Three Interesting Facts About Bulgaria (with Poll)

It’s a beautiful morning here in Tulsa. The birds are chirping, the sky is blue, and Keith got up with the baby last night! Here’s a few fun facts … Bulgarian Rose oil Bulgaria is one of the world’s largest producers of rose oil. This liquid gold is used to flavor chocolates, liqueurs, and jams. Oh, and rose scented perfume, but you shouldn’t eat that. The primary producer is called the Valley of the Roses (located in central Bulgaria, in the town of  Kazanluk). Hidden treasures in Bulgaria In 1985, a villager from Rogozen was digging a well in his vegetable garden and unearthed 165 silver and gold vessels. The loot is now on display in Bulgaria. This is just one of several similar stories! What would you do if you found treasure in your garden? Turn it in, sell it, or keep it? Yogurt & cheese are staples Cheese and yogurt are extremely popular in Bulgaria. Sirene cheese is salty, crumbly, and firm – much like feta. Kashkaval is technically the Bulgarian term for any …

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About Bulgarian Food

Bulgaria will always make me smile. Exactly one week before I was to cook our Bulgarian Global Table, a young man from – you guessed it – Bulgaria came knocking on our door. I still haven’t pick my jaw up off the floor. I live on a tiny street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for goodness sakes! These things just don’t happen. Tall, gawky and very kind, Nick had one mission: to sell educational children’s books during his summer break. When my mother discovered the origins of his thick accent, she threw caution to the wind and pulled him inside. Cornered, he had no choice but to cooperate while I gave him the third degree. What did you eat as a child? What’s your favorite dessert? After thirty minutes, when the color had completely drained from his face, I finally let him talk to me about his books. It was the least I could do. I learned several important points from Nick. Bulgarians eat many of the things we eat here, in the United States. “We have …

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Monday Meal Review: Brunei

Thanks Brunei. You have lovely curries, interesting rice, and tasty vegetables. However, you have the most impossible dessert. I am both amazed and impressed that there are people who are able to make Getuk Lindri properly. I wish I was one of them. My family, while they appreciated my effort, barely took a nibble-taste and left the rest for the birds. Come to think of it, do birds eat yucca? Hmm. Thank goodness I redeemed myself with Sayur Lodeh and Lontong. Together, these two dishes make dinner a special occasion, like eating out, but better – because we were at home. Shrimp and Vegetable Curry (Sayur Lodeh) [Recipe] What I liked most about this dish: Rich, creamy curry made with coconut milk is my absolute favorite way to enjoy coconut (although I do love me some Spiked Coconut Water on a wicked hot day). Sayur Lodeh also has the benefit of being incredibly versatile. Any number of vegetables can be mixed in – why not try eggplant or loofah? A nice vegetarian option would be …

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The Durians of Brunei (with polls)

I don’t think I told you. Keith’s been out of town all week so my mom’s been helping me and Ava pass the time. An extended pajama party, really. We’ve been to the water park, played with dollies, cooked, cleaned, torn apart my closets and made mounds of donations. We’ve been really busy and had tons of fun, but today I’m just counting the hours until I see my sweetie. He’ll be home at five. Tick. Tick. Tick. Is it five yet? What are you counting down to? Help pass a little time with these fun facts (and poll) from Brunei. Happy Friday! Brunei Fun Facts: Brunei is in both the northern and western hemispheres. I guess that technically makes Brunei a country with “food around the world” within its own borders. 😀 Relative humidity is high throughout the year, averaging 93%. That’s so humid, it might as well rain! Food is passed and eaten with the right hand only. The left hand is considered unclean. One exception – when holding a heavy plate with …

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About the Food of Brunei

Something is fishy in  Brunei, and I like it! With miles of coastline, fish and seafood (such as shrimp and squid) make regular appearances at the dinner table. Even if you’re not eating fish, your meal may include belachan, or shrimp paste. The tiny country of Brunei (about the size of Delaware) boasts rain forests, low-lying plains, and oceanfront vistas. Sweet tropical fruits (such as mango, membangan,  papaya, watermelon, durian, kembayau, Brunei cherry, and rambutan – like lychee) are beloved throughout Brunei. The food blends local flavors with Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian cuisines. Typical of the region, most meals are served with either rice or noodles and seasoning is usually hot. In fact, curries are the norm. For example, Sayur Lodeh (recipe), vegetable curry, is a lovely blend of cabbage, long beans, and other vegetables, simmered in creamy coconut milk and spicy rempah (a popular seasoning blend – recipe). Shrimp, fish, or tofu can be added for protein. Yes, please! For chicken lovers, satay is a popular skewered preparation available with dipping sauces. You may have had …

