Spinach Soup

This spinach soup is probably not what first comes to mind when you hear “spinach soup”. It’s not creamed or blended – it’s broth-based. But it’s what I thought of as spinach soup when I was growing up. I loved it whenever my mom made it. So when I got old enough to start paying…

Preserved Lemon Chicken and Leeks

I was feeling pretty good about cooking with preserved lemon after successfully making a Moroccan Lemon Chicken. That seems to be the predominant way that people use preserved lemons, but I still had a lot of preserved lemons left and wanted to find other ways to cook with them. My mom mentioned that she’d had…

Moroccan Lemon Chicken

A friend of mine gave me a jar of homemade preserved lemons. I was super excited because I love homemade food stuffs… and then I realized I didn’t know what to do with them. So I asked around and was given several versions of what is apparently a traditional Moroccan Lemon Chicken dish. Using those…

Butternut Squash Pasta

After avoiding going grocery shopping for far too long, in hungry desperation I threw this dish together using the remains of the food I had left in the house. My boyfriend declared it one of best meals he’s ever eaten, saying it tasted like a perfect autumn day. It has since become a regular part…

Fun See

This is a really simple dish made of bean thread noodles that my family ate a ton when I was growing up, probably because it is so quick to make using ingredients we usually had in the house. Guessipe 1 package (10.5 oz) bean thread noodles 2 eggs oil for stir-frying 1 TBSP soy sauce…

Canton Noodles

Canton noodles are dried Chinese noodles that are great to keep in the pantry for when you need to throw a meal together quickly – they don’t even require boiling separately. And you can use up whatever vegetables you have (I make some suggestions below). Guessipe Olive oil for sautéing 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs,…

Panang Curry

Panang curry is my favorite Thai curry. Panang curry paste has peanuts blended into it so that it has a nuttiness that mellows the spiciness a little. Combined with some coconut milk and sugar, it is a salty sweet treat that’s perfect over a bowl of rice. You can put whatever meats and vegetables you…

Japanese Curry

When I was in Japan I had some fantastic curry, and was surprised to learn that many people use packaged Japanese curry roux (Golden, Vermont, and Java are a few popular brands), which they dress up with other ingredients to give the curry a rich, deep flavor. It’s so good! Usually Japanese curry has potatoes…

Creamy Corn Fish

There was a homestyle Cantonese restaurant my family used to go to, where my favorite dish was fried fish smothered in a creamy corn sauce. When I moved away, I missed this dish so much I decided to recreate it. Guessipe 1 lb light white fish filets, cut into 2-inch pieces 1 tsp salt 1…

Split Pea Soup

During this time of year, the holiday ham inevitably makes an appearance. While chowing down on sliced ham has never been my thing, ham is pretty wonderful for making a hearty, warming pot of split pea soup. If you have the ham hock, throw that in too, as it will add great flavor. Otherwise, just…

Curry Chicken Rice Salad

My mom makes this dish, and there’s something about it that’s so comforting. It’s also great because it’s a whole meal in one – grain, meat, and veg. So it’s great for scooping yourself a giant bowl and just going to town. Guessipe 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups…

Quinoa Tabbouleh

This was inspired by the tabbouleh I’ve had at Middle Eastern restaurants, but with quinoa instead of bulgur. It’s got a clean, fresh feel with lots of crunch from the cucumbers and just a touch of sweetness coming through the acidity of the lemon juice and tomatoes, but it also feels hearty. Since it has…