When did a running, giggling, dancing toddler possess my sweet baby? When did she learn how to say “Hi baby”? How does she know to brush her teeth after eating? And, most importantly, when will the word “yes” cross her lips? Even if I can’t get Ava to say it, as far as Ecuador is concerned, this menu is a “yes.” Each dish is made up of regionally loved ingredients, such as potatoes, corn, and peanuts. Enjoy this small window into the world of Ecuador. What sounds good to you? Ecuadorian Potato & Cheese soup with Avocado (Locro de papa con queso) [Recipe] Creamy, cheesy, potato goodness topped with queso fresco, avocado chunks, and green onion. Seasoned with hints of ground annato/achiote and cumin. Open-Faced Cornmeal Omelet with Cheese [Recipe] Wake up to Ecuador- this simple recipe requires no special ingredients, just a healthy mix of cooked cornmeal, eggs, green onion, and shredded cheese. A distant cousin to Mote Pillo, which is hominy tossed with scrambled eggs. Warm Peanut & Achiote Salsa from Ecuador [Recipe] …
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Far, far away is a country called East Timor. Everything seems so different on that side of the world and yet, with hardly any exotic ingredients, we easily brought the flavors of this distant nation into our kitchen. No specialty stores. No expensive grocery bills. Hurrah! Meanwhile, in other news, Ava has eating with a fork down pat. As in, she no longer needs our help to eat yogurt, apple sauce, or even Bakso Noodle Soup. Amazing! But… now what? How do I fill my time? Chicken Bakso (Chicken Meatballs) [Recipe] Seasoned with sautéed shallots and garlic, these mild chicken meatballs add oomph and variety to standard chicken soup or pasta. Deep-fried Tofu [Recipe] Extra-firm tofu dredged in rice flour and deep fried until a crunchy outer skin forms. Provides much needed texture in soups and on salads. Bakso Noodle Soup [Recipe] This famous soup is popular in East Timor and Indonesia. Our version is layered with ramen noodles, bok choy, celery leaves, chicken Bakso, and deep-fried tofu. Finish it of with a blast of …
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What would you serve if a special guest was coming to your house? Someone who you desperately want to impress? I’ll tell you what: serve them something simple, flavorful and – most importantly – something that practically cooks itself. You know, so you have time to brush your hair and change your clothes. Our Dominican menu is the exact menu I would suggest – after all, it was good enough to tempt the taste buds of Natalie Mikles, from a little paper that starts with Tulsa and ends with World! NOTE: The beans and chicken, when served with a side of rice make up “La Bandera” or “The Flag,” which is one of the national dishes of the Dominican Republic! Sazon/Sofrito [Recipe] Every cook in the Dominican Republic has a batch of Sazon or Sofrito – a traditional seasoning base – ready to go. Our version is made with peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, tomatillos, parsley, garlic, red onion, and more. Dominican Stew Chicken (Pollo Guisado) [Recipe] Tender chicken sautéed in a teaspoon of sugar, then slowly …
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Dominica, you reveal my dark side. The scheming, cruel woman within. You see, I had ulterior motives for putting “Mountain Chicken” our menu this week. Although I was a little nervous to try this strange creature, I really wanted to see Mr. Picky’s reaction. I imagined him gleefully exclaiming “Mmm, fried chicken.” Then I played out the moment when, just as he took a big bite, I would mutter “ribbit” under my breath. When he questioned me I would burst out “Mountain chicken is frog!” and laugh like a mad woman. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite play out that way. The secret slipped. The worst part? When he found out, he nonchalantly replied… “Oh, frogs? Cool. I used to catch those in the creek with my buddies and cook them on a campfire.” You should of seen my face. So much for Mr. Picky. Callaloo (Caribbean Green Soup) [Recipe] This thick soup often includes dark green callaloo and pig tails but our version substitutes readily available spinach and ham bone. Slowly simmered with okra, habenero pepper, coconut …
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Serves 6-8 I could confetti dozens (hundreds!) of newlyweds with all the rice we’ve made for our Adventures around the world. While they’ve all been incredible, I’m here to tell you that Rainbow Rice takes the cake for beauty, novelty, and fun factor. Want your own festival on a plate? Here are 5 important tips to making perfect Rainbow Rice: Only use one or two colors to dye the rice. Any more becomes a bit… chaotic. Make a theme out of it – pink for a baby shower, red and green for Christmas, orange and red for Thanksgiving, etc. Only dye a little bit of rice (maybe 1/4 cup of cooked rice per color) so that the dominant color is white. Use a lot of dye for a more dramatic effect. To avoid color bleeding: let the dyed rice air out and finish steaming before mixing with the other rice. It helps to dye the rice from the top of the pot, which is naturally drier than the rice at the bottom of the pot. …
