Global Table Adventure | Mr. Picky’s Favorite Recipes

Recipe: Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Sweet Honey Figs

May 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

Today I'm taking you to a special place where family and friends gather around the dinner table with happy hearts. Silverware is optional, but bread is not. Settle into this sacred space, where tagine of lamb meets chestnuts, figs, cinnamon, honey, and orange blossom water. Pause for a moment to celebrate this crazy wonderful combination, to feel the hot air blow through your hair, then dig in and scoop up the glory with a handful of bread. When you're done, cozy up to an evening of conversation … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Meat, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Morocco, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday

Recipe: Balkan Burger (with poll)

May 11, 2012 By Sasha Martin 8 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, Meat, Montenegro, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, 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, Montenegro, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Candied Cantaloupe & Cherry Almond Tart (Galapian)

April 26, 2012 By Sasha Martin 4 Comments

. Very rarely does a dessert glisten as brilliantly as the Galapian. She's like unlike anything I've ever tasted before - slices of candied cantaloupe enrobed with a light almond cake, studded with brilliant maraschino cherry drops and glazed with lavender honey. . This movie star of a dessert was invented in 1994 by Alain Bouchard in Apt, a region of France near to Monaco. While a relatively new invention, it has all the glitz and glamour that is so enjoyed by the Monégasque. . While … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Fruit, Monaco, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian

Recipe: Pineapple Papaya Coco Sipper (with poll)

April 13, 2012 By Sasha Martin 8 Comments

It took Micronesia to get me excited about a smoothie. Don't get me wrong - I love smoothies. After a while, though, they all taste the same. Until now. This smoothie blushes, straight from the easy, breezy islands. Why? Because out of the soft, sweet flavor of papaya and pineapple comes the daring zip of fresh lime juice. Adding lime juice to a smoothie may sound strange, but Micronesians know - this is like adding a hint of key lime pie to your drink. A bit of soprano … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Cold, Fruit, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, Micronesia, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Oceania, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, 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: Strawberry Almond Horchata

April 6, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

There should be a rule. Whenever the weather is sunny and fine, when it is hot enough to swim in the deep seas - you should absolutely swim. Even if you forgot your bathing suit. Likewise, if you are ever offered horchata - the famous Mexican summertime sipper - consider yourself lucky and drink, drink, drink. The freedom of swimming, no matter what - that's what I taste in this drink. This is a summer's worth of happy - chilled and served with a straw. You'll taste almond and rice milk. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Cold, Fruit, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Valentine's Day, 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...]