Global Table Adventure

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, Montenegro, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Cognac n’ Herb Tapenade

April 29, 2012 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Introducing the black diamond of Monaco: Tapenade. She glitters in the night. She belies the briny bite of the absolutely fabulous. But here's the thing. She's also, not so secretly, rustic. This dip and crostini topper has its origins in the grassy hills of Provence. Love for this treat spills over into Monaco and parts of Italy. While many people pulverize their blend to a paste (with a mortar and pestle or even a food processor), I prefer a rustic, coarse mixture. I like seeing the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dips, Europe, Gluten Free Adaptable, Monaco, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetables/Pulses

Recipe: Moldovan Preserved Peppers

April 20, 2012 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

Logistically speaking, peppers make for really great dinners. They're healthy. They're big on sweet, juicy flavor. The don't go bad quickly. And they go with nearly anything. But when you have a veggie garden, figuring out how to use up all your peppers can be a nightmare. Heck, even if you don't garden it can be a challenge to take advantage of the fresh produce at the market (hello, sale prices!). Today, thanks to Moldova, we're going to solve that. We've already had several great … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, Moldova, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Seasoning Blends & Pickles, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Micronesian Ginger & Lime Marinade

April 15, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 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, Meat, Micronesia, Oceania, Poultry, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Cheesy Roasted Poblanos (Rajas con Crema)

April 8, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 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...]

Filed Under: Dips, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: 5 Step Mole Poblano

April 5, 2012 By Sasha Martin 24 Comments

I'll be honest. On the onset, learning how to make Mole Poblano sounded a lot like learning how to knit a wedding dress. Outrageously epic, but not entirely something I had the skills for. In case you've never heard of it, we're talking a Mexican recipe from Puebla that has a million, gazillion ingredients (ok, really just about two dozen), many cooking phases, and centuries of history behind it. Yikes. After staring at dozens of recipes, drinking several cups of tea, and more than a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gluten Free Adaptable, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Poultry, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Ginger n’ Spice Tomato Sauce (Rougaille)

April 1, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

If there is one recipe that reflects the Mauritian potluck of global flavors, this is it. Rougaille. Let's take a walk through the flavors of this unusual sauce - I have a feeling you just might make friends. First, imagine a simple, homemade tomato sauce. The deep red goodness smells sweet and fresh. This sauce can be found in homes all across the world. Tomatoes, onion, garlic. Standard fare. Until you take a bite. Then you realize, this is more complex than you could have ever known. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Mauritius, Meat, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Toasted Coconut Paste for Curries (Kerisik) (w/ poll)

February 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

If you want to feel totally epic, trying making kerisik, a toasted, ground coconut paste that looks a great deal like natural peanut butter. Kerisik is used in Malaysia to thicken and flavor curries, like Beef Rendang. There's something incredibly rewarding about making your own, whether you do it the traditional way (in a mortar and pestle) or the modern way (in a food processor). In just ten minutes your entire home fills with the warm smell of toasted coconut. For my kerisik, I used 14 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, Malaysia, Seasoning Blends & Pickles, Vegan, Vegetarian