A World of Flavors

Candied Nuts (Video)

2012-02-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new video series, Kitchen Quickie.First up...nuts:)

Pumpkin Flan

2012-02-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

People either love it or hate it.I am in the middle. I like about one, perhaps two, creamy bite (s) of flan, and no more.I love the way the sugary syrup and the creamy custard melt on my tongue.And how phenomenally easy it is to make. But sometimes I want a little something sturdier to hold it all up. Like a crunchy crust, or even a cake-like crust.(There is something like that called Impossible

Restaurant Week Jan 22-27th

2012-01-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but it takes something special to get me out of the house during the winter. Putting on all those layers, scraping windshields and shoveling sidewalks are pretty good motivators--to stay inside!How about a three course meal for only $25 ($15 for lunch) at some of Madison's favorite restaurants? Yes, it's Madison Restaurant Week, one of Madison Magazine's fun food events.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T13:21:00.001-08:00

Champion Pancakes

2012-01-16T19:43:00.001-08:00

I should preface this by saying that cereal does not count as breakfast in our house. If you were a fly on the wall here the other morning, you would have heard this exchange:Me to the kids, "No, you can't have cereal right now; we're about to eat breakfast." My husband says, "When I was growing up, cereal was breakfast!"I guess that explains things a bit. Growing up, cereal was an after-school

Eggplant Gratin w/ Poached Eggs

2012-01-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

On Christmas day we lost a chicken (Dora, a Rhode Island Red) to a hawk. Our neighborhood hawk saw an opening in the netting that covered the run, and swooped in. We had left for the day, but our neighbor came over later to find Dora's carcass, and a few other very scared chickens, as well as some scattered eggs. Merry Christmas, hawk! I love being able to go outside and collect eggs. I love the

Food Friday-WPR

2012-01-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

Serendipity. I had just written a list of New Year's intentions (I hate resolutions), and was discussing with my husband how I really wanted to bring my cooking, writing, blogging and food tours together to do something really great and fulfilling, when my phone rang. Kalpana, the producer of Here on Earth-Radio Without Borders, was asking if I would like to be a guest on their Food Friday

Looking Forward to 2012

2012-01-05T05:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! It's almost too late to write a New Year's post; people are already breaking their resolutions (you know who you are!) Okay, I am too, I admit. I was going to, make that AM going to, go on a cleanse, but I keep nibbling on chocolate. Chocolate is decidedly not part of my cleanse. Or is it? Anyway, instead of recapping 2011—I don't really want to look back, anyway—I decided that

Blue cheese "cheesecake"

2011-12-28T19:58:00.001-08:00

There are many "lucky" foods to eat on New Year's: Lentils (to bring wealth), fish (abundance), figs (fertility), noodles (long life), pork, and cake (cake always fits a celebration! Check out Megan's AMAZING cakes at Foodalution! I digress.)I think, living in Wisconsin, I would have to add cheese to the list. I mean, when is supporting our dairy farmers not lucky?This small, savory, cheesecake

A New YearBluecheese "cheesecake"

2011-12-28T19:58:00.000-08:00

Warm Winter Salads

2011-12-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

My inspiration and motivation seem to have faded with the daylight. Cooking has become my solace, my place of contentment while I stave off the dark and cold. Even cooking gets passed up sometimes, however, and replaced with downright laziness: reheated leftovers, sitting on the couch watching a movie, or, I admit, totally wasted time online. Well, I did make a wreath, but that's because I'm

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches

2011-11-29T10:34:00.000-08:00

Last night I didn't sleep well. I often have that problem (and see from Facebook that many of my friends do, too!). My thoughts just seems to get going in the wee hours of the morning, and I cannot fall back to sleep. Hard liquor keeps me up, too, though last night neither my thoughts nor alcohol were the culprit—it was food. In a moment of efficiency, I started making bbq beef last night. Ah

Five Great Uses for Apple Cider

2011-11-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

1. Drink it Hot Toddy My favorite is simply warm apple cider with Yahara Bay apple brandy.2. Dress it up Balsamic-Maple-Cider Dressing ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 3 tbsp apple cider 2 tsp mustard 1/3 cup oilve oil 1 tsp maple syrup ½ tsp minced gartlic ¼ tsp salt Mix all ingredients and adjust flavors to your liking. 3. Spice it up Apple-Chile Chutney 2 tbsp butter 4 tart apples, peeled cored and

Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

I love peanut butter and chocolate. And so does my family apparently!I made a batch of these perfect peanut butter cookies yesterday, and we're already running low.I followed the recipe from Smitten Kitchen exactly. They were extra special because I used peanut butter from my our family's farm in Africa. (Yes, it has lasted this long in the fridge.) Smooth, deeply roasted and grown by

Everything is Better with Lard-SlowPig Madison 2011

2011-11-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

“I've cured 13 vegetarians with the power of pork,” said Greg Nadasdy, the bartender from Roots restaurant in Milwaukee, as he stood among the four other mixologists vying for the SlowPig “craft punch” win. Joining them were four chefs, Tory Miller of Graze, Francesco Mangano of Osteria Papavero, Justin Aprahamian of Sanford in Milwaukee, and Paul Zerkel of Roots in Milwaukee, also hoping for the

