Hi, how’re y’all doing today? I am doing just fine because I am sharing my authentic southern shrimp and grits recipe today. Yes, I know, I am Hispanic, what do I know about authentic shrimp and grits? Well, I do know a thing or two. And, since I can’t head south for the real thing…
Main Dishes
This section offers a wide array of dishes, some not overly healthy. They one thing they all have in common, is that for the most part they are easy to make and very tasty.
Moroccan Chickpea and Lentil Soup (Harira)
Are you looking for a hearty vegetarian soup that will put “meat” on your bones? Then this Moroccan chickpea and lentil soup (Harira) is just for you. This hearty and easy to make soup is perfect for the cold winter days we are having here in the north. Although I have never made it…
Vietnamese Coconut Braised Pork – Thįt Kho Tàu
Xin Chao! That’s Vietnamese for hello, and today I have another tasty recipe full of piggy goodness. I learned to make Vietnamese coconut braised pork (Thit Kho Tau) from Thanh (Tang), my daughter’s Vietnamese friend. My family and I met Thanh in Hanoi, Vietnam last December when we traveled to visit my daughter who works there…
Black Bean Burgers with Spicy Pico de Gallo
Veggie burgers are the rage! People are making these delicious bites from anything and everything. My take on these healthy gems? Black Beans!! Latin style black bean burgers with spicy pico de gallo, to be more precise. Being Latin American, I grew up eating black beans. I will be honest with you and tell you…
Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad: Pho Tron
A few nights ago my husband and I were Skyping with my daughter Erika’s Vietnamese friend, Thanh. I’ve mentioned her before in some of my posts. She is the one who does the AMAZING street food tours in Hanoi. Well, we discussed various things, among them FOOD, of course! She told us “You guys need…
Korean Barbecue Pork Chops
Korean barbecue pork chops have a sweet and spicy taste that will make your taste buds burst into song. They go with just about anything: picnic favorites, jasmine rice, delicious salad greens, you name it! I’ve been reading up on food trends lately, and have found that Korean barbecue ranks very high. The seasonings…
Turkish Chickpea Burgers
Anything that takes 5 minutes to prepare, and is delicious has my name all over it. For all my vegetarian friends, this Turkish chickpea”burger” recipe is for you! These are so full of flavor you wont even have to ask: “Where’s the beef”? because frankly, you won’t miss it. These babies are packed with protein,…
Coffee Jerk Pork Chops
Coffee Jerk Pork Pork Chops! Aah, the thrill of the grill!!! Yes, the grilling season has FINALLY arrived after a long frigid winter. I will have to send my husband to the garage to remove the winter cobwebs from our beloved grill. Living in the frozen north we crave the summer season when we…
Spicy Mango Habanero Ribs
Here is my step by step method to make delicious, tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs and no smoker is required. You oven bake them and finish them on the grill. Sometimes I crave ribs that are not all that smokey and have some real spicy heat. The final grill step gives them just enough char. Read on!…
Bun Cha: Vietnamese Pork Meatballs
While visiting Hanoi I was introduced to bun cha: Vietnamese Pork Meatballs. It was a life changing experience. Really, it was. During the Christmas holiday in 2017 my family and I took a trip to Vietnam. My daughter is an English teacher there. On one of our first days she booked us a street…
Marvelous Memorial Day Recipes
Yikes, picnic season is here without any warning other than the calendar telling us it’s here. To make your life easier, I’ve come up with some marvelous Memorial Day recipes. They’re really good for any picnic that lies in your future. As always, there’s something for everyone. Let’s start with dessert, why not? I…
Moroccan Inspired Beef Kebabs
Picture a warm summer day with kebabs on the grill… I visited a Turkish restaurant in Cleveland, OH. After that, I was inspired! The seasonings were so delicious. Moroccan food is so full of flavor, and so diverse. Moroccan food got its flavors from the spice trade This diversity comes as no surprise given Morocco’s…
Slow Cooker Smoky Chicken Tinga
Hola everybody! You all know that Mexican food is among my favorite cuisines because it’s so flavorful and easy to make. Today’s pick: slow cooker smoky chicken tinga. It’s similar to “pulled chicken, but ” a la Mexican style. Read on! This dish is EXTREMELY versatile. For instance, you can use it to make tacos, tostadas, or even…
10 Easy Easter Recipes
Holy cow! St. Patricks’s day came and went and Easter’s right on top of us. I hope these 10 easy Easter recipes give you some good ideas for your family’s upcoming Easter dinner. I decided to split things evenly: five desserts and five main dishes. There’s something for everyone in this roundup. Every single one of…
Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Apricots
A few years ago, at the university where I work, we had a Moroccan Fullbright student who taught my husband and I how to make a chicken tagine. I was mesmerized by the cooking process, and the results: a delightful flavor, the aroma of my kitchen, and a very tender meat. Ever since, I wanted…
