My Nana made the best stuffing. It was dark brown, mushy and looked like something the Adams Family might have a conversation with before eating it, but it was also damn good. Digging into it was quite the adventure. What was that I just found? A bit of celery? Sliced mushroom? A scrap of turkey? …
Category: Sides
Roasted Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad with Cashews in a Lemon Thyme Dressing
My new favorite side salad: Roasted pear with bleu cheese My new favorite salad which comprises all necessary elements of a great bowl of the green leafy stuff: sweet, salty and a crunch. The sweetness of a roasted pear combined with the salty and sharp Bleu cheese crumbles and the crunch of…
Roasted Red Peppers with Chevre and Honey Almonds
A beautiful plate of food Roasted red bell peppers richly seasoned with Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, then topped with the tang and tartness of chevre and the added crunched of sweet honey roasted almonds. Not only is it stunning to look at but this beauty has got the goods to back…
Easy Taco Beans
Just how easy are they and what can I do with them? These taco beans are great as a side dish, paired with Spanish rice, sprinkled on nachos with lots of cheese and fresh salsa or even eaten plain on its own with some hot sauce, avocado and tortilla chips. Just sauté some…
Uyghur Spiced Lamb Parcels
What is Uyghur food? Some of the best food in China can be found in Xinjiang province, located in Western China and typically halal and more reminiscent of middle Eastern cuisine than of anything you would recognize from your local takeaway. Popular dishes of this region are barbequed spiced lamb, hand-pulled…
Lentil Cakes with Lemon Yogurt dressing over cucumber and tomato salad
These lentil cakes are crispy on the outside but soft and savory on the inside. They are delicious wrapped up in a tortilla or fluffy naan bread for a little sandwich or paired with fresh cucumber, tomato, a drizzle of lemon and garlic yogurt sauce and a dab of chili…
Sumac Roasted Vegetables with Feta and Lemon
Can you have too much of a good spice? Nah! As a child, I have fond memories of watching my mother and grandmother in the kitchen making chicken soup. They’d dig around in the spice drawer and take out that special ingredient that always make the soup extra delicious. It was in these moments that…
Pumpkin Tempura with Soy and Chile Dipping Sauce
Every Autumn the food bloggers go a little crazy over pumpkin. Just check Foodgawker this time of year and you’ll be bombarded with all kinds of questionable pumpkin concoctions. Personally, I’d like to get on board with the experimentation but my (British) husband simply refuses to even look at it…
Zha Jiang Mian (Chinese noodles made with soybean paste)
Zha Jiang Mian translates to “fried noodle sauce” meaning that you must ‘fry’ or simmer the sauce and add it to the noodles later, almost like a Chinese version of spaghetti with marinara sauce. Although this dish is typically made with minced meat, I prefer the vegetarian version…
Fresh Herb Pesto
Traditional Basil pestos are my jam! Although, for some reason, it still annoys me when my husband uses it as a condiment on pasta dishes – I have no idea why, because obviously it is a sauce by itself! Nevertheless, we always keep a jar on hand in the fridge for extra flavor on…
Spicepaw’s Chicken Wings
I like my wings like I like my men: a little sweet, a little salty, tender on the inside but hot and spicy throughout. What a tragedy it is to be in a bar, pub or on a dinner date and find that their wings (or your…
Wok Fried Beef Noodles
Wok-fried beef noodles are my go-to ‘meh…not really feeling like putting in that much effort dish’. You know that feeling. Even people such as myself who love to cook can sometimes just get tired of it. That’s why I love this simple recipe. Just marinate the beef, chop up the…
Bacon and Kimchi Pancakes
I have fond memories of my time in South Korea, particularly when it comes to the food. Aside from that wok-fried silkworm pupae I ate on a dare, I never had a bad meal. Everything was delicious, especially the kimchi. For anyone who knows…
Tofu and Mushrooms in Soybean Sauce
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – no one cooks better vegetarian and vegan food than countries in Asia. Some of my favorite foods are vegetarian and vegan: Karela chips from India, traditional Bibimbap from South Korea, tofu of all kinds, and of course, any vegetarian Indian…
Homemade Corn Tortillas
Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got til it’s gone Preach it, Joni Mitchell! No words more true were ever sung. Not only is it applicable to life and love but also food. Case in point, the American version of Mexican food is head and shoulders…
My Favorite Fresh Salsa
Fresh salsa is a must in my household. Fresh tomatoes chopped with garlic, cilantro, jalapeno and onions with a special seasoning mix is so versatile as a topping to most everything I eat and I simply can’t be without it. When it comes to salsa, homemade is best made. You just can’t…
Carrot Bhaji with Yogurt Sauce
For me, a meal isn’t complete without a big heaping pile of vegetables. However, I’m married to a man who thinks potatoes are the only vegetable he will ever need. Don’t get me wrong, potatoes are a great vegetable but I like a little color and variety on my plate. Recently, I’ve been…
Kid and Mom-Friendly Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Childhood means mac and cheese Like any American kid who grew up in the ’90s, I was a big fan of boxed stovetop mac and cheese. You could, in fact, classify me as a ‘connoisseur’ of it. My preference was for Kraft Thick and Creamy made with less milk so that it was…
Sweet Soy and Chile Rice Noodles with Tofu and Mushrooms
Contrary to what some people think about me, I am not against vegetarianism or veganism. Less animal consumption is not only healthier but better for the environment as well. Husband and child aside, I’m pretty laissez-faire when it comes to other people’s eating habits along with how their beliefs and views impact their dietary preferences….
Karela Chips (Fried Bitter Gourd)
One of the best things to eat here in Malaysia is banana leaf curry. Nothing hits the spot like a huge banana leaf with a big pile of rice with curry on top, crispy papadums on the side, and a plethora of vegetable curries, including my favorite-fried bitter gourd, aka karela chips. These…