Category Archives: California Fusion

Karl’s Savory No Salt Beef Stew

In truth, there is no such thing as truly no-salt cooking, many vegetables contain just a bit of salt all on their own. This stew is just as low salt as I can make it. Jan is visiting her sick brother this weekend. She decided to bring him some frozen home cooked meals as a mitzvah. He has recently been put on a super low salt diet. Many of the ways I would usually use to boost the flavor of a stew were right out—no soy sauce, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce, even commercial tomato paste—all have large amounts of salt.

Karl’s Savory No Salt Beef Stew

Karl’s Savory No Salt Beef Stew

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Filed under Beef, California Fusion, Main Dishes, Stews

Karl’s Leftovers: Venezuelan Pernil Summer Rolls (Pulled Pork)

Sunday, we had Venezuelan pernil arepas and South American slaw for dinner.  The question is what do I do with the leftover pork, cabbage salad, and tomato slices for a weekday meal? If I was just by myself, I would go for mixing the meat and tomatoes into a savory rice dish—something that Jan would instantly describe as “too heavy!”

Karl’s Leftovers: Venezuelan Pernil Summer Rolls (Pulled Pork)

Karl’s Leftovers: Venezuelan Pernil Summer Rolls
(Pulled Pork)

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Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Pork, Salads

Karl’s South American Slaw

A while ago, Jan went to Napa and came back raving about Pica Pica’s arepas. She demanded that I learn how to make these South American pocket breads. I did my best, based only on her description and what I could find on the internet. Last week, we went up to San Francisco and I actually got to try one of Pica Pica’s arepas. I decided to try to make them again.

Karl’s South American Slaw

Karl’s South American Slaw

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Filed under California Fusion, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Karl’s Anniversary Cioppino

Saturday was our 33rd anniversary. We are having the celebration on Sunday, so the kids can join us. We agreed on having cioppino.

Karl’s Anniversary Cioppino

Karl’s Anniversary Cioppino

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Filed under California Fusion, Fish, Main Dishes, Seafood, Shrimp, Soups

Karl’s Leftovers: Salmon Salad with Raspberry Radish Slaw

This Sunday we had a complex soup, cioppino,  that would take up most of my attention. I did not want to have just a plain greens salad, but it needed to be simple. Fortunately, yesterday was Jan and my 33rd anniversary and I had made salmon wraps for dinner.

Karl’s Leftovers: Salmon Salad with Raspberry Radish Slaw

Karl’s Leftovers:
Salmon Salad with Raspberry Radish Slaw

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Filed under California Fusion, Fish, Green Vegetables, Salads, Vegetables

Karl’s Salmon Lettuce Wraps with Raspberry Radish Slaw

Jan has been working 70-80 hour weeks lately—if only she would get paid for some of that overtime. It is hardly surprising that she has ended up working on our anniversary. Today is Jan and my 33rd anniversary. We are having the major celebration with cioppino tomorrow with the kids, but there is still tonight’s dinner to make special.

Karl’s Salmon Lettuce Wraps with Raspberry Radish Slaw

Karl’s Salmon Lettuce Wraps
with Raspberry Radish Slaw

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Filed under Broiling, California Fusion, Fish, Main Dishes, Salads, Seafood

Karl’s al Pastor Taco Salad with Hot-Pan Salsa

I had bought meat to make tacos al pastor for dinner, but Jan said wanted something lighter—code word “salad.” A few weeks ago, I made a chicken taco salad that was a raging success, a dish sure to become a regular family meal. However, it doesn’t always have to be exactly the same, I thought about trying that as an al pastor taco salad.

Karl’s al Pastor Taco Salad with Hot-Pan Salsa

Karl’s al Pastor Taco Salad
with Hot-Pan Salsa

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Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Pork, Salads, Vegetables

Karl’s Mushroom and Barley Soup

Jan really liked the last mushroom soup I made. She asked for a soup just for the two of us, Eilene—who hates mushrooms—was off on an overnight. Reworking that recipe actually improved it quite a bit.

Karl's Mushroom and Barley Soup

Karl’s Mushroom and Barley Soup

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Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vegetarian MD

Karl’s Szechuan Pepper Shrimp and Arugula Salad

The mushroom hater is on an overnight at a friend’s house, so Jan asked for a mushroom dish. She really liked the last one I did, so I thought I would do a variation. Soup calls for salad and crackers.

Karl’s Szechuan Pepper Shrimp and Arugula Salad

Karl’s Szechuan Pepper Shrimp and Arugula Salad

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Filed under California Fusion, Salads, Seafood, Shrimp, Side Dishes, Vegetables

Karl’s Sichuan Pepper Crackers

It is just Jan and me for a Saturday night. Eilene is off at a party, so Jan asked for something with mushrooms, like mushroom soup—something Eilene does not like. Soup calls for a salad and crackers.

Karl’s Sichuan Pepper Crackers

Karl’s Sichuan Pepper Crackers

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Filed under bread, California Fusion, Side Dishes, Vegetarian