Black Bottom Key Lime Mousse

2011-10-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've always loved key lime pie, but I have to admit, I don't love making pies.I usually settle for key lime yogurt, but need I say it's just not the same?Well, I discovered something that comes fairly close, and doesn't require much cooking!Key lime mousse.I love mousse--light, fluffy bursts of flavor! I decided to make a "Black bottom" key lime mousse because chocolate makes everything yummier,

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

2011-10-03T10:10:00.001-07:00

My weekend rocked! You know why? I didn't have to cook. I had one of those Fridays where I chopped so many of our CSA veggies, that I had enough for 2 soups. I decided to make a chili with ground beef, and a cheesy potato broccoli soup--with beer. Both turned out fantastic and we ate soup all weekend. Bonus: I realized as I tasted the first bite of the broccoli soup that all of the ingredients

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars w/ Almond Streusel

2011-09-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

I think people are either pumpkin lovers or haters. I am a pumpkin lover. I like it in soup, roasted with veggies in salads, and of course in pies—and bars. And ice cream. And ravioli. And sauteed with apples.You get the picture. I wanted to make a pumpkin pie, but had no time for a crust, so I decided to make pumpkin bars. I started with a recipe from Kittenkal's Kitchen. It features a

Slow Cooker Thursday: Beef Stew

2011-09-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

I've decided that Thursdays should be Slow Cooker Thursdays.That way, when I have to meet my son at 2:45 after school, get my daughter at 5, take my son to soccer at 5:30, pick him up at 6:45 and get to dance class by 7:15, I feel a little less crazy.I even have time to blog about it...Soup's on, folks, help yourself!Basic Beef Stew1 beef roast (I had a Trader Joes tri-tip roast)2 onions3

World of Flavors Food Tours!

2011-09-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

My husband once wisely told me, "If one door shuts, another will open." What a sweetie, trying to help me feel better after some rejection or another (was it an article that didn't get published? a cooking class that didn't fill? or maybe just that the babysitter cancelled?) Well six doors opened last week--doors to some of Madison's best restaurants and cafes. I have been working on developing a

Foodie Weekend Awaits!

2011-09-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Glorious food (and beer, wine and chocolate) abound this weekend! Celebrate the bounty of produce, and our great Wisconsin food (and wine and beer) culture. You will almost forget that fall is around the corner. (no, I didn't say it!). Here are four great ways to celebrate. Know of any others? Farmer's Market/Taste of Madison – Market open around Capitol Square (9/3 only) 6 am – 1 p.m. Taste

Chicken Yassa

2011-08-23T10:06:00.001-07:00

I recently asked my kids what their favorite food was in Mali, West Africa (we traveled there earlier this year). My son said "Meat pockets!"(pictured) Meat pockets? Decidedly un-African, but yes, I agree, when the choices are corn mush with okra sauce, or white rice with one of 4 sauces, fried dough with meat and eggs were so delicious and satisfying! One of my favorite West African dishes

Kale Alterna-slaw

2011-08-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hi, Sorry, I don't have time to blog too much. And why not? 'Cause, it's summer vacation. No, I'm not sitting home eating bonbons getting a tan. Nor am I watching all those movies on my Netflix queue. Nope, it's just that my kids aren't in school. Though I am a former homeschooler, I have to say I love public school. Or any activity that occupies my kids and gives me a little time each day to

Summer Drinks for Everyone!

2011-07-27T17:12:00.001-07:00

During the winter I drink tea. I love sipping on a nice, hot cup of herb tea. Come summer, I usually just go for water, but this summer I have had fun experimenting with some refreshing—and pink—drinks. I started out trying to make a smoothie that I could pass off as “fun” and possibly even “ice cream” to my daughter. Out of my mouth came “Yogi Bear Milkshake.” Out of the blender came a

Sweet Potato and Kale Gratin

2011-07-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

I didn't have much faith in my ability to garden as I scattered seeds into barely thawed soil early this spring. My parents were avid, successful gardeners, and I have gardened most of my life (or tried). Every year however, I feel like my harvest is sheer luck. Some years the squash are prolific, some years they don't even flower. Some years the tomatoes ripen in mass, some years they succumb to

Picnic Time

2011-06-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well, if July 4th isn't upon us already. Wasn't it just cold and rainy? Somehow the weather heated up just in time for a great 4th of July picnic. Sometime back in December when it was cold, I was doing research for an article that just got published in Madison Magazine (yay! my first!). It features recipes from a few of Madison's favorite chefs. I loved all of the recipes that the chefs

Blueberry Crumb Bars

2011-06-22T08:15:00.001-07:00

I admit I have a little competitive side. (I hear some of you saying little?). In all fairness, I am usually competing with myself. I want to be a better dancer, stronger, a better writer, and of course a better chef.When my husband asked me to make something to take to a work meeting I felt the heat. (Although my competition is mostly baked goods from Costco, I hear). It took me only a few