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A little bonus post, in honor of New Year’s Eve… Global Table-style! My party days are long over (unless you count staying up all night with a sick baby). Still, I appreciate a good drink on a special occasion. When it comes to New Year’s Eve, I’m in bed long before the ball drops – I don’t even stay up to watch it on TV (I don’t have one). Last year I went to bed at 10pm. I’m aware that I’m developing elderly tendencies a little too soon. I’m aware that I’m incredibly unhip. But my cushy, cozy, amaaaazing bed is just too tempting, especially when my eyelids are drooping. And, for what it’s worth, Mr. Picky agrees. Whether you are a big drinker or not, New Year’s Eve is a great excuse to educate yourself about international customs and try something new. I’ve run across several tasty drinks on my culinary tour of the world; here’s a quick rundown of some beverages you might try this New Year’s Eve (whatever you do… please, please, please, be …
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Food coloring fun, one-sided “pancakes,” and one pot wonders… we’ve made it to Djibouti. This east African country really has a way with flavors – rich, bold, and warmly spiced – yet so simple to put together. I mean, what cook wouldn’t love a whole grain “pancake” that you don’t have to flip? I’m officially in love. Even Mr. Picky wasn’t so picky this week. And that’s a good thing. Rainbow Rice Palau (Dyed Rice) [Recipe] Brighten up the dinner table with the vivid colors of Rainbow Rice. One bite fills your mouth with warm cinnamon, cumin, cardamom and more. Traditionally served for special holidays – try any combination of colors to coordinate with your special day. Djiboutian Lamb & Rice (Skoudehkaris) [Recipe] A one pot dish of lamb stewed with tomatoes, onion, rice, cayenne, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, and a teeny pinch of cloves. Yeast-Risen Flatbread (Laxoox) [Recipe] This yeast-risen flatbread/pancake can be eaten with sweet or savory food. It is browned on one side only – try it topped with lamb stew or dipped …
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Power tools, fireplaces, and an entire town made of “gingerbread” – today is all about gingerbread. First up, the winning entry to our Global Gingerbread Contest: Here’s the story behind her house: As a recent graduate with a degree in European History and a concentration in Slavonic/East European Studies, I really wanted my “international/foreign” house to reflect that region. While I originally hoped to incorporate some designs common to Psyanki or Wycinanki (aka, ornately dyed easter eggs and polish paper cuttings), I eventually settled on creating a little house inspired by the Slovak village of Čičmany. This tiny village is well known for its beautiful folk architecture that has been carefully maintained and preserved over the years–all the buildings are covered in a variety of white-painted patterns and designs. As a result, the houses really do look something like life-sized gingerbread houses! While the village is, of course, quite unique, I believe it does reflect many motifs and values that are common through the last few hundred years of Eastern European folk tradition. It also …
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Mayday, mayday! I opened and closed the fridge about 10 ten times. Nothing to eat. Nothing to offer guests. Each time I peered in, I hoped for a different result (there had to be something in there besides baby yogurt and beets… seriously) but … nope… there I was – December 22 – with a full house and no nom noms or drinks. To be fair, I wasn’t expecting three dear friends to drop by all at once (one of which hadn’t had breakfast or lunch due to a busy, busy morning) … but then again… it’s Christmas week… Now that I am fully traumatized (and my friends half starved to death), I’d like to share some wisdom: During the holiday season, always have an impromptu party on standby! You can learn from my mistakes and have the ingredients for this super easy snack and one of these two traditional Christmas drinks ready to go … you know, should someone decide to pop over to bring you a gift. And then you won’t have to serve …
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I’d rather not eat pancakes if I have to use a knife and fork. I much prefer tearing them into small, irregular pieces before dipping – just barely – into maple syrup and taking a bite. Licking my fingers completes the happy process. Yes… I love eating with my fingers (don’t you?). And, from what I’ve read, I’m in good company around the world. Here’s ten international, absolutely fabulous ideas to get you through this finger-lickin’ party season. 1. Camarao Grelhado Piri Piri (Grilled Prawns with Peppers) 2. Beef Empanadas 3. Armenian Stuffed Grape Leaves (Yalanchi Sarma) 4. Armenian Spiced Feta (Brinza) 5. Spicy Meatballs with Pomegranate sauce (Fesinjan Kyufta) 6. Himalayan Fruit Salad 7. Brazilian Romeo and Juliet (Romeu e Julieta) 8. Spicy Kielbasa Buns/Klobasneks/Klobasnikis (Klobásové Buchty) 9. Danish Meatballs (Frikadeller) 10. Smoked Salmon Smørrebrød
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Our pickup truck is overflowing with donations and our bedroom is now gift central (shh, don’t tell Ava). Thus is the cycle of life. Today, mostly because I can’t stop eating the candy meant for our stockings, I’m sharing 5 dessert recipes from around the world which are perfect – in my opinion – for Christmastime. So, put on your aprons! Let’s bring a little piece of the world to our families this holiday season. P.S. Stay tuned … all week I’ll be sharing recipes from around the world that’ll fit right in on your Christmas table… as well as a look at our gingerbread houses (We’ll start back up with cooking Djibouti next week). 1. Bajan Christmas Puddin’ (Pound Cake with Cherries) 2. Llokume (Turkish Delight) 3. Sacher-torte (Austrian Chocolate Tart with Apricot Jam) 4. Chilean Crema de Limon (Chilean Lemon Ice Cream) 5. Baked Milk Custard (Leche Asada)
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