Lemon Drop Martini
Some cocktails have a way of taking you back to a particular place and time. For me, the Lemon Drop Martini will always be Hong Kong. I first made one in 2004, when we were living there. Hong Kong nightlife was buzzing.
Grilled Eggplant and Fresh Mozzarella Stacks
Some nights we enjoy having meatless dishes and this vegetarian recipe leaves you feeling very satiated. Eggplant features of host of vitamins and minerals and in the skin of the eggplant is a phytonutrient called nasunun. Nasunin is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that has been shown to protect cell membranes from damage. …
Chargrilled Prawns with Coriander and Lime
We use our barbecue as much as possible for a myriad of things and with Spring warming the air a bit, the barbecue is on a lot more these days. There’s a confusion, at least for me, about the difference between a prawn and a shrimp. To me, they both appear to be the same. …
Grilled Vegetable, Pesto and Ricotta Tart
This is my kind of fast food! Phyllo (filo or fillo) dough is paper-thin sheets of raw, unleavened flour dough used for making pastries. A popular dessert using filo pastry is baklava but there are oodles of other sweet and savory dishes out there using filo pastry. When cooked, filo pastry is crispy and flaky…
Turkey Jambalaya
Turkey is something I only cook on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I’m always trying to think of new ways to incorporate leftover turkey that will appeal to everyone. How much turkey to buy, you ask, to avoid a lot of leftover meat? A good rule of thumb is to buy one pound of turkey per…
Mojito Fruit Salad
Spring is here in theory but the weather has been so unpredictable I needed a bit of sunshine in the form of food. Mojito (pronounced moh-hee-toh) conjures up memories of warm days basking in the sun and sipping this very likable Cuban drink. Pineapple is an excellent source of manganese (energy production and antioxidant defenses)…
Cumin-Scented Chickpeas with Roasted Eggplant and Rustic Tomato Sauce
Cumin is one of those spices that packs a punch with its nutty peppery flavor and is a very good source of iron. I found that carrots, parsnips, and cauliflower pair well with cumin. Cumin is the second most popular spice in the world after black pepper. It was mentioned in the Bible not only…
Artichoke Stuffed Shells
Jumbo stuffed shells is a pasta dish I haven’t made in years! I guess partly because it’s a very rich and cheesy meal and looks like a deep-dish pizza when done but I saw the box of shells in the grocery store and decided to re-visit this sinfully delicious dish. I had a jar of…
Cheesy Crêpes with Prosciutto, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Olives
Crêpes are surprisingly easy to make and can be served as appetizers, first courses, and entrées. Fast to assemble and filled with a variety of savory fillings such as fresh vegetables and herbs, seafood, poultry, and meat. Crêpes are ideal to make in advance and refrigerate or freeze, to fill later for a party or…
Smoked Salmon Bruschetta
I have to thank my sister for introducing this delicious version of bruschetta! Bruschetta (pronounced brus ketta) is an appetizer which originated in the 15th century from central Italy (Lazio, Marches, Tuscany, Umbria). It consists of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. It’s believed that this poor…
On Vacation!
Time for a break! I’ll be back to regular posting on the 22nd March. Cheers, The Culinary Chase
Rustic Oven-Roasted Tomato Sauce
I love homemade tomato sauce and this one is so easy to make with scrumptious results! Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A (helps form and maintain healthy teeth and skin), and vitamin K (bone health). The lycopene in tomatoes has long been studied for its antioxidant…
Asparagus with Gruyère and Smoked Ham
I watched a Martha Stewart program last year where she had Patricia Wells as one of her guest chefs. I had never heard of her before but I certainly enjoyed her style of cooking. I made a note to buy her cookbook, ‘Vegetable Harvest‘, but never got around to ordering it until last week. There…