Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Strawberry Almond Horchata

April 6, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 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, International Recipes, Mexico, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, North America, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian

Recipe: Mauritian Banana Tart

March 29, 2012 By Sasha Martin 22 Comments

Don't let the startling geometry fool you. Today's Banana Tart is for those who like mellow desserts. Big bites of health. An entire banana tree in the belly, topped off with delicate lattice goodness. I know. It's craziness. You can thank the dreamy island of Mauritius, way out in the Indian Ocean, for teaching me this ingenious way to use up ripe bananas. The ingredient list is so simple and pure, I almost can't believe it. Bananas, barely a smattering of brown sugar, a pinch of salt, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Fruit, Holidays, International Recipes, Mauritius, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian

Recipe: Baked Papaya with Sweet Coconut Cream

March 18, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

When Ava says it, Keith comes running. "Pa pa pa pa yapa" Even for me, papaya is fun to say. Beautiful to behold. But here the thing. I never, ever buy this tropical fruit because I cannot figure out what on earth to do with it, aside from enjoying fresh, cool slices. Preferably poolside. Enter our week at the Marshallese Global Table, where I learned that these easy, breezy, island people bake papaya with a bit of sugar and enjoy with warm coconut milk. Hello. Okay. Let's just say … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fruit, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Marshall Islands, Oceania, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Vanilla Bean n’ Tropical Fruit (w/ poll)

February 3, 2012 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

Vanilla beans might as well be jewels. The insides are full of teeny, tiny black caviar - the likes of which I can't help but want all over my ice cream and baked goods... I even like to dab vanilla extract on my wrists when baking. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan. Now, imagine yourself in a country like Madagascar, where there are enough vanilla beans to pave the streets. There, thanks to such quantity, the people use vanilla bean caviar much more whimsically than I can ($8 per bean, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Finger Food, Fruit, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Madagascar, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: A Dainty Apple Cake (Äppelkuch)

January 22, 2012 By Sasha Martin 16 Comments

In the southern reaches of Luxembourg, in an area called Gutland, live a happy collection of orchards where apples, plums, cherries and berries ripen in the sun. Now... I knew, without a doubt, that I absolutely, positively wanted to make a plum cake when we got to Luxembourg, however the seasons were against me. Since it is January and not a plum in sight, I somewhat grumpily resigned myself to making a traditional apple cake, a.k.a. Plan B. One bite in and I knew this was a fantastic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Fruit, International Recipes, Luxembourg, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegetarian

Recipe: Wooden Spoon Applesauce (with poll)

January 6, 2012 By Sasha Martin 19 Comments

Sometimes I buy fruit and it just... sits there. Life takes over. I go for hikes, I play catch with my daughter, I eat the candy from my stocking, and... before I know it, I just forget to eat them. I do this a lot with apples because they last so long and are so forgiving. Eventually, the time comes when they lose a bit of shine and a few bruises pop up. If this should happen to you, applesauce is the way to go. I didn't realize how easy it would be to make until I did it this week. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Fruit, Fun Friday, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Liechtenstein, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Snuggly Warm Mango and Cloves (w/ poll)

December 16, 2011 By Sasha Martin 7 Comments

Welcome to my weakness. The mango. If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed I make a lot of recipes with this heavenly fruit. Quite possibly I've made more mango recipes than anything else. Everything about the mango is perfect. Sweet. Golden. Juicy. And, right now, totally in season. So, go find one (or five hundred). Rain or shine. Market in Liberia. Photo by Kipp Jones. In Liberia they like to chop them up and cook them with cloves. About four cloves will give the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Fruit, Fun Friday, International Recipes, Liberia, Potluck Friendly, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Plantain Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake

December 15, 2011 By Sasha Martin 11 Comments

I'm not really a dessert person, so it's all the more surprising when I come across a recipe which makes me want to lock the doors, draw the curtains, and eat until every last crumb is gone. I mean, seriously. Plaintain Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake??! If this isn't the perfect holiday recipe, I don't know what is. And of all the places for it to come from... Denmark is known for gingerbread. Germany. Even the United States. But I was genuinely surprised to find gingerbread … [Read more...]