This fall we hosted an exchange student, Ignacia, from Chile. I admit I was unfamiliar with this South American country. Aside from Chilean Seabass, I was unfamiliar with traditional Chilean cuisine but excited to learn more. In Chile, they make a salad similar to an Artichoke Carpaccio. The Italians prepare this traditional dish with thin slices of raw beef topped …
Chinese Smashed Cucumbers
Here in Minnesota, Chinese restaurants are a popular option amidst the sea of eating establishments. I love the five flavors of salty, spicy, sour, sweet, and bitter infused into traditional Chinese cooking, but prefer to avoid the MSG found in most of the food at these restaurants. I asked my friend Rachel to teach me how to make delicious, healthy, …
Crème Fraîche Scrambled Eggs
Ah, France. A place I have yet to visit, but it holds a special spot on my bucket list of beautiful destinations to see. This charming and eclectic country boasts of an important and fascinating historical past as much as it does the present day. We know the French culture for many things including their romantic language, age-old architectural wonders, …
Bahārāt Middle Eastern Spice Blend
At the start of every new season, I like to make a bucket list of things I want to learn before the next season begins. At the top of my culinary bucket list is to learn to make the hard to find spices I use in my recipes. The challenging part of global cooking is finding spices unique to a …
Koobideh Persian Beef Kabobs
There has never been a dish I have made that has quite the intriguing history that Persian Kabob Koobideh does. The story goes: during medieval times, Persian warriors used their swords to roast meat over an open fire. The sword would heat up, cooking the meat evenly from both the outside and the inside. This technique resulted in a cultural …
Israeli Cheese Bourekas
Who can resist a freshly baked puff pastry filled with all kinds of yumminess? Definitely not me. I confirmed my weakness when I tasted, my friend, Vivi’s cheese filled Bourekas. After one bite I was hooked. Bourekas are delicious, breaded hand pies that originated in the Middle East. Israeli cuisine is famous for making some of the most delightful bourekas …
Tlavhe Red Lentil Soup from Assyria
Now that the cold weather season is here, it’s time to start thinking soup. Call me biased but my mom made one of the best chicken noodle recipes I have ever tasted. It’s a big hit around my house pretty much any time of the year. Unfortunately, one cannot live on Chicken Noodle Soup alone. That’s when I reach for …
Red Pepper Paste Recipe
One of my favorite things about learning to make food from around the world are the bonus lessons that accompany good, wholesome, authentic dishes. Part of the magic that happens when you create a recipe from scratch is the specific flavors that come through during the cooking process. I have found that keeping a dish as authentic as possible, including …
Traditional Turkish Breakfast Recipe (Türk Kahvalti)
According to my mother, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The Turkish culture would agree, especially when it comes to a Turkish Breakfast. Traditionally, Turkish breakfast consists of cheese, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, fruit, sausage, and Turkish tea. The first meal of the day is a breakfast fit for a king. The Turkish word for …
Four Fabulous Roasted Pumpkin Seed Flavors
Now that Halloween is over, millions of creatively carved pumpkins are about to meet their final fate. Yes, the dreaded garbage can. Hopefully, you remembered to save those delicious, health-infused pumpkin seeds for roasting in the oven. If not, no problem. You can always buy dried pumpkin seeds at your local grocery store and get roasting! Roasting pumpkin seeds are …