Culinary Tour 2012 - Cooking in the Land of the Gods

2011-06-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

Plan now for your culinary and cultural adventure! Up to $100 off the tour price if you book before June 30, OR book with a friend and receive up to a $300 discount! Ask for details....2012 Culinary Tour to ISLA MUJERES and VALLADOLID, Mexico FEB 11-22, 2012**EARLY BIRD SPECIAL**REGISTER BY JUNE 30th and receive $100 off your trip cost. Register with another person and receive $300 off the total

Lao-Laan Xang's Mobile Fare

2011-06-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

As if all the reasons we already love Lao-Laan Xang weren't enough—the delicious mango sticky rice, the savory curries, and the great atmosphere—there are more. If you need still convincing, just go and eat the food:) Mobile Lunch They have a food cart! I visited their fire-engine-red cart today on UW-Madison's southeast campus, and devoured some mango-pineapple curry with tofu. Sone Inthachith

Malian Seasoned Rice

2011-06-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

Zamé (Malian Seasoned Rice) w/ Piri Piri The first bite of the tomato-infused rice took me back to the year I spent in Mali studying dance. Just as they are here, weddings are huge and joyous occasions in Mali. Shade tarps are set up on the sides of dusty streets, under which families, musicians and friends gather to celebrate. The drumming resonates for miles, seemingly carried on the red dust

Tera's Whey

2011-05-26T12:46:00.001-07:00

You think a smoothie makes you feel good? Try a smoothie using Tera's Whey protein powder. Not only does it pack a nutritional boost, but it's made in a company that does as much good for the world as for your body. For example, Tera's whey comes from small artisanal cheese makers and farmers, using the waste by-product from the cheesemaking process. The “green” facility filters and re-uses the

I Heart Willy Street

2011-05-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

Willy Street is under construction for the summer, all the more reason to stop in at any number of Willy Street's great shops, bakeries, and restaurants. Here are my top 10 foodie picks for Willy Street from East to West. What are yours? Batch Bakehouse – where to begin, where to end? The baguettes and croissants please my Francophile husband, while the dense apple cake makes my Midwestern

Ground Chicken Lasagne w/ Market Spinach

2011-05-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

I refused to turn on the heat the last few weeks, holding out defiantly against the rainy, cold days. I just couldn't bring myself to switch on the thermostat. I didn't even want to wear a coat outside—c'mon, it's May!!! I empathized with the plants, their leaves poking out in hopes of a nice sunny day, but greeted instead by cold rain. So I stayed inside and baked up a pan of lasange instead. I

Teriyaki Chicken Burger

2011-05-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

Where's the beef? When the sun is shining and you have 4 pounds of ground chicken (courtesy of Gold n' Plump) left in your freezer, who needs beef? The secret to a nice juicy chicken burger is adding enough liquid to the mix. I found a combination that I really love. Summer, I'm ready for you! Ingredients:1 pound Gold n' Plump ground chicken1 shallot chopped 1 clove garlic1 egg whisked with ¼ cup

Wonton Success, Parent Fail

2011-04-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

My son celebrated his 9th birthday yesterday, a Tuesday. I asked him if he would like to go out to eat, or would like me to make something special for him. He said, “I'd like you to make something.” I can't tell you how happy that made me. My son often compliments my cooking, but to have him choose me over Chuck E.Cheese's for his special day made my heart sing. I always teach dance class on

Taco...Thursday?

2011-03-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

Around here, any night could be taco night. My latest obsession? Fish tacos.Actually, my latest obsession is the trout I have been buying from Willy Street Coop.It is amazing! I had no idea that trout is in the "salmonoid" family. I simply asked for something good and affordable, which ruled out about 90% of the case. The knowledgeable and friendly fish mongers at Willy Street Coop suggested

Pizza Tuesday

2011-03-29T16:27:00.001-07:00

You know those days when it's dinner time and you realize you have nothing to eat, no food in the fridge, and a hungry family? It happens in our house almost every Tuesday. My husband and I leave to teach dance class shortly after he arrives home from work, and I always seem to head into the dinner hour empty handed and stressed--which is why receiving coupons for free pizza from Home Run Inn

Culinary Tour 2011-A Fabulous Finale

2011-03-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

We arrived back from Valldolid on Wednesday night. Thursday, despite our itinerary which said “Boat trip to Isla Contoy—weather permitting” no one wanted to leave Casa de Las Palmas. Not to mention the weather was not permitting. We hung out by the pool, sat around the large kitchen table, and napped in the hammocks on the big veranda while the storm clouds rolled in. Our afternoon class featured

Ancho-Honey Pork Torta

2011-03-16T13:14:00.001-07:00

I loved the taco and torta (sandwich) stands in Mexico. Most of them open early in the morning, and offer all kinds of fresh grilled meats and toppings. If you are not a morning sandwich eater, this easy torta would work just as well for lunch or dinner (and can be made with chicken, too)!But...one torta can get you through quite a bit of the day. Just sayin'.Ancho-Honey Pork TortaPork with

