Once in a while, an unexpected combination of ingredients creates pure decadence. Jamaican coconut bread with tropical cream cheese dip is that unexpected recipe. You wouldn’t guess it by looking at the photograph, but one bite in and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. After returning from Jamaica last year, it inspired me to get creative in the kitchen. …
DIY Cajun Seasoning
If you are anything like me, you’ve had those days when you started a recipe knowing that you have all the right ingredients on hand, only to find out that your spice bottle (you know, the one you need at just that moment) is empty. Could anything be more frustrating when you are in a hurry to get dinner on …
Creamy Cajun Pasta with Shrimp and Andouille Sausage
I visited Montego Bay, Jamaica, with a few of my girlfriends. We stayed at the breathtaking Secrets Resort St. James, which had eight incredible restaurants to choose from during our stay. The only problem is our stay was just four nights and five days, hardly enough time to sink our teeth into the massive selection of delectable foods available at …
Turkish Börek
Have you ever considered where a recipe got its start and how it came to be? Take for example apple pie. Who was the very first person to ever create a dough and discover the process of baking it into a shell? Or for that matter, pouring fruit on top, covering it with another layer of dough and successfully creating …
Persian Yogurt And Spinach Dip | Borani Esfanaaj Recipe
Borani Esfanaaj is a Traditional Persian appetizer made with Yogurt and spinach. I first tasted this delightful dish at a dinner party hosted by my gorgeous friend, Sohiela, who makes the most wonderful Persian food. The word “Esfanaj” in Farsi means Spinach and “Borani” is the yogurt part of the dip. What I love about Sohiela’s version are the fresh …
Israeli Lamb Kabobs
The Middle Eastern Culture, specifically Turkey, has gifted the world with a delightful dish called kabobs, originally named Shish Kabobs. In the Turkish language, “Sis” means sword and “Kabobs” means meat. Using swords to grill pieces of meat over an open fire, this technique of preparing food soon spread to other regions and countries. As each culture adopted this style …
Schloof – Suryani Eggplant Dish
Last year I visited my friend Laurie in Florida for a long weekend of recipe testing her collection of recipes for my book. That is when I was introduced to Schloof, a traditional Suryani recipe served as an appetizer or side dish. To be honest, I didn’t think the usual combination of basic ingredients found in the many Mediterranean dishes …
Sichuan Peppercorn Oil Recipe
In today’s world of global cooking, many recipes call for specialty ingredients and oils that can be hard to find in local grocery stores. Sichuan Peppercorn Oil is one of those elusive ingredients but is worth having in your pantry. This Chinese oil gives just the right amount of heat to stir fries, sauces, dressings, and more. The challenge of …
Chinese Spicy Chili Sauce Recipe | 辣椒酱 Làjiāo jiàng
Sichuan China is known for its spicy cuisine. Chinese Spicy Chili Sauce is a recipe created by my friend, Rachel, who was born in Sichuan and she brought her technique of creating authentic Chinese cuisine with her when she migrated to the United States many years ago. Rachel created this recipe for her Chinese Sichuan Beef. A recipe you can find in …
Chinese Spicy Beef Recipe | Shaved Beef Bites
Chinese Spicy Beef is a recipe I learned to make from my friend, Rachel, who makes simple Chinese cooking look like a walk in the park. She has an incredible gift of taking basic ingredients and turning them into a feast fit for a king in less time than it takes most people to get the dishes done. This beef …