Food is cheap in Lima, but quality food is not. So I finally got cooking to both save money and eat better. It's comforting to know exactly what I'm putting in my body instead of wondering if I'll be okay if I eat something at a restaurant. There's a fish called "paiche" - river … [Read more...] about Seared Amazonian Paiche Fish with Huacatay Yellow Potatoes, Avocado and Coca Leaf Rice
Vegetables
Photos and Recipes from the 5th Annual Volk/Watson Extravaganza
The Christmas party was South and Central American-themed. That's a lot of ground to cover. Mostly it was Peruvian and Mexican under the thinly veiled charade of a "fiesta." Nobody complained. The margaritas, sangria and rum probably helped, but the ceviche, guacamole, and … [Read more...] about Photos and Recipes from the 5th Annual Volk/Watson Extravaganza
The Best Slow-Cooker Chicken and Vegetables
I won't be slow-cooking for awhile, as I'm in Peru for two months (where I am not bringing my slow-cooker...), but it got cold in Montreal this month before I left and I needed some comfort food. And there was no way I was going to marinate turkey for 3 hours and then toss out … [Read more...] about The Best Slow-Cooker Chicken and Vegetables
Dinner Party Menu Ideas, from Indian Ven Pongal or Lamb Saag to Ancho Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Sweet Chili Hollandaise
I have a saying: "You can't choose your family, but you can choose your dinner guests. I do think my family makes up the majority of my blog readership, however, so I'd better be careful what I say! So let me tactfully start by saying honestly that I love cooking for family. As … [Read more...] about Dinner Party Menu Ideas, from Indian Ven Pongal or Lamb Saag to Ancho Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Sweet Chili Hollandaise
“Plenty” of Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, Tomatoes and Capers
I've used the "plenty" pun in a title before, but with significantly more disastrous (and less delicious) results. So I wanted to give this one a more positive spin since I really do love this cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi. The capers are not optional. Only use roma tomatoes … [Read more...] about “Plenty” of Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, Tomatoes and Capers
Thai Green Curry Eggplant
I was speaking with someone a few weeks ago about how ridiculous it is to buy curry pastes. I remember when I first got into Thai cooking how impossible it seemed to make your own curry paste. There were so many ingredients and so much oil and it seemed so complicated. And then … [Read more...] about Thai Green Curry Eggplant
Leek Galette with Parsley, Lemon and Toasted Pine Nut Puree
This is my first recipe for Cuisine Soleil, a Quebec gluten-free flour company. Check out this recipe on their website as well as lots more gluten-free ideas. And if you came to my website via theirs, here are the promised photos of making this savoury tart: … [Read more...] about Leek Galette with Parsley, Lemon and Toasted Pine Nut Puree
Back to the New York Times with Gingered Chickpeas
Sometimes I go on a big lentil and bean kick. It mostly happens when I don't have any meat dishes in mind and don't feel like leaving my house. But there's also a comfort food element to the decision. And a budgetary one. When I'm planning to head to a few restaurants in the near … [Read more...] about Back to the New York Times with Gingered Chickpeas
Chicken Curry and Discovering Fresh Fenugreek in Montreal
A friend of mine said he finds fresh fenugreek leaves up by Jean-Talon and Parc Ex in Montreal, where there's a whole host of Southeast Asian grocers and restaurants. There are two much closer to my house in the southwest of the city, but I've never seen fenugreek there. The … [Read more...] about Chicken Curry and Discovering Fresh Fenugreek in Montreal
Salade Nicoise à la Selengut
This is a very telling salad. In the intro to the recipe, author Becky Selengut writes that Salade Nicoise is a dish where cooks show their personality types: "Anal types will place each ingredient in efficient, color-coordinated piles, most likely not touching each other. … [Read more...] about Salade Nicoise à la Selengut