Culinary Tour: The Yucatan

2011-03-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

Culinary Tour Day 3 and 4: We headed out early on Tuesday morning, aptly named Fat Tuesday, seemingly in recognition of the quantity of food we are ingesting on this tour. We rode the ADO bus from Cancun to Valladolid, a small town in the Yucatan, that was bursting with life—lots of young kids milled about the town square in the soft evening light, flirting with their novios. We skimped on

Culinary Tour: The First Days

2011-03-07T08:02:00.000-08:00

The first two days of the World of Flavors culinary tour have been wonderful, embracing the foods, culture and activities on the island with a spirit of adventure. It's Carnival here, and a few of us have managed to catch the local dance troupes performing on the street as they pile out of their trucks, Flash Mob style. The sequins and lycra shine and shimmer as the dancers shine and shimmy. We

The Art of Communal Eating

2011-03-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

For some of us, managing to sit around a table with friends or family is as close as we will come to communal eating. In much of Africa eating together is an important part of building relationships—and goes well beyond simply sharing a table. In Mali, and many other countries, you eat with your hands, most likely sharing a few germs (builds the immune system). You share stories, laughs and I

Malian Meals

2011-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

I ate well in Africa. Usually I come back from Africa a bit thinner, but not this time. Suffice to say were were very well fed (why did this underline, I have no idea).Breakfasts included deeply fried eggs, fresh French bread and coffee, often accompanied by a warm millet porridge and fried banana fritters. Lunch was always a hot meal of rice (less often corn polenta) and sauce-peanut sauce,

A Slice of Solidarity

2011-02-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the story I just read (see link at end of post). As protests continue in Wisconsin to maintain workers' rights--specifically the right to collectively bargain--someone realized that the protesters might be a bit hungry. So they ordered a pizza from Ian's on State St. to be delivered to the Capitol building where some people have spent 5 days and nights trying to convince Governor

Bowls of Love and Stew

2011-02-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

I remember the disappointment I felt as a kid when I saw my mom rinse the spaghetti sauce jar to get every last drop of sauce out. I longed for thick, sweet, sauce, but what I remember (mom, don't worry, I've gotten over it—and make up for it daily:) is thin sauce that stretched our meals and our family's food dollars. We ate well in Bamako, Mali's capital. Though the food was somewhat

24 Hours in Paris

2011-02-14T13:59:00.000-08:00

It was supposed to be 48, but we missed our flight out of Mali. I can't believe we didn't once check our itinerary to verify our return flight. We anticipated our departure date--Feb 11,2011, we were sure—for days. We packed our bags carefully that last day in Bamako, and said goodbye to our friends. After a quick dinner of salad, bread and stewed, freshly slaughtered sheep, we headed to the

Souper Simple Supper

2010-12-19T19:32:00.001-08:00

Potato-Kale SoupDuring this busy holiday season, I have rediscovered the wonders of soup. It takes so few ingredients to make a great pot of filling soup! Until recently my favorite was a pumpkin soup. Then a friend dropped off a great big bag of home grown fingerling potatoes and I decided to make a Kale-Potato soup with bacon and cheese. This soup has become a favorite in our house, and takes

It Takes a Village to make Peanut Butter

2010-12-15T13:21:00.000-08:00

I still remember the words of the village women I met 10 years ago in Mali. We sat on the mat-covered floor of a round-walled hut talking about their traditional medicines; I was doing research about traditional environmental knowledge and dance (they are related:). A few minutes into the conversation they turned the tables. "Do you have any medicine for exhaustion?" they asked me.I didn't fully

Cupcakes and Gingerbread Houses-Sweets with my Sweets

2010-12-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

I realized, bright and early this morning, that one thing I love about cooking is that I feel like I accomplish something. It's most often gratifying, not to mention meditative.I set to work in the kitchen, mixing, chopping, cooking, and voila, food is made. And it usually tastes good.I don't feel as accomplished in other areas of my life. I am a compulsive multitasker and list-maker. It runs in

Raviolone with Butternut Squash in Butter and Sage

2010-12-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

I am having a hard time focusing on my blog these days. Why? Because one month from today my family and I leave for West Africa! ONE MONTH! We will be there for a little over a month.Traveling to Africa is more than a vacation; it is a journey, a trip, an adventure. This will be my 5th trip to West Africa, the 4th for my hubby, 2nd for our son, and first for our daughter (unless you count her en

Friendship Pho

2010-11-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

The gift-giving season is here. Hard to believe that we have barely eaten our turkey, and all the stores are already decorated with eye-catching tinsel, lights and wrapping. I have my eye on a thing or two, I admit. Mostly frivolous stuff I don't need—another sweater, new boots, some cookware. But with our family's departure to Mali, West Africa nearing, the excess of gifts being advertised,

Dishing with David Tanis: The Heart of a Chef

2010-11-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

What could I possibly have in common with David Tanis, co-chef at Chez Panisse? The chef that Michael Pollan so eloquently praises. “There are many chefs in America more famous than David Tanis,” Pollan says, “but there are few, if any, who are more gifted.” Not much, I was certain. He's a “real” chef. I just cook for my blog, my family and a few cooking classes here and there. Chef Tanis spends

