Key Lime Pie

The first Key lime pie was created in the 1850’s in the Florida Keys (the Key’s signature dessert) and the graham cracker crumb base dates back at least to 1949. Key limes are also known as Mexican lime and West Indies lime which were cultivated for thousands of years in the Indo-Malayan region.  There are…

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Smoked Salmon and Goat’s Cheese Tartlets

This is a super easy hors d’oeuvre to make and the key here is to purchase quality smoked salmon where the smoke doesn’t overpower the fish.  Willy Krauch’s smoked salmon does just that.  The smoke is natural and subtle and doesn’t overwhelm the lovely flavor of the salmon.  Studies have shown that smoked salmon can…

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Polenta Crusted Chili Stuffed with Cheese

This recipe is from my food blogging friend, Kate from Hong Kong.  Her blog has beautifully illustrated photographs not to mention amazing dishes that make you hungry even after you’ve eaten! Chili peppers have been a part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC and were unknown in Africa and…

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Courgette Carbonara

Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish based on eggs, pecorino, black pepper and guanciale (use pancetta when guanciale is not available).  Carbonara is derived from the Italian word for charcoal, some believe that the dish was first made as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers.  This version has the added benefit of vegetables and…

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Maenam’s Crispy Fried Oysters with Nahm Jim Sauce

After living two years in Bangkok, Thai food was something I enjoyed exploring and eating.  This starter dish brought back some of those food memories.  The recipe is relatively easy and the flavors of the dipping sauce embodies all that is Thai; sweet, sour, salty and spicy.  The texture and flavor of an oyster is…

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Raspberries in Chardonnay Jelly

This is jelly grown-up style and it was also a big hit with our guests on Saturday night!  I prefer to choose desserts that are light especially after an evening full of food and drink.  I first made this jelly whilst in Singapore a few years ago and is from Nigella Lawson, one of my…

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Stuffed Peppers (Piperies Gemistes)

Stuffed peppers are a meal in themselves.  I think just about every culture has their form of a stuffed pepper.  In India it’s called Bharvan subji which consists of a pepper stuffed with mashed potatoes and onions and seasoned with chili, turmeric, coriander, coriander/cilantro, salt and lemon juice and baked in the oven until soft…

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Mousse de foies (duck or chicken liver mousse)

Charcuteries (pâtés, terrines, rillettes, head cheese etc.) used to be widely available in gourmet and butcher shops but the cost of even the simplest terrine is never cheap so this combined with health worries about fat has led to the demise of many charcuteries.  Even France had countless charcuteries 50 years ago.  Homemade versions, if…

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Pistou Soup

Pistou is a sauce made from cloves of garlic, fresh basil and olive oil. It is a typical condiment from the Provence region of France that can be served with pasta dishes or as a spread for bread.  Some recipes incorporate the pistou into the soup just before serving or it can be offered at…

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