Recipe: Noodle-Town Eggs, a.k.a. Vermicelli Frittata (Froga tat-Tarja)

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Some days are for feeling grown up. Responsible. Full of lists and the determination to check them off. Other days are for bubbles, silly string, and dancing with your shoes off. And eating Maltese Froga. Froga is the adorable lovechild of omelets and angel hair pasta. Yes, pasta in your eggs. Eggs in your pasta. It's like the noodles are doing a squiggly dance in your breakfast. This is major happy food. Where has it been all my life? In Malta (and nearby Sicily), you can find … [Read more...]

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

Photo of mosque in Timbuktu by KaTeznik

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...]

Recipe: Sunrise Biscuits (Mbatata)

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Valentine's Day is for lazy mornings. For PJ's all day. Breakfast in bed with your favorite cup of tea. Sunny smiles. And then there's real life. Husbands go to work. Your cat uses your favorite chair as a scratching post. And, over the course of 45 seconds, your child has the following conversation with you, in regards to said cat: "I want to sit there" "It's my turn to play with that toy" "He poked me with his paw" "Wahhhhhhhhh" The main difference between this and having … [Read more...]

Recipe: Latvia’s Apple Pancakes

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This recipe is so familiar. Each bite feels like a  nibble straight out of my childhood. The funny thing is I've never, ever had this recipe. But, with cinnamon, cardamom, apples and pancakes-so-thin-they're-basically-crêpes all rolled together with heaps of honey and yogurt, I can practically see my mom buzzing around the kitchen table. I smell the butter melting, crackling, sizzling, and I go right back to those days when I was too short to see into the mixing bowl. Thanks to this new-to-me … [Read more...]

Recipe: Rolled Egg Omelet w/ Kimchi (Gyeran mali)

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On chilly fall mornings I like to roll up in my thick downy comforter, cozy and warm. I know that the second I stick my nose out it'll turn into an icicle, so I don't. I keep it tucked and cozy. I would lay there for hours, if Ava would let me. I'm like a human burrito. Or ... ahem... a human... omelet. You see, I like to think of this rolled omelet as an egg comforter. Even better? A heart-shaped egg comforter. Welcome to Cozy Town. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think everyone should … [Read more...]

Recipe: Jamaican Escovitch Fish

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Makes enough Escovitch topping for 2-3 meals. I've long adored the British tradition of dousing Fish and Chips with vinegar. In fact, I like to add enough vinegar for my fish to swim in. Sure, Keith won't kiss me for days afterwards, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Well, this week I learned about Jamaican Escovitch, based on Spanish  Escabéche. Escovitch is like taking your fried fish on a trip to vinegar city, on a vinegar boat, through vinegar nation At it's most … [Read more...]

Recipe: Shakshouka (Israeli Eggs with Tomatoes & Peppers)

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Serves 2-4 Ava's my little alarm clock. Most days we get up about 8 am (bless her). On the mornings that I wake up before Ava, I like to sit in the drowsy quiet, by the window. I'm not really asleep. I'm not really awake. I'm just glad for a few minutes to stare into the stillness and daydream. Often my thoughts turn to people in other countries. Slowly, I sip my tea and wonder ... what are they doing, right now? Are they sleeping? Awake? Are they happy? Sad? Do they Tweet? Are they … [Read more...]

Recipe: Boxty Pancakes

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Makes 5.5 cups batter I like a good excuse to dance in the morning. Preferably while in my fuzzy bathrobe, with spatula in hand (for a microphone, of course), while singing 100% off-key. Boxty pancakes are just the ticket. They look like a thick crêpe, but taste more like the love-child of tangy mashed potatoes and hash browns. These filling, stick-to-your-ribs pancakes are often used to wrap up food, from meat and gravy, to scrambled eggs. Best of all, cooks everywhere dance a little … [Read more...]