Tatsoi, the Beautiful

2010-11-10T10:34:00.001-08:00

I made a very superficial decision this past week: I bought something purely for its good looks.No, it's not a new pair of shoes (but that's not a bad idea!). Thankfully, it was much cheaper than new shoes.Despite what people say, I think that impulse decisions, if made from the heart, are usually spot on. Not that I condone wild purchasing frenzies, or recommend them. I have regretted a impulse

Happy Birthday Mad-town Meals

2010-11-09T04:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to me,I went out to eat times three, Though I enjoyed the rest (from cooking),I like eating at home best.Thank you to my friends, children and husband for indulging me in some great eats this weekend. I can't believe that I celebrated another year. And no, I'm not 25...again. But I wouldn't want to be. I love my full and blessed life, and all the roads that have led to this place.I

Restaurant Re-creation: Northeast Social's Brown-Butter Shallot Dressing

2010-11-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

I've always thought I'd make a good detective. I remember quite a few yeears back when I tracked down an ex-boyfriend at a hotel in Oklahoma. We were living in Arizona, and he had gone on the road with a bike racing crew. He called me from Oklahoma one night, and left a message telling me simply that he had made it to that city (can't remember which city now). I wanted to call him back (not sure

Apple Cake and Pumpkin Bars

2010-10-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am falling for fall!I made two delicious fall desserts using my two favorite fall fruits--pumpkins and apples. Take your pick.Pumpkin Bread with Maple Cheesecake layerenjoyed these from Chez Us!They fed a very hungry soccer team.Note one substitution. Also, I made this in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. I poured most of the batter in, then swirled the cheesecake right on top, and added the remaining

Apples, Pumpkins and Venison, oh my!

2010-10-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Apple-Venison Chili and Pumpkin Bars with Almond-Graham CrustI have fallen hard for hard cider this year. After having Furthermore's Fallen Apple on tap at the Malt House, it has become one of my favorites. I have never been a big cider fan, but am enjoying it this year as an alternative to white wine. Drummer Man bought me a bottle of organic hard cider recently (dare I tell you that he told me

Love at First Bite-Milwaukee

2010-10-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

My husband, Drummer Man, and I spent a weekend last month in Milwaukee. Without kids.We were there for a very special occasion--our anniversary, and the celebration of our dear friends' wedding. And celebrate we did.I have never spent much time in Milwaukee, even though it is just over an hour from Madison. We stayed downtown, right along the river which is a beautiful part of the city--

Dancing for Love and Shrooms

2010-10-10T06:13:00.000-07:00

I raked in more tips after dancing last weekend than ever before. Hey, not that kind of dancing—it was African Dance! WADOMA had the great privilege of performing at the annual Monroe Street Festival in Madison, WI. And since I don't usually receive tips, two tips—both money and food—was a lot. We had a great time dancing, although I have to say it chalks up to one of the weirdest

POM Wonderful Moose Track Mousse

2010-10-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Looks can be deceiving. Take the dragon fruit, for example, the spiny, magenta fruit that many of my fellow food bloggers such as Megan at Foodalution have been sampling lately. Spiky and dangerous on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside. POM-Lime Mousse is another example. At least the way I made it. I started out with high hopes after the generous people at POM Wonderful sent me a box

Apple-Cajeta Crisp

2010-09-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

Fall seemed to be waiting behind some mysterious curtain, ready to pop out at a moment's notice. That moment was Labor Day weekend. Yep, summer turned to fall during one blustery, rainy evening.So I made caramel. What better way to herald fall than with caramel and fresh apples from the market?I didn't make just any caramel, but homemade cajeta, or goat's milk caramel, a Mexican dessert/sauce

Golden Gazpacho with Red Pepper Sauce and Roasted Corn Salsa

2010-09-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

Alright gazpacho haters, prepare to be converted. But wait, before you read further (and you'll be glad you did), go right now to your nearest farmer's market and buy a few delicious heirloom golden tomatoes. Think big, plump juicy Yellow Brandywine or Yellow

The Haze and Chautara-Two Great Madtown Eats

2010-09-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

I went out to dinner not once, but twice--yep, you heard right--this past weekend. That's a record.It may even have set the record for most dinners out in a 6-month time period. Makes them all the more enjoyable!My husband and I enjoyed a date night at The Haze, one of chef Shinji Muramoto's three Madison restaurants. It is co-owned by Chefs Muramoto, Justin Carlisle and Daniel Almquist and

Tony's Burrito Mex

2010-08-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

I rarely eat out, which is probably why I have become such a cooking fanatic. I want to eat great meals, affordably. That means cooking at home.And I usually don't consider buying lunch at a cheap Mexican restaurant eating out--it's more about getting yummy calories in my hungry stomach. Which is why I didn't give the food at Tony's Burrito Mex, on the corner of Belmont and Damen in (Roscoe

