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 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.
Karl’s Venezuelan Pernil Arapas
Filed under Main Dishes, Pork
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
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Pork, Salads, Vegetables
Jan is going to another pot luck organized by NUMU Los Gatos. She and her students have been interviewing relocated American Indians who live in the South Bay—having moved to the city from various reservations in the 1950s, ‘60s, and 70s. Last time, I made a big pot of ham and beans. To switch things up, I decided to do larger than usual Mac & Cheese this time.
Karl’s Mac & Two Cheeses
with Bacon & Leeks for a Crowd
Filed under California Fusion, Casserole, Main Dishes, Pork, Vegetables
For weekday meals I sometimes take shortcuts, like buying pre-seasoned meat from an ethnic market. Being Californians, tacos are very popular in my house, but when I take short cuts I usually do not post about it. However, this one has been requested. If you happen to have a Hispanic market near you, like Chavez Market, these tacos are worth a few short cuts.
Karl’s Weekday Tacos al Pastor
Filed under Main Dishes, Pork, Sauces and Spices
Eilene is having some friends over. I decided to make their favorite Mac & Cheese. When she and her friends make this for themselves they, of course, use the “orange stuff in a box.” This is just starch, fat, and chemicals, not a meal.
Karl’s Mac & Cheese with Bacon & Leek
Filed under California Fusion, Casserole, Main Dishes, Pasta, Pork
Jan, my wife, is an anthropologist at SJSU. When she can, she arranges for her students to do “real world” projects for their assignments. This semester, she will be and her students will be part of a team, organized by NUMU Los Gatos, interviewing relocated American Indians who live in the South Bay—having moved to the city from various reservations in the 1950s, ‘60s, and 70s—if they are not recorded now their stories will soon be lost to history.
Karl’s Ham and Beans for a Crowd
Filed under Beans, Main Dishes, Pork
A friend of Jan’s, Heidi, gave us a jar of wild plum sauce and Jan asked me to think up a dinner to go with it. Jan does not particularly like duck, so the most obvious use—Peking Duck—was right out. As I was reading a Chinese menu, I saw “lettuce cups with plum sauce” and that gave me an idea for a California Fusion Asian pork “taco.”
Karl’s California Fusion Asian Pork “Tacos”
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Pork
Since I started creating and writing up my own recipes, I have fallen behind in reading my cooking magazine. I finally got around the Cook’s Illustrated for May-June. They had a recipe for grilled pork tenderloin that sounded interesting, so I thought I would try it.
Karl’s Sichuan Barbecued Pork Tenderloin
Filed under Main Dishes, Pork, Sauces and Spices
Adapted from an Epicurious recipe
I had a bit of leftover pork tenderloin—a bit too thin or uneven to barbecue well—so I thought I would add it to another dish. I already had a main dish and a vegetable dish, so I decided I would make soup. Although it is one of Jan’s favorites, I have never tried to make hot and sour soup.
Karl’s Hot And Sour Soup
Filed under Chinese-American, Pork, Side Dishes, Soups
Jan likes the idea of BLTs—bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches—but she has an aversion to bacon. Yesterday, she asked me to make her one using turkey bacon. Eilene and I do not dislike bacon, so I made her a more standard version. For myself, I just had to add a twist with some pickled artichoke hearts. Continue reading
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Pork, Turkey
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Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 