Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato & Bacon Salad | Kumara

July 8, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

When I read that New Zealander's love "kumara," I wondered what this dreamy word could mean. When I found out kumara are simply a variety of New Zealand "sweet potatoes," I was thrilled. Sweet potatoes are on my "will-eat-any-time-of-day-for-any-reason-especially-for-my-last-meal" food list. Not many foods make that cut. Today's salad takes inspiration from New Zealand's love of barbecue. For color I combined two kinds of sweet potatoes on the grill before tossing them with bacon, green … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grilling, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, New Zealand, Oceania, Potatoes, Salads, Sasha's Favorite Recipes

Recipe: Grilled Island Fries

June 21, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

Ok. So even in the summer I crave french fries. But I don't crave heating up a big pot of oil inside the house. There's a solution: grilled fries. The fine people of Nauru love their fries. While most of them enjoy deep-fried fries, we covered that with Belgium Pommes Frites. So, inspired by their island setting - where the fine people of Nauru love to grill - I thought it'd be fun to try grilled fries. And it was fun. In my research I found several ways to make these, including … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Finger Food, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Nauru, Oceania, Potatoes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: An Alligator’s Bite (Bushmeat Skewers) w/ poll

June 8, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

In the muddy waters of Namibia you can find all manner of crocodile. They are both hunted and hunters, so it's best to keep your wits about you if you find yourself in their snappish company. Since I live in the part of the world where alligators roam (or very near to it, as they can be found in Georgia, just a couple of states away), I made this quick substitution for this traditional Namibian bushmeat. If you'd like to know the difference between a crocodile and an alligator, I've been told … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Fun Friday, Grilling, International Recipes, Meat, Namibia

Recipe: Chicken Mozambique with Coconut Piri Piri

May 24, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

Have you ever had one of those days where no amount of air conditioning cools you down? Where summer heat clings to your skin like extra, unwanted insulation? Where you don't even want to hold hands, for fear that one extra degree of heat from another human might make you cry? Yesterday was one of those days. It. was. hot. Sometimes washing my face solves the problem. Sometimes I have to soak my feet in cold water. Other times only the cold brine of the ocean will do (unfortunately … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mozambique, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Poultry, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Balkan Burger (with poll)

May 11, 2012 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

You don't have to know how to pronounce it to enjoy eating it. Pljeskavica. If this long, meandering string of letters makes you stutter, just clap your hands, because that's what Pljeskavica means - the sound of hands clapping as the "Balkan burger" patties are formed. And this is not just a big word. This is big food. This is the original "super-size." Not only are the patties large enough to cover a small plate, they contain as many as 6 cuts of meat from three different animals. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Fun Friday, Grilling, International Recipes, Meat, Montenegro, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Sandwiches/Wraps/Packets

Recipe: Ajvar, Roasted Pepper Spread

May 10, 2012 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

Some days I dream about reinventing myself - pulling myself up, out of the ordinary into the wildly wonderful. On these ornery-sorts-of-days, I imagine myself strutting around in a bold color I've never worn before, like mustard yellow. On really good days I actually make these dreams happen. I become a mustard-wearing queen. Other days I just end up wearing mustard. Literally. That's the way life goes: sometimes change works, sometimes it doesn't. The fun is in the trying. Are you willing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dips, Europe, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Montenegro, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Micronesian Ginger & Lime Marinade

April 15, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

In college I went by MacGyver. It had nothing to do with my ability to save lives (with little more than a shoestring and a balloon), and everything to do with feeding my four hungry roommates in the face of the greatest of obstacles (an empty refrigerator). I once made them lasagna without pasta or sauce. True story. Which brings me to this Micronesian marinade. There are four fantastic reasons to make it: 1. There is really no need to measure the ingredients. I have it on a local's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Meat, Micronesia, Oceania, Poultry, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Cheesy Roasted Poblanos (Rajas con Crema)

April 8, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

Listen. Not everything has to look perfect. We don't always need lipstick and hair straighteners (In fact, I haven't seen either of those since Ava started crawling). Some days I don't even look in a mirror until night time. Until it's too late. Let yourself off the hook once in a while. Let your hair down. Smear your lips with chapstick and call it good. While you're at it, eat messy food. Because, no matter how it looks, if it tastes good, then all is well in your world. Which … [Read more...]