Hot apple cider reminds me of my childhood going to the orchards in New Jersey. After food shopping with my mom on a fall day, I remember buying the hot beverage with apple cider donuts on the way out. For days like this, I miss living on the East Coast, but the memories encouraged me…
Mezza Platter for a Crowd
This is a fulfilling and fun platter to eat, whether served as family-style plate or piled onto a sandwich. I originally wanted the meat here to taste like shawarma meat, but this is still a work in progress to learn to do this properly. The plate here consists of tahini-marginated beef, french fries, fried feta,…
Toum, تُوم. Garlic, ثوم.
Toum is a garlic-based spread and dip devised from the Levant. It serves as a wonderful, versatile accompaniment to vegetable dishes, grilled meats, bread, fries, and shawarma, among other meals. Toum is an emulsion of oil and lemon, heavily comprised of garlic, lemon juice, and neutral oil. I recommend that you work with a well-dried…
How to Stock + Maintain Your Pantry with Purpose
Stocking your pantry with important basics and having a system for keeping it filled is some serious savvy. A well thought-out food supply is key to using every last bit of the week’s fresh grocery haul and keeps you going during days that you’re running low on food. On days that you can see the…
Homemade Ramen Noodles
Making homemade ramen noodles may take more time than ordering takeout, but if you have a craving, some time on your hands, and prefer a fresh alternative, this recipe calls for very basic ingredients and will have you cranking out noodles in no time. There are recipes that use specific flours and kansui, otherwise known…
Milchreis Auflauf
METRIC SYSTEM US (CONVERTED UNITS) 1 Liter Milk 200g Round-Corn Rice 1 Pinch Salt 120g Butter 80g Sugar 2 Egg Yolk 2 Egg White Butter for Form Bread Crumbs (fine, small crumbs) Bake 175 C 4.23 Cups Milk 1 Cup Round-Corn Rice 1 Pinch Salt 8.5 Tablespoons Butter 6.5 Tablespoons Sugar 2 Egg Yolk 2…
Trader Joe’s Chili Onion Crunch: Homemade Version
Lately I’ve been hearing about TJ’s new Chili Onion Crunch and since I live for spicy (and live too far away), I had to know more. A quick online search and I found the ingredients – pretty simple stuff. The back of the jar says it contains olive oil, dried onions, dried garlic, dried red bell…
French Onion Soup
Although it’s the middle of August, French Onion Soup was calling my name. It’s a simple soup that most importantly requires patience so that the onions caramelize perfectly and the flavor of the broth deepens throughout the day. Ingredients (makes approximately 6 bowls) Yellow onions (4 large) Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Fresh Thyme (to taste) Flour…
Spicy Vegetable Seasoning
Only four ingredients and you’re on your way to adding some kick to those vegetables sitting in your fridge. Dried chilis Onion Powder Thyme Course Salt With a pestle and mortar, grind up the dried chilis. I bought a pack that were already thinly sliced and dried out, so this took just a few moments….
Meatballs: It’s a Family Thing
Cutting right to it – lets start with making the sauce for the meatballs. This can be done with a pot over the stove, or in a crock pot. Here I’m just using a recipe with canned tomatoes, but I also love to make homemade sauce (and will be sure to come out with that…