Global Table Adventure | Technique Thursday

Recipe: Rainy Day Couscous

March 22, 2012 By Sasha Martin 18 Comments

I've been putting off making couscous. I don't mean the boxed, nearly instant kind - I make that fairly often. What I'm tackling today is delicate, fluffy steamed couscous. The kind you buy in the bulk bin. The kind that fluffs up like a dream. According to Clifford A. Wright, steaming the tiny pearls twice, sometimes three times, is the "only" way to make proper couscous. Color me intrigued. While we've cooked many countries that enjoy couscous (Libya and Algeria for example), I put off … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Mauritania, Pasta, Random Carbs & Grains, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Sweet Macadamia Pie

March 15, 2012 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

For some reason I'm having a hard time telling you about this pie. It's so familiar and yet so exotic. So comforting, yet so classy. Something so obvious and lovely, yet nothing I'd ever heard of before. . Think pecan pie, but more toothsome. Think honey sweetened, and coconut enriched. Think clouds of whipped cream spiked with coconut milk. Think tropical elegance. . I take a bite. I shut my eyes and feel a breeze. And, just like that, I'm in the Marshall Islands. . Like most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Marshall Islands, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Oceania, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian

Recipe: Mali’s Gluten-free “Pancake Doughnuts” (Maasa)

March 1, 2012 By Sasha Martin 17 Comments

Sometimes waking up to pancakes just isn't enough. Sometimes I want to travel to Africa all in a single morning - all the way to Timbuktu - and be home in time to take my daughter to the park. And then I want a doughnut. Is that too much to ask? I think not. Enter our hero - today's recipe for the eager stovetop traveler - Maasa. Maasa is a special gift for our gluten-free stovetop travelers. (Hi, there. I hope you are hungry!) Every once in a while I happen upon a recipe that is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breads, Breakfast, Gluten Free Adaptable, Mali, Recipes, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Roasted Whole Fish from the Maldives (Fihunu Mas)

February 23, 2012 By Sasha Martin 15 Comments

You should have seen my brother's face when I told him we were going to make whole fish for our Maldivian Global Table. His eyes about popped out of his head. In fact, my entire family - both brothers, my sister, mom, niece and nephew - was wary of the idea. While eating the whole fish is rare in the United States, we knew from experience that our family was in for a treat. We ate this meal in Florida, as part of a celebration of my mom's surprise 70th birthday, so I had a bounty of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Grilling, Maldives, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Seafood, 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 30 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