Category Archives: European
Family Favorite: Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna
If I was going to list my family’s top 10 favorite dishes, I think I could confidently say this would make the top five. It’s the most common dish on … Continue reading
Ceci Polenta
This garbanzo polenta is an easy, healthy dish you can put together ahead of time and broil quickly to have hot to serve with dinner. Corn, of course, was not a native grain in Italy, so this is technically a more authentic recipe anyway. I find the flavor of using chickpea flour more savory and satisfying than corn polenta, though both are delicious.
Menu Planning: Italian American Birthday Feasts
No one in my family is the least bit Italian, but it seems this has become a traditional birthday feast choice around here. I didn’t realize how much so until … Continue reading
Guinness Chocolate Cake and Ice Cream
This is the matured version of the Irish Chocolate Cupcakes I’ve made a few times – it’s been adapted from the Barrington Brewery to Bon Appetit to Smitten Kitchen to … Continue reading
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Pictures and an overview of the menu from the party – a table of contents, I guess, as I keep posting more of the recipes.
Irish Chocolate Cupcakes
I knew I wanted to include chocolate cupcakes for my party – when I found these in a book of recipes from famous international tea rooms, I couldn’t resist the … Continue reading
Earl Grey Sorbet with Lemon & Mint
When planning a menu, I like to mix a few favorites and a few new recipes. I chose this one simply because it fit the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party theme, … Continue reading
Psari Plaki – Greek Fish with Tomato Sauce
My brother made this dish for our Mediterranean dinner yesterday – it was a new recipe for us, but one that stood out, even among some favorite recipes, as one to try again soon. With the help of a food processor, the sauce came together very simply, then the fish went into the oven while the rest of the meal came together and was done very shortly.
Mediterranean Menu
This meal was designed for a friend visiting from out of town – I began with a few favorite Moroccan recipes (vegetarian and very quick to put together) then added in some new Greek recipes to round out the menu. One new recipe was controversial, the other one a big success. The tried and true favorites still stood out and I’ll be filling in recipes for most of them shortly.
Ingredient Note: Rice
Rice, of course, is a primary staple in many areas of the world. It’s cheap, it’s healthy, and it’s easy to start cooking (especially with a $20 rice cooker from Target). Last winter I woke up one morning and decided to catalog my rice. In this post, I’ll go over some tips and tricks about different types of rice I’ve learned to appreciate in my exploration of different cuisines.