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Monday Meal Review: Brazil

Things that make you go “Mmmm.”  The food of Brazil is simple and decidedly non-fussy. Many dishes have a short list of ingredients, however they pack intense flavor into each bite. This food practically assembles itself, allowing the hostess to enjoy the fruits of her labor and dance at her own party. Speaking of dancing, Ava LOVES music. This weekend we played some Brazilian music and she did a cute baby dance while holding on to the coffee table (I call it the diaper-butt bounce). I. Love. The. Diaper-Butt. Bounce. 😀 Black Beans with Assorted Meats (feijoada completa) [Recipe] What I liked most about this dish: This meal provides slow-burning energy for a hungry soul. The black beans soak up the salty, smoky flavor of the meat – particularly the sausage and the smoked pork shank bone. Typical of a stew, the longer you cook your feijoada, the better the flavor. In fact, this dish is ideal a day or two after cooking because the flavors continue to mingle and soften. What I liked least about this …

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Brazilians “Heart” Cow Tongue (with poll and video)

Honeybees fight cavities? Brazilian honeybees make a sticky substance called propolis to patch up their hives. This mixture of beeswax and local tree secretions has the potential to reduce cavities in humans up to 60%. A sweet invention… The sweet, seedless navel orange was first recorded in the mid-1800’s on a sour orange tree in a Brazilian monastery (according to National Geographic). This happy accident was then developed and bred into the sweet navel orange we enjoy today. The “navel” on the orange is actually a second, underdeveloped orange (pictured bottom right). World-class diversity Brazil claims the greatest diversity of primates, amphibians and plants in the world. Additionally, Brazil is in the top five in the world for birds and reptile species. Incredible biodiversity of plants means great things for the juice and wine world. Road side juice bars are bursting with all sorts of fresh squeezed tropical fruit such as pineapple, guava, soursop, papaya, passionfruit, mango, and cupuaçu. In the south, wine is the “next big thing.” According to the New York Times, 300 days …

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About Brazilian Food

From the towering rain forest, to the coastal plains, we could spend a lifetime sampling food in Brazil. Almost as big as the U.S.A, to say that Brazil brings a lot to our Global Table is quite the understatement. I’m willing to bet you’ve had some of the local specialties. Take Brazil nuts, for example. These giants are always the biggest nut in a tin of mixed nuts.  Grown wild, high in the canopies of the Amazon, locals stir them into all manner of tasty cakes and sinful confections. Until about five years ago I always avoided the Brazil nut. The flavor  seemed so unusual – so earthy – and the texture could be… squeaky. It’s true. But, through the years, I’ve made friends with the Brazil nut (as I have with other strange tasting items, like blue cheese and brie). Give ’em a try! Coffee is another local specialty. Brazil produces more coffee than any other country in the world. If you’ve ever used coffee to lift the cottony fog of sleep from your brain, …

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Monday Meal Review: Botswana

With a few simple steps, our Botswana Global Table Adventure transformed minimal ingredients into a tasty feast. Although I struggled to get Keith to eat the spinach (spoiler: I won), the general consensus was that this was a great meal, worthy of any weeknight menu. Stewed Beef (Seswaa) [Recipe] What I liked most about this dish: I made Seswaa with a beautiful, fatty piece of chuck. As the marbling broke down, the stew’s flavor grew deeper and richer. I was amazed at how much meaty deliciousness came through this simple dish. I found myself smacking my lips and wanting more. Looking around, seemed like the family was in agreement. Since making Seswaa, I’ve been dreaming of ladling the meaty gravy over freshly baked biscuits. Oh man, that would be good. What I liked least about this dish: I know Seswaa isn’t much to look at, but the stew is just so tasty. Since there are few ingredients, Seswaa’s flavor depends on the cut of meat you get. Ideally, choose a fresh piece of well-marbled meat. …

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