A traditional dish from the north of Africa and Middle East reinvented. A meal in a dish and another option for a packed lunch as it can be served warm or at room temperature.
Cumin and coriander immediately bring the flavor of the Middle East to your kitchen and chickpeas are typical of their cuisine. The idea of adding celery and mushrooms came from one of these recipes cards that you pick up in supermarkets and grocery stores. The original recipe card was lost a long time ago, but this version of their recipe has been a success many times.
A typical country bean soup. We have found versions of this classic soup in each country we visited. Our favorite is the traditional soup prepared in Galicia, Spain, with their local ham (lacon), green vegetables (grelos) and potatoes (cachelos), ask for "Caldo Gallego" or "Pote Gallego" if you visit the region.
To prepare a simple boiled rice all you need is a medium-sized saucepan with a well fitting lid, a sieve, a fork, a teaspoon, and measuring cups. White rice is usually clean and does not need washing to remove dust or husk bits like brown rice does. This extra step rinses off excess starch and ensures that the cooked rice is not sticky.
The golden rule to cook rice is not to stir the rice once boiling. A second rule is to keep the lid or temperature will drop and the rice will clump. Stick to the first rule and ignore the second, a quick peek will not harm the cooking rice, and, how can you correct mistakes otherwise?
This is a family favorite. It is really easy to cook. We have included additional tips and explanations because rice is one of the techniques that distinguish a master from a common cook. Results vary with the type of rice, water, pan, and the personality of your stove, and we wanted to cover every eventuality.
There are many fine chocolate ice creams available at specialty stores and elsewhere today. But nothing compares to the thrill and great taste of making your own.
In Austria and other parts of Europe, a torte is simply a multi-layered cake. But far from just a difference of definition, a chocolate torte is a delightful alternative to a traditional American dish.
American cakes are light, sturdy and rise in the middle. A chocolate torte will be heavier and, after cooling off, actually sink in the middle. While this might be considered a cooking failure in other circumstances, here it signals a dessert done to perfection.
Ajo blanco comes from Malaga and it is one of the many gazpacho soups found in Spain. If you feel you would like to try preparing it in the traditional way, do everything in the same order, but use mortar and pestle. Put the paste in a big bowl before adding water. This cold soup is a natural source of E vitamin from the olive oil and almonds.
Baked potatoes are easy to prepare. They make an incredibly varied dish because the fillings and toppings for baked potatoes have the same limits as your imagination. Some of them really flavorful and nourishing enough to make a light meal out of a baked potato. Potatoes baked in a conventional oven taste much better and you can almost set and forget until the cooking time is finished. But microwaved potatoes will do nicely when you are pressed for time or you are just preparing one or two and don't want to bother with the oven.
Do you need to an spectacular dessert for unexpected entertaining? Try this one. Although we prefer to cook from scratch than using packages, well, sometimes you must. We have not been able to get similar texture and flavorful results other way without spending too long in the kitchen. Once in a while is not going to kill you and you have an astounding dessert to serve your guests.
High in acid, low in sugar, and wit a fluffy texture, Bramleys are extremely popular cooking apples. They keep some tang and tend to melt in the mouth when cooked.
Bramley apples are a great choice for apple pies and tarts or great in an apple crisp mixed with berries; serve them simply stewed ith custard or pureed and sweetened in an apple sauce to accompany roast pork... or filled with dried fruit and nuts and baked with honey, as in this irresistible recipe.
