Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Moroccan Carrot & Juicy Orange Salad

May 20, 2012 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Morocco, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Salads, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Sweet Honey Figs

May 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 12 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 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, Meat, Montenegro, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Recipes, Sandwiches/Wraps/Packets

Recipe: Mongolian Carrot Salad (w/ Poll)

May 4, 2012 By Sasha Martin 14 Comments

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...]

Filed Under: Asia, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mongolia, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Salads, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, 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: Moldovan Veggie & Feta Stuffed Zucchini

April 19, 2012 By Sasha Martin 12 Comments

In honor of Moldova, let's clear out the weeds. Let's make room for a garden. A springy, happy sort of place where you can go to daydream in the morning sunlight, with a cup of steaming hot tea at the ready. A place where you can feel your connection to the earth and the soil. Where you can think those thoughts you never have time to think. Where you can finally stop being too busy. While you're there I'd like you to plant a tiny sprout that will one day grow up into one hundred dream boats. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Gluten Free Adaptable, Moldova, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Micronesian Ginger & Lime Marinade

April 15, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 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...]