Erin – Page 32 – Big Sis Little Dish

Baby Turnip Fairytale- Turnip and Chicken Tagine with Green Olives and Preserved Lemon

I pride myself on loving strong flavours. I like gamey meat, fishy fish, aged cheese, spice, all things fermented and pickled, bitterness and sourness in my sweetness. So, I really want to love turnips. But I just don’t. I love radishes and parsnips, but I find turnips very difficult to deal with. They are very…turnip…

Strawberry Rhubarb Slump (with gluten-free dumplings)

I have been haunted lately by a vague memory of our Estonian grandmother making stewed fruit (plums I think) with delicious little dumplings and streaks of goat milk. It basically the sweet version of her vegetable soup with goat milk broth and dumplings. I have done a bit of research and I have learned that…

For the Love of Sourness- Rhubarb Chutney

My maternal grandparents lived in a white farm house with a red roof and a veranda that wrapped around two sides. I have a lot of affectionate for the trees and plants that grew directly around that house. These were the plants that my grandma and great grandma has chosen to encircle the house….a…

Inspiration from our Mothers

Happy Mother’s Day! To celebrate I thought that I would share a little index of all of the recipes that we have posted on this blog that came from my Mother (Glenda) and my sister’s mother (Ieva). They are both beautiful, intelligent, strong women (Our father had excellent taste) who like their food healthy and…

Bhel-Poori, without the Poori (gluten-free)

Years ago, a good friend of mine went travelling for many months in India. I had not travelled there yet myself, and when this friend returned he thoughtfully brought me the perfect gift…a story about food. He spun a tale about being served this odd and exciting crunchy, tangy, spicy, fresh salad like thing…

Thai Shrimp Stir-fry with Garlic, Cilantro and Peppercorns

I love the simplicity of this dish. It is based on a seasoning paste that is common in Thai cuisine. Unlike curry pastes, which involve many ingredients, this paste consists just of garlic, peppercorns (preferably white) and cilantro roots. The hardest part of making it is finding a grocer that sells cilantro with the roots…

Naked and Imperfect Nettle and Wild Garlic Dumplings (Gluten-Free), Rocket and Radish Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette

I ate nettles for the first time when were traveling in Bulgaria eight years ago. There they are served sauteed with poached eggs, rolled with farmers cheese in balls studded with walnuts or made into soups and fritters. The food in Bulgaria was really excellent. This may have changed since they joined the European Union,…

Almond, Fennel,Tempeh Burgers topped with Shiitaki and Swiss Cheese (Gluten-free or not)

I am not a lover of veggie burgers. I am a lover of vegetables. I am a lover of meaty burgers. The very idea that vegetables should try to pretend to be meat makes me feel sad, but the reality of a lump of sad pretend meat on my plate makes me even sadder. All…

Flower and Pheasant Egg Salad

My sister Silvi has been visiting me in New York City. Usually when she comes to visit, I work her to exhaustion helping me build puppets for some show or another and then tearfully beg her to extend her trip another month. This is the first time that she has come to see me just…

Curry Chicken Noodle Soup with Pickled Mustard (to sooth seasonal allergies)

I have been suffering from allergies due to our early gorgeous Spring. If you are in the same boat, I suggest making yourself this soup to sooth your scratchy throat. It is loosely based on Khao Soi which is from Chiang Mai in the Northern part of Thailand. Someday I would like to go there….