönigskuchen)

January 5, 2012 By Sasha Martin 14 Comments

Epiphany. People use the word to say they had a great idea. Like the proverbial lightbulb going off over one's head. But we're not going to eat lighbulbs today. Nope. Epiphany is the time of year that Liechtenstein, as well as many other countries around the world, celebrate "little Christmas." This national holiday is celebrated on January 6 and is a nod to the late arrival of the 3 kings to the very first Christmas party... afterall, they did hike quite a ways to get to Bethlehem. Calling … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breads, Christmas, Europe, Liechtenstein, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian

Recipe: Stuffed and Fried Potato Wedges (Mbatan Batata)

December 29, 2011 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

The New Year is all about possibility, hope, health, and doing things better. That's why I'll be deep frying as the ball drops. But I'm not deep-frying just anything. This isn't the state fair (where everything from butter to kool-aid makes it into the bubbling oil). I'm in the real world. This is a Libyan dish - one that combines the best of everything - delicate potato wedges, stuffed with wonderfully spiced meat loaded up with fresh parsley, crunchy breadcrumbs and a whole lot of yum. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Finger Food, Libya, Meat, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potatoes, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Plantain Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake

December 15, 2011 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

I'm not really a dessert person, so it's all the more surprising when I come across a recipe which makes me want to lock the doors, draw the curtains, and eat until every last crumb is gone. I mean, seriously. Plaintain Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake??! If this isn't the perfect holiday recipe, I don't know what is. And of all the places for it to come from... Denmark is known for gingerbread. Germany. Even the United States. But I was genuinely surprised to find gingerbread … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Christmas, Fruit, Liberia, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian

Recipe: The Red Love Latte

December 8, 2011 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

Friends, it's time. Let's have a tea party. Cabin fever is setting in. Bring out your favorite dishes and your fancy hats. Shake things up. Wear those shoes you never wear and paint your fingernails red, red, red. Or, if you'd rather, we can do it in our PJ's, fuzzy slippers and robes.* As for what we'll drink? I haven't been this excited about a new tea since I had my first "London Fog" which, for the uninitiated, is Earl Grey tea made with half steamed milk. (It literally … [Read more...]