Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Rosewater Lemonade

August 12, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

For some, the season of flip flops is over, now replaced by the steady clickety-clack of school shoes on polished linoleum. For others, school is nothing more than a faint memory, farther yet than the setting sun's shimmering rays upon which our dreams cling. Either way, Rosewater Lemonade will put a smile where you need it most. For the back-to-schoolers, this drink represents everything easy-breezy; a way to go global, even in the midst of lost backpacks, homework, and forgotten lunches. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Asia, Cold, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Oman, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Grilled Plantain spears with crushed peanuts | Boli Bopa

July 29, 2012 By Sasha Martin Leave a Comment

This is so quick, it's silly. All you need are a few medium-ripe plantains (as pictured), some red palm oil, and a bit of salt & hot pepper. You can find the red palm oil at your natural grocer or, if you're lucky enough to have an African market, there. You brush on the red palm oil (back in the day I wrote a bit about this popular west African oil)... Sprinkle with salt and whatever spices you like (think hot, like cayenne... or mild, like paprika)... Grill until tender and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Nigeria, Random Carbs & Grains, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

July 27, 2012 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

There are four things I love to do in the summer. 1. Flit around pools, lakes, and oceans until my fingers wrinkle and warp. 2. Make mud pies and bake them in the Oklahoma sun. 3. Kiss my husband at the drive-in movie theater. 4. Dance like no one is watching. When that's all done, I like a good, sweet sipper and a shady spot to drink it down. Thankfully, I just learned about Chapman - a bright, bubbly festival for your mouth. This is a Nigerian drink made for parties - supposedly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol, Alcohol-Free, Cold, Fun Friday, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Nigeria, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: North African Sage n’ Green Tea

July 20, 2012 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

There are a few ways to keep cool in hot weather. In the west, we wear shorts, drink cold drinks, and blast the A/C. In Niger, they use a completely different set of tricks. The polar opposite, in fact. For starers, they cover up. Believe it or not, wearing long layers made of lightweight cotton keeps the sun's hot rays off your skin. The flowing movement of the fabric acts like natural air conditioning. The elephants accomplish the same thing by dusting themselves with dirt. Not quite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Alcohol-Free, Gluten Free Adaptable, Hot, International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Niger, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Pineapple Horchata

July 13, 2012 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

This summer I've seen almost everything. Laughter in sad moments. Tears in happy moments. Life is a bumble-all-over-the place, as it should be when temperatures screech up into the 100's. What I haven't seen? Purple-feathered dancing ladies. This Pineapple Horchata is certainly the closest I'll get to this sort of carnival fun. And every summer should have a little carnival fun, don't you think? The recipe is a cooked horchata (homemade rice drink), different from the amazing no-cook … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alcohol-Free, Cold, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Nicaragua, North America, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Lime & Cabbage Slaw with Yucca | Vigoron

July 12, 2012 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

Today we're taking a bite of Nicaraguan sunshine. This is the kind of sunshiny soul food that satisfies cravings. Bored cravings. Excited cravings. Lonely cravings. I'm ready for winter cravings. I miss my man cravings. I wish I could sing cravings. It's like the fairy godmother of salads. This sunshine is magic. So what is it? Vigoron. A heaping mound of comfort, nestled on top of deep green banana leaves. This is Nicaraguan street food, designed to make your mouth happy. First … [Read more...]

Filed Under: International Recipes, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Nicaragua, North America, Potluck Friendly, Salads, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

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: Dhal Baht | Vegan Spiced Yellow Split Peas

June 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 14 Comments

If you wake up in Nepal, chances are you'll be eating Dhal Baht. In fact, you'll probably also eat Dhal Bhat as the sun bobs below the horizon. Nothing wrong with eating the same dish twice in one day. There's a beautiful simplicity in waking up and knowing that, as certain as the sun will circle the sky, there will be Dhal Bhat. Ah, yes. There's something to be said for consistency. And for not having to make quite so many decisions during the day. I'm not sure what in my life is that … [Read more...]