CSA Week 8 - Grilled Mango-Habanero Salsa

2010-08-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing, but not when it comes to grilled and roasted salsas! I love the combination of sweet fruit with hot peppers, and acidic tomatoes; mango is one of my favorite fruits to put in salsa. I know, that's nothing new, but it is so good! Recently, in a moment of infatuation with our

CSA Week 8- Zucchini Filled with Corn, Chiles and Smoked Cheese

2010-08-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a little extra effort can make a huge difference. After grating zucchini for bread, and grilling it with a little salt and olive oil, I decided it needed a bit of dressing up. I went to one of my favorite cookbooks, Fields of Greens by Annie Somerville. So far every recipe I have tried has been simple and delicious, with many surprising flavor combinations. I browsed the index for

Confetti Salsa Fresca

2010-08-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

I love tomatoes. The large wooden bowl in my kitchen holds my garden's bounty; a voluptuous yellow tomato, bold as the sun; smaller Green Zebra tomatoes, a hint of yellow permeating the green striations; Sungold tomatoes, each small berry sending a juicy burst of sweet and tart flavors into my mouth; some kind of red slicer, possibly Brandywine (who cares? It is so good!), its red flesh beckoning

CSA Week 7 - Too Cool Sides

2010-08-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

You can do it. No, I can't. I can hear the argument in my head. I am not one to give up on ideas, but I'm also trying to stay sane.I had a grandious idea of cooking complex meals from different cookbooks each week using veggies from my CSA. But you know what? I failed. Okay, I didn't fail all together, but I barely made two recipes this week.How do you stay-at-home-parents with other ambitions do

Fair Food

2010-07-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

You know those moments where all feels right with the world? I had one of those moments, days actually, at the Kickapoo Country Fair last weekend.My kids played in dirt and sand, my daughter mostly parked on a pile of sand, and my son—who knows? I saw him briefly as he ran through the crowd, chased by and chasing another boy as they played tag, or spies. They played outside all day in the bosom

CSA Week 6 - Pesto Pasta with Green Beans, Walnuts, Sungold Tomatoes and SarVecchio Parmesan

2010-07-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

You might think by the lack of posts for CSA Week 6 that I have not been cooking. Quite the contrary. This week's meals included quiche, brocolli salad, pasta with pesto and veggies, and grilled fish. It's the mess of a garden that has been keeping me away. Sometimes I just walk out to the garden and stand there, unsure

CSA Week 6 - Pickled Onions a la L'Etoile

2010-07-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

This super-easy recipe comes from L'Etoile, one of Madison's finest and awesome-est (is that a word?) restaurants.Pickled Onions (a la L'Etoile)1 cup cider vinegar4 allspice berries2 whole cloves2 Tbs sugar1 large red onion, sliced thinBoil vinegar, spices and sugar in small sauce pan fro 2 minutes. Add onions and return to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool.

Kickapoo Country Fair

2010-07-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

I know there will be good, local food at the Kickapoo Country Fair, but this is an invitation to local foodies to come experience my other passion--African Dance. My group, WADOMA, performs at 3 p.m. July 24. Dance class at 10:30 am!Eat well, dance often.

CSA Week 5-Zucchini Takedown Bread

2010-07-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

It's that time of summer when the zucchini start to proliferate. When my neighbor brought the CSA bag over last week, we both looked at the zucchini and quickly withdrew our arms. “I got one last week,” she said, implying that it was my turn. But this pepo was twice the size of the previous one. I realized that the summer squash were secretly plotting a take over, and they were infiltrating my

CSA Week 5-Gujarati-style Green Beans

2010-07-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

My aunt's fingers deftly measured the spices, fresh grated ginger, fenugreek, cardamon, cumin, black and red pepper. The spices sizzled in the hot oil as she stirred quickly. The fragrance hit my nose, sharp and sweet at once. She added diced vegetables and tomatos, and some liquid, stirring until the curry began to simmer

CSA Week 4-Pickled Onions

2010-07-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

The first time I fell in love with pickled onions was at Rick Bayless' restaurant XOCO. I pretty much fell in love with any food he cooked at that point, too. But honestly, I never thought pickled onions were much good for anything.I first tasted pickled onions as a kid growing up in a family with both Swedish and German ancestry. My dad had a thing for canned and pickled fish, and I do remember

CSA Week 4-Cheesy Chard Pie

2010-07-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

I am way ahead this week. I have been enjoying my “take it easy approach” and have in general made meal time a bit simpler. Just wait Thursday's CSA delivery-I'm ready for you! I know, I still haven't posted my meal from my class last week, but that may have to wait a while, until I am in “all or nothing” mode. That crisp

CSA Week 4-'Try Easy' Pizzas

2010-07-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the phrase “try easier”? It sounds a little floofy, but is packed with wisdom.I had been waiting until after my cooking class last night to post my recipes for Pasilla-Blackbottom Cheesecake with Door County Cherries and Ancho Sauce, and Tamarind-Glazed Pork Shoulder.But guess what? As soon as the class was over, I gobbled down the last of the pork and cheesecake and then

