Why Roasted Onions? Is it just me or have people forgotten about roasted onions as a side dish? Sure, they are quartered and spread with other root vegetables at the bottom of a roasting tray alongside a gigantic roast where they are cooked until dry, burnt, and no longer edible. But as a stand-alone side…
Category: Sides
Bacon, Almond and Herb Stuffing for Chicken or Turkey
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? …
Roasted Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad with Cashews
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…
10 Minutes or Less Easy Borlotti 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…
Crispy Parcels Stuffed with Spiced Uyghur Lamb
Tasty little buns For me, Uyghur food from Xinjiang holds a special place in my heart. When I first started dating my husband we were seeing each other long-distance – meeting up every two weeks or so. Before parting ways, we would indulge in a local Uyghur restaurant where we would order…
Lentil Burgers with Lemon Yogurt Dressing
Not your typical burger These lentil burgers 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 sauce….
Sumac Roasted Vegetables with Feta and Lemon
So…what’s sumac? Imagine my delight when I discovered sumac. Before a year or two ago, I had no idea that this spice existed. Now I am fascinated with this lemony red spice. Sumac is primarily used in Middle Eastern cooking to add a bit of tartness to the dish. It is also one of the…
Pumpkin Tempura with Soy and Chili 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…
Vegan Zha Jiang Mian (Chinese noodles w/soybean sauce)
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…
Southeast Asian Inspired Fresh Herb Pesto
Not your traditional 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…
Spicepaw’s Spicy Garlic Fried 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 Udon Noodles with Bell Peppers
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 Pajeon (Savoury Korean Pancake)
Kimchi is everything in South Korea I have fond memories of my time in South Korea, particularly when it comes to 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 (Korean fermented cabbage). For anyone who knows about Korean food,…
Tofu and Mushroom Stir-Fry in Soybean Sauce
Level up your tofu stir-fry In Asia, people know how to cook vegetarian dishes and tofu in particular. Vegetarian curries in India, hot stone bowl Bibimbop in Korea and all the various vibrant stir-fries of Southeast Asia. It’s difficult to pick a favorite. They know how to handle them and they have a plethora of…
How to make Corn Tortillas without a Tortilla Press
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 Tomato and Garlic 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 get the same…
Carrot Bhaji with Lemony Yogurt Dipping Sauce
What is bhaji? Bhaji is the Indian version of a fritter. Often made with vegetables like onion, potatoes or even chili. They are deep-fried and served as snack or eaten on their own if you are in the mood. Since I love anything generously seasoned with spice and fried until crispy, they are definitely one…
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 extra powdered…
Vegan Spicy 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….