One doesn’t usually associate pineapple with soup, but in southern Vietnam, Canh Chua is a popular soup that incorporates fish or shrimp. I associate it with winding bus trips down the mountains through the towns on the way to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). It’s been more than a decade since I’ve had it, but with the healthy recipe challenge to use pineapple and greens, I … Continue reading Vietnamese Shrimp and Pineapple Sour Soup
For enticing comfort food with a Middle Eastern twist, look no further. Topped with a rich layer of hummus, this casserole features layers of meat, tomatoes, and roasted eggplant beneath. I had to pass up many a casserole during the years I could not eat dairy. But the craving for warm comfort food remained strong. So I found ways to work around my limitations, and we enjoyed breakfast casseroles and this dairy-free … Continue reading Sinaya Casserole with Eggplant and Hummus
Shallot-infused olive oil and Middle Eastern spices impart sophistication to this savory salad. The ingredients come together in under ten minutes for a healthy side dish or portable lunch entrée.One evening I discovered too late that we were out of lemons. But I was still set on having chickpea salad with supper. Enter za’atar, distinctive because of the lemony herb sumac, plus a tangy plum tomato. The result was a harmonious medley of taste … Continue reading 7-Minute Chickpea Salad with Shallots & Za’atar
This colorful Mexican-spiced frittata boasts bell peppers, onions, black beans, and tomatoes in a unique golden crust made from millet. Cinco de Mayo was not something I celebrated until I joined my high school’s Spanish club. Long before that, however, my eating out included heaps of Tex-Mex food. Take a look at this map: Each State’s Distinctive Most Cuisine. Oklahoma, where I grew up, ranks … Continue reading Mexican Frittata with Millet Crust
Taste the flavours of Tuscan cooking with a minimum of fuss. You can blend, heat, and serve this hearty Italian-style tomato soup in 10 minutes or less. From my mother I inherited a penchant for soups. She is a soup artisan, crafting homemade soups like Pasta y Fagioli on a regular basis. Her friends are often the ones who benefit from the big batches she cooks. We tasted … Continue reading 10-Minute Tomato and White Bean Soup
Swirls and Spice 