If you like balsamic vinegar, the thick, sweet kind, on your tomatoes you will like this braised fennel with fresh tomatoes. I'm not sure if the fennel flavour itself works with the tomatoes, but on its own it tastes way too much like candy to call it salad. I fell in love with … [Read more...] about Braised Fennel: Bonnie Stern’s “Heartsmart Cooking”
Sides
What I Didn’t Know About Tomatillos: Balsamic Braised Fennel Salad
So I said last post that I didn't know if my tomatillos were the best ever because I hadn't had a lot of other tomatillos, but if these aren't the best I don't know how I'll react to even better ones. When I made the grilled salsa I figured there was soemthing special about the … [Read more...] about What I Didn’t Know About Tomatillos: Balsamic Braised Fennel Salad
Tomatillo (“Hog Plum”) Salsa: Beyond the Great Wall
I once made a tomatillo chicken dish with canned tomatillos...in Newfoundland, home of bland food. There was no way I could possibly find them fresh, and if by some miracle they popped up in a grocery store near me I'd have to be stupid to buy them. I think maybe once I did and I … [Read more...] about Tomatillo (“Hog Plum”) Salsa: Beyond the Great Wall
Candy Garlic and Salt-Roasted Zucchini With Deep-Fried Onions: Tiau
What the heck is a tiau? Nobody seems to know. I googled and googled, and then gave up and asked people, and still I have no satisfactory response. Chefs are always coming up with elaborate names for dishes, but I'm sure this one has a history. It's from Josée di Stasio's "A la … [Read more...] about Candy Garlic and Salt-Roasted Zucchini With Deep-Fried Onions: Tiau
Refried Beans: “Southwest Slow-Cooking”
How can you slow-cook refried beans? I have a cookbook I never use. Everyone has those, I know, but for me to own a cookbook and never use it there has to be something wrong with it. This one looks so beautiful. I had such high-hopes for it when I got it, but nothing that I've … [Read more...] about Refried Beans: “Southwest Slow-Cooking”
Vietnamese Hmong Spicy Eggplant
I found a new, wonderful website. It's not new, but it's new to me: VietWorldKitchen. I was reading about pho', but then I saw this recipe, and it basically made my day. Maybe it was a slow day, but, oh, how I love eggplant. I didn't have any scallions or cilantro, and I only … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Hmong Spicy Eggplant
I Swear It’s Better Than It Looks: Boiled Eggplant Sautéd In Lamb Fat
Remember how I love eggplant? There's something absolutely delicious about how slimy it can be. It becomes soft and mushy and very mild. Different kinds, especially the long, thinner purple Asian ones, aren't as bitter as the regular pear-shaped ones. Slimmer is not always … [Read more...] about I Swear It’s Better Than It Looks: Boiled Eggplant Sautéd In Lamb Fat
Cucumber Raita with Parsley
This is so easy and so refreshing. You need to start with a very good yogurt to make it well, though. I love Pinehedge 3.8% yogurt. A litre of this stuff comes in a glass bottle on which you pay a $1 deposit, making it very affordable if you return the bottle. I love this farm. … [Read more...] about Cucumber Raita with Parsley
Asian-Inspired Dinner Party: Dumplings, Miso-Marinated Cod, and Soba
Shiitake Mushroom and Bomboo Shoot Dumplings "Should we have some people over?" my mother asked. Well, yes, certainly. Two hours before the dinner party... Me: "You have no idea what I'm making, do you?" Mom: "No. If you got hit by a car I would have no idea what to do for … [Read more...] about Asian-Inspired Dinner Party: Dumplings, Miso-Marinated Cod, and Soba
Kale with Garlic and Lemon
So many people think leafy greens and immediately think "yuk". It's so annoyingly cultural. Italian kids will go for seconds of the wilted spinach or sautéed rapini, and North Americans of all ages will subtly push their serving to the side. I have huge respect for Josée di … [Read more...] about Kale with Garlic and Lemon