Out to Lunch - Vientiane and El Dorado Grill

2010-07-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

My family rarely eats out. I think we stopped eating out after the birth of our son. Wiping splatters of food off of the top of his nursing head, or shoveling crayons in his direction with one hand while trying to spoon dessert into my mouth with the other, just didn't seem fun. Now our daughter is three, and eating at a restaurant mostly involves breaking up under-the-table kicking matches

CSA Week 2 - Strawberry-Apple Brandy Jam, and Sweet and Sour Chicken

2010-06-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

CSA Week #2Strawberry-Apple Brandy Jam and Sweet and Sour ChickenUh-oh, it's already Sunday of week #3, and I'm just getting around to posting last week's CSA menu. Help!!Starting to feel the pressure of eating all my veggies in creative ways. Radishes, scallions, lettuce, strawberries, spinach arrived last week. I also enjoyed one of the last strawberry picking days at JenEhr farm, and added

A Stew for You, Dad.

2010-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

My dad was a real meat and potatoes guy. He grew up on a hog farm (I would have called it a pig farm, but he grew up in Maryland, where pigs are hogs). He never was able to abandon those roots, though he made some attempts as he encountered health problems in his older age. He even went so far as to try some very strict diet

CSA Week 1 - Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

2010-06-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

Strawberry-Rhubarb CrispTopping1 cup unbleached white flour¼ cup sugar¼ cup brown sugar¼ tsp salt½ tsp cinnamon¼ tsp nutmeg and allspice¼ pound unsalted butter¼ cup pecansPulse ingredients together in food processor and set aside.Filling2-3 large rhubarb stalks, washed and diced1 pint strawberries, washed and quartered2-3 tbsp sugargrand marnier (optional)Orange Whipping Cream (my addition)1 pint

CSA Week 1 - Grilled Potato Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette

2010-06-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Grilled Potato Salad with Chipotle Vinaigrette Ingredients 2 lbs new potatoes olive oil 1 red bell pepper 3 garlic scapes ½ red onion olive oil 1 clove garlic large bunch of mixed greens (I used mizuna, black seeded simpson and green leaf lettuce), washed and torn into pieces. 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped To Make: Preheat oven to

CSA Week 1 - Canneloni with Spinach, Goat Cheese, Walnuts and Roasted Garlic

2010-06-16T20:40:00.000-07:00

Canneloni (I made Manicotti) with Spinach, Goat Cheese, Walnuts and Roasted Garlic She has recipe for tomato garlic sauce in book, but I just used a canned sauce. Ingredients for filling olive oil 1 container ricotta 1 egg 2 oz goat cheese 2 oz fresh parmesan, grated 3-4 garlic scapes (original recipe calls for garlic

CSA Week 1- Butter Lettuce Salad with Radicchio, Grapefruit, Avocado, Pecans and Grapefruit Vinaigrette

2010-06-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Salad ½ head butter lettuce, washed and torn into pieces 1 small head radicchio washed and separated. 1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled, and sectioned 1 avocado diced ¼ cup pecans toasted Grapefruit Vinaigrette Vinaigrette 2 tbsp grapefruit juice 1 tbsp champagne vinegar ¼ tso salt 1 shallot finely diced 2 ½ tbsp olive oil 1.Toss salad ingredients together, being careful not to mush avocado. 2.

CSA Menu - Week 1

2010-06-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

CSA Week 1I reached in the cloth bag, pulling out a robust head of butter lettuce. The pale green leaves were layered perfectly in a rosette, like a green rose on steroids. Simultaneously the twisting stalks of garlic scapes entwined around my wrist like Medusa's hair, curling every which way, topped with a knotted pale green bud. I quickly subdued the scapes in the fridge drawer, and reached for

Weekly CSA Menu Challenge

2010-06-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

I do like challenges, and here's my latest! After my second week CSA share arrived and I realized that I still had much of my first bunch of veggies left from the previous week, I knew that I needed a strategy. I decided that I would plan a menu after my CSA pick up each week, trying recipes from various cookbooks that I have

Caribbean Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Orange-Ginger Dip

2010-06-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

My other life, aside from raising 2 kids (and blogging/cooking), is dancing. I am an African dancer. No, I'm not African, but I teach and perform African dance. When people ask me why I do African dance, I ask them if I looked like I was having fun. In fact, usually my face hurts from smiling while performing. I love it!I took my first African dance class in high school, and that was that. I

Ants and Rats - Tropical Delicacies

2010-05-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

The heat has finally set in. Yes, I'm sure it's here to stay. You know how I know? The ants. Little sugar ants have started crawling across the kitchen counter. It reminds me of something...oh, the Berenstain Bears "A" book. "Ants. Ants advance. Ants advance across all Arizona and Otehlia's kitchen."Today my husband threatened poison."They get in my sandwiches," he said."What?" I cried. "

