This dish has become my “go to” dish for potlucks (as in “We’re having a potluck. Karl’s going to bring his Sichuan Noodles, isn’t he?) This is one of the dishes that I included in my niece’s wedding recipe book. Many members of both families provided their best recipes to start off Katie’s married life with good food.
Karl’s Cold Sichuan Noodles, California Style
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegan, Vegetables
Adapted from Joy of Cooking
When Jan had her gall bladder removed while we were in China (a long and scary story), one of the results was that she was not able to digest fat normally. Too much fat in a meal would leave her feeling sick for the rest of the day or give her a very bad night. It has gotten better over the last 25 years, but I still cook with much less fat or oil than the normal American diet.
Karl’s Fat Free Banana Bread (and a higher fat option)
Filed under bread, Side Dishes
Miriam is having a house warming/birthday party this weekend. She asked me to bring a cold soup for the event. However, she does not want any red soups, like gazpacho, because she now has a white carpet. I could do vichyssoise, but that would be too common. I thought about a cold white bean soup, but Chris is on a low carb diet right now. I looked on-line, and nothing I saw really spoke to me.
Karl’s Cold Cauliflower and Arugula Soup
Filed under Main Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian MD
I wanted to make a second cold hors d’oeuvre for Myr’s party. My idea was to make a Spanish tapas that I vaguely remembered from glancing at it in a book many years ago. However, when I looked on-line and in my cookbook on tapas, I could not find anything that was even remotely like what I was thinking about. So, I should let that stop me?
Karl’s Potato Tapas
Filed under Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables
For the kid’s party I am also planing making a hot hors d’oeuvre, stuffed mushrooms. The kids really like mushrooms, so I am constantly trying new ways to make them. This is a variation of one that I started making about a year ago. Jan does not like bacon (a childhood trauma), but this is for a crowd. I am going to use the bacon instead of butter. I will also be making a double batch.
Karl’s Scallop Stuffed Mushrooms
Filed under Side Dishes, Vegetables
Shashlik is really just the Central Asian name for a kabob, something on a skewer. In Kashgar, at least on the street, this is almost always lamb coated in a cumin based spice blend. Lamb is cut into small (3/8 inch) cubes and skewered with bits of lamb fat. The stick is dipped into a tray of the spice blend and then grilled over hot coals. While the kabab is on the grill, the seller uses a fan to boost the heat of the coals and picks up some of the sticks to baste the skewers still on the grill with the rendering lamb fat dripping from them. If you like the crispy crust of grilled lamb you will be mad about these.
Shashlik is usually eaten with naan. For this meal, I am also making a carrot salad, a tomato and cucumber salad, pickled cauliflower, and fruit skewers to go with the bread and lamb.
Karl’s Uyghur Shashlik
Filed under Lamb, Main Dishes, Sauces and Spices
Naan (nan, non, n’n, neng) means bread and usually refers to leavened flat bread. There is a wide assortment of breads that go by that name. Some are small (Afgan), some are snowshoe shaped (Indian) and some are not even very flat at all (Tajik). In Xinjiang, the naan are big, round and flat in the middle. This bread was the most available, the safest thing to eat on the street and also the tastiest. We ate this bread every day while we were traveling through Xinjiang.
Karl’s Uyghur Naan
Filed under bread, Side Dishes
For Mother’s Day, Jan has requested Uyghur Shashlik and Naan for dinner. Normally, if I was making these dishes, I would make a tomato and cucumber salad as the side dish. For me this has gotten to be a bit boring and predictable. I want to do something else.
Karl’s Uyghur Carrot Salad
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables
I don’t recall seeing cauliflower for sale in the Kashgar Sunday Market, but I want to do something different than the same old pickled cucumbers.
Karl’s Hot Pickled Cauliflower and Red Peppers
Filed under Pickles, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables
When I make shashlik and naan I always make this salad to go with it.
Karl’s Central Asian Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables
karllueck
Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 
