Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Papaya Chutney

June 2, 2011 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

Fills about 2 mason jars - 1 for you & 1 for a friend Have you seen the papayas at the market lately? They're gorgeous. Sweet. Giant. Exotic. Plus they're fun to pronounce: pa-pa-ya. Gotta love anything that ends with an affirmative. Since papayas are beloved in Guinea and Guinea Bissau, I really wanted to make papaya jam for you today. Unfortunately, jam making all but requires a chemistry major. I'm too footloose for that, so I made chutney. The cool thing about chutney is that it's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breakfast, Fruit, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Potluck Friendly, Sauces & Dressings, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: French Omelet

April 10, 2011 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Makes 1 omelet I cracked a mighty big smile when I read that omelets are all over Africa, especially in former French colonies. When I attended the Culinary Institute of America I learned from our Drill-Sargent chef how to make a perfect French omelet, as tidy as a neatly folded blanket. For my final exam I had to make one in less than 90 seconds. In fact, I had to plate it and walk it across the kitchen to the chef in less than 90 seconds. As if that wasn't hard enough, we lost marks if the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breakfast, Europe, France, Gabon, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe: Cardamom Sweet Bread (Pulla)

March 24, 2011 By Sasha Martin 28 Comments

Makes 1 giant loaf (or as many smaller shapes as you'd like) Pulla is the ultimate Finnish bread dough. Feeling sad? Shape it into a teardrop. Feeling confused? Twist the heck out of it. Feeling like Pippi Longstocking? Braid it! Feeling creative? Shape it into men, women and children. Feeling pregnant? Just make little buns, baby! There's also plenty of choice in regard to flavorings. Pulla always tastes of glorious cardamom. After that? You can leave it plain or fill it. Sweeten life up … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breads, Breakfast, Europe, Finland, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday Tagged With: pitko, pullat

Recipe: Injera (Flatbread from Northeast Africa)

February 24, 2011 By Sasha Martin 25 Comments

Do you dream of cleaning out your cluttered silverware drawer? Are you totally tired of your dishes? Try a happy bite of Injera, the gorgeous Teff flatbread adored in Eritrea, Ethopia, and other East African countries. Sour and funky... Injera is almost as thin as a crepe, but spongy like a pancake ... and is traditionally used both as a platter for spicy stews and to replace silverware. Three tips for foolproof Injera making: 1. Consistency Make sure the batter is almost the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breads, Breakfast, Eritrea, Finger Food, International Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Ginger Millet Porridge

February 19, 2011 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

Serves 2-4 What is breakfast like at your house? Does one person eat more sugar than oatmeal? More syrup than pancake? That's Mr. Picky. One day I fully expect him to eat a bowl of nothing but sugar. Meanwhile I just barely dust my breakfast with sweeteners. While eating, we take turns shaking our heads at each other's crazy eating habits. Today, take your sugar out for a spin on a bowl of millet porridge, an African treat. Particularly popular in central Africa, you can make this dish as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breakfast, Equatorial Guinea, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Random Carbs & Grains, Vegetarian

Recipe: Salvadoran Quesadilla (Sweet Breakfast Cake)

February 13, 2011 By Sasha Martin 15 Comments

Makes 18-22 cupcakes Don't expect cheese and tortillas. Instead, think poundcake. Think party food. Think happy mornings, popping a few too many quesadillas in your mouth. In El Salvador they eat rich, buttery quesadillas in the morning with a big cup of coffee and I suggest you do the same. You'll love the slight crunch of the sesame seeds in combination with the sweet/salty cake. I'm proud to say that this recipe was awarded First Place in food52's Gluten-Free Baking Competition. Best … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast, El Salvador, Finger Food, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sweets, Vegetarian

Recipe: Fava Bean Mash (Ful Medames)

February 6, 2011 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

Makes about a quart On the streets of Cairo, Egypt, people on their way to work stop by a street vendor to grab a few bites of Ful Medames. They hover around, scooping the dip up with Egyptian flatbread - a sight as common as an American dunking a donut into their coffee. This breakfast of champions is full of protein and... thanks to all the goodies drizzled on top?.... totally, utterly addictive. Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped 2 tomatoes, chopped 2 15 oz cans fava beans, drained and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Breakfast, Dips, Egypt, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Ecuadorian Open-Faced Cornmeal Omelet with Cheese

January 30, 2011 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

I'm not sure what Saturday morning breakfast looks like at your house but make me one promise... some Saturday soon... whip up one of these crazy open-faced cornmeal omelets. Tip: make life easier on yourself and cook up the cornmeal with dinner, the night before. Happiness is just two eggs away! Serves 1 For the omelet: 1 tablespoon butter 1/8 c green onion 2 eggs 1/2 c cooked corn meal 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro 1/4 cup shredded cheese (monterey jack and cheddar … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Breakfast, Ecuador, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, South America, Vegetarian