Ginger-Lime Platanos Maduros with Coconut-Curry Dipping Sauce

2010-05-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Ginger-Lime Platanos Maduros with Coconut-Curry Dipping SauceCredit to Greta! Thanks for cooking up a storm with me!Ginger Lime Plantains2-3 ripe plantains (we tried sweet potatoes, too, but I didn't like them as much)4 tbsp lemon or lime juice4 tsp fresh ground ginger1/2 tsp allspice1/2 tsp ground hot pepper (or to taste)2-4 tbsp palm oil1/2 cup or more canola oilMix lemon juice, ginger,

Cooking up a (Tropical) Storm: Tamarind Glazed Chicken in Masa Crepes with Goat Cheese and Pineapple Salsa

2010-05-21T12:28:00.000-07:00

I rarely cook with friends. It seems that my days and weeks revolve around shopping, cooking and chopping somewhat frantically, just trying to get a nutritious meal on the table.Except for the occasional helping hand from my husband or kids, I usually do it solo. I can't imagine that watching me run back and forth from the computer to the stove as I throw together a must-have Pad Thai, and

LaraBar- A Short Story of Love and Betrayal (and a giveaway)

2010-05-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

I recently received not one, but two boxes of LaraBars--free! I was feeling so excited because I had sampled, and loved, the bars and was (notice past tense?) going to blog rave reviews about them. I wrote to the company and told them how much I loved the bars. They sent me a first sample.They must have known that I needed more incentive to complete the post, but not even two free handouts can

Spinach, Strawberry and Goat Cheese salad with Microgreens and Balsamic Vinaigrette

2010-05-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

I think I blinked and missed the transition from winter to spring. Or maybe it's that I'm getting older and everything seems to move faster. All of the sudden once-tiny plants are knee-high. They have erupted into bloom, with shouts of purple, red and orange heralding each day, and verdant greens and sunkissed yellows signing off each night.Wasn't it just winter? Wasn't I just checking each

Pancake Perfection

2010-04-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Don't mess with perfection, right? But something always compels me to try.Pancakes are one of those foods that are delicious in their simplicity. Perfect rounds of fluffy cakes, spongy and adaptable to myriad toppings.And, after playing around with various additions, I have hit upon the perfect pancake recipe, even if I say so myself. I started with the basic recipe I gleaned from Deborah

Date Day Dinner: Lemon-Olive Chicken and Red Rice

2010-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

My husband used to cook. He remembers his yassa poulet, a Senegalese dish with chicken cooked in an onion and mustard sauce with olives. I remember the tater tots. Regardless, he used to cook. Since we moved in together, I have been the primary cook. Most days I love it. I love putting together flavors and foods, and feel so good when I can feed delicious healthy meal to my family.But

I be jammin'

2010-04-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Homesteader Wanna-be JamI must admit that I fancy myself an urban homesteader of sorts. I have a small backyard garden where I grow lettuce, greens, garlic, tomatoes, tomatillos, and lots of other veggies that the rabbits enjoy more than we do. Last year I preserved some of the harvest by canning and freezing the produce; I made a delicious salsa verde, roasted and froze peppers and

Puff Pastry Chorizo "Empanadas" w/ Baby Spinach

2010-04-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

Why do my kids love anything that I put in puff pastry? Oh, right. It's full of butter.My latest puff pastry recipe is a delicious mix of chorizo, potatoes and spices, stuffed in puff pastry with cream cheese and spinach, and served with an easy grilled Tomatillo Salsa Verde.Not only are my kids hooked, but it's fine enough to serve to adults. Oh yeah, these flaky buttery and slightly spicy "

2011 Culinary Tour to Isla Mujeres, Mexico

2010-04-07T19:09:00.001-07:00

World of Flavors Culinary Tour-Isla Mujeres, MexicoMARCH 5-12, 2011Join Otehlia Cassidy, a food-lover, cooking instructor and freelance food writer from Madison, WI, on her annual culinary tour to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. This spectacular 7-day culinary adventure will allow you to bring the rich cultural and culinary heritage of Mexico to your own kitchen through hands-on classes,

Vanilla Cake w/ Orange-Mascarpone Crema and Raspberry-Chipotle Sauce

2010-03-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you probably know that I like to complicate things. Just ask my husband. I juggle two kids' schedules, and my own three or four freelance jobs. If something seems too easy, I tend to make it more complicated than it needs to be.Just take my recent development of this dessert idea: Vanilla Cake with Orange-Mascarpone Crema and Raspberry-Chipotle Sauce.It started out so easy. I

(Edible) Healing Salve

2010-03-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

I am a firm believer that we are what we eat. Day-to-day I feel much better, cleaner and more energetic if I eat healthy food that is grown as naturally as possible.I also believe that we are what we wear.I'm not talking about clothes, necessarily (though I do have a friend who develops rashes if she wears new, unwashed clothes--yuck!). I'm talking about body care products, like lotions. There is

Root Vegetable "Smashies"

2010-02-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Root Vegetable "Smashies"I found my new love. It reminds me a bit of those "bad boy" relationships from my distant past. You know the ones, right? Those love affairs where you obsess about someone, but know that if you see too much of each other it will most likely end badly. My new "bad boy"? Puff pastry.The idea came to me after I saw mashed potato and cheese turnovers in the deli case at our