Roasted Potato Salad with Garlic and Rosemary

I went through a period during college and for years after when I made this salad a lot.  I  had not made it in years, but thought to include it in the menu for our wedding picnic because  it does well sitting out a room temperature and it uses fairly inexpensive ingredients that were in season….

Mona’s Bean Salad

I have kept a recipe note book since I was in the 6th grade.  Before that there are a few random recipes in earlier diaries…but I started keeping a dedicated notebook in when I was 12  (the same year that my little sis was born). I used that note book until I was half way…

How to Roast Asparagus in Under 10 minutes

You know,  I am pretty sure that I had never tasted or even heard of asparagus until I came to the east coast to go to college.  When I did finally try it, I found it delicious but entirely unaffordable.  I find good prices on asparagus all the time now, which makes me very happy!…

Experimental Economical Vegetable Stock

I have really gotten into making vegetable stock using this new method. It is the most economical thing you can make if you cook with vegetables and enjoy soup. The trick is this: you save the discard bits of the vegetables you chop up and use in other dishes. These can be saved over time…

Improvise Stir Fry!

You know, everyone who I consider my tribe here in Vancouver–and I’m talkin’ my extended circle of friends and acquaintances–make stir fries. It’s my regional cuisine, and it’s a way of life. Why is this? The deep-rooted Chinese influence on the city? The chronically lingering hippy culture? Maybe it’s the fact that stir fries are…

Slow Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

I know that tomatoes are no good in New York at this time of year.  I know this.  But I sometimes order my groceries from a delivery service that gives “Good right now!” recommendations on their website.  They said that their beefsteak tomatoes were “good right now!” and I foolishly believed them.  I also saw…

Green Bread & Green Soup!

Erin got me the book “Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking” for Christmas this year, and this interesting bread is the first recipe that I’ve made out of it. It is called Hara Paratha, Collard/Kale Bread. It’s a fried bread that is similar to roti in consistency. It has a spicy flavour and, of course,…

Rima’s Indian Inspired Green Beans

This recipe is from the lovely and talented Rima Fand.   I served them recently with the goose braised in port, but they would be very good in any menu.  They are simple, easy and totally yummy! RIMA’S INDIAN INSPIRED GREEN BEANS   some mild oil  (about 2 Tablespoons) cumin seeds (about 2 teaspoons) black…

Pressure Steamed Vegetables with Ume Plum Vinegar

When I was growing up on Maui I liked the food article in the Maui News by Bonnie Mandoe.  I remember clipping out and trying her recipes for potato pancakes and a delicious chicken stir fry with peppers, green olives and fresh Maui fruit.  She moved to the mainland when I was in high-school and published…

Groundnut and Greens Palaver with Black-Eyes

It’s the first day of autumn here on the west coast, and it’s raining, it’s cold, and I’m sick & busy. I froze some of this soup last spring during a more leisurely spell, and ingesting it is improving the quality of my life manifold. This stew is hot, rich, spicy, and packed with everything…