Recipe: Moroccan Carrot & Juicy Orange Salad

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Pretty, pretty, pretty. Say hello to the juiciest carrot salad in the world. Inspired by the cuisine of Morocco, the salad blends shredded carrots with fresh squeezed orange juice (loads of pulp!), cinnamon, sugar, and orange blossom water. It's all kinds of crazy and... it works. I felt that, hot on the heels of our Mongolian Carrot salad, it'd be fun to make a variation from Morocco. And I'm so glad I took the risk. This is one wild salad. So take a deep breath, and breathe in the … [Read more...]

Recipe: Moroccan Honey Buttered Semolina “Crater” Pancakes (w/ poll)

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Oh, goodness. Where do I even begin? Do you see that honey dripping off the edge of the crater cakes? Each drop is perfumed with the haunting aroma of orange blossom water and butter. Hello. I mean, really. I'm pretty sure I can just pack up and go home now. My job is done. Talk about good-glorious-eats! But, for those few who aren't yet sure if this Moroccan treat - officially called Beghrir - is right for their breakfast table, let me continue. These semolina pancakes aren't … [Read more...]

Recipe: Chilled Buckwheat Noodle Salad with Feta & Cracked Black Pepper

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It only seems natural that we eat something black during our week at the Black Mountain (a.k.a Montenegro).  But here's the thing - nothing in life is black and white. There are all sorts of shades of gray (that's where the beauty is - somewhere in the muddled middle). So, in the spirit of variety, we're adding a few shades of gray to our pasta. We've got black pepper, white feta, and charcoal grey buckwheat noodles with a bit of sparkle from pools of golden olive oil. This is simple as … [Read more...]

Recipe: Ajvar, Roasted Pepper Spread

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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...]

Recipe: Mongolian Carrot Salad (w/ Poll)

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In Mongolia, the seemingly endless parade of meat, meat, and more meat, is only occasionally interrupted by vegetables. And, even then, relief doesn't come with a garden salad, but rather some combination of root vegetables. This is because there really isn't a whole lot of good farmland in the giant, cold, central Asian country - only the hardiest specimens make it. In the big city, versions of this simple carrot salad can be found, either dressed in a vinaigrette (as I have done) or in a … [Read more...]

Recipe: Mongolian Millet & Green Milk Tea (Suutei Tsai)

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  If tea time in your home means sweet, sugary cups of deliciousness, think again. This week we're sipping on salty, milky green tea cooked with buttery toasted millet. This is one of the more elaborate versions of Suutei Tsai - a famous Mongolian drink enjoyed out on the cold steppes. Each sip tastes of milk and salt and cereal - but the drink also has a remarkable drying effect in the mouth, thanks to a healthy dose of naturally astringent green tea. This is absolutely the strangest tea I … [Read more...]

Recipe: Chickpea Crepes (Socca)

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I am ready for a day-dreamy sort of day. One where I walk along the pier and smell the salty, ocean air...  On this easy-breezy day I'll nibble  bits of crispy socca - an olive oil and chickpea based crêpe popular along the riviera. On this day I do not stumble. I do not stain my shirt. Nothing I say sounds silly and I'm free of heartache. Yes, there are days when a crêpe can do this for you... ...especially if enjoyed in glitzy Monaco, with diamonds on the soles of your … [Read more...]

Recipe: Candied Cantaloupe & Cherry Almond Tart (Galapian)

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. 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...]