Category Archives: Side Dishes

Karl’s Xīfàn (Chinese Rice Porridge)

Daughter Miriam has been sick recently and is going in for a procedure in a few days. The doctor has put her on a restricted diet—no fiber; no red, orange or purple foods; nothing from the lily family. This cuts out many foods in our normal diet—no brown rice, whole wheat, tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, leeks, or any other “stringy” vegetables. How do I create a Sunday dinner that is both satisfying for everyone, but where she can still keep within this diet?

Karl’s Xīfàn (Chinese Rice Porridge)

Karl’s Xīfàn
Chinese Rice Porridge

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Filed under Main Dishes, Rice, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Biscuits II

Bread is mostly flour mixed with a liquid. However, because of the complex chemistry of the starches and gluten in the flour, small changes in handling techniques and additional ingredients can make a big difference in the texture of the final product. A few weeks ago I posted my updated recipe for light and flaky biscuits. I had been making these biscuits for years, so throwing them together was second nature. However, when I tried to make these biscuits as I had written the recipe they came out tough and dense.

Karl’s Biscuits II

Karl’s Biscuits II

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Filed under bread, Breakfast, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

 Karl’s Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls

Adapted from a King Arthur Flour recipe

I do not make dinner rolls very often, because several family members are avoiding carbs or white flour breads. Jan’s friends came to Stitches and I was making them a Brazilian seafood stew. Jan’s friends are not avoiding white bread and I decided that pull-apart rolls would go well with dinner.

Karl’s Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls

Karl’s Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls

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Karl’s Brazilian Seafood Stew

Adapted from Chef John’s recipe

Jan’s school friends—Barb from second grade, Pat from I think about seventh grade—are in town for Stitches. This means another meal to create—with no meat with a face or chunks of tomato. A few ago I made some Jamaican coconut fish parcels that had a very flavorful broth, I decided to look for a soup that was similar, but different.

Karl’s Brazilian Seafood Stew

Karl’s Brazilian Seafood Stew

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Filed under Main Dishes, Rice, Seafood, Stews

Karl’s Biscuits and Andouille Sausage Gravy

My wife, Jan, is reading the Longmire mystery series. In the final book, Longmire has biscuits and Andouille sausage gravy. My wife came to me and said, “Make this.” Fortunately, I had some sausages left over from Fat Tuesday’s red beans and rice.

Karl’s Biscuits and Andouille Sausage Gravy

Karl’s Biscuits and Andouille Sausage Gravy

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Filed under bread, Breakfast, Main Dishes

Karl’s Red Beans and Rice

February 13th was Fat Tuesday and wife Jan asked for Louisiana food for dinner. As much as I try to avoid “add can A to can B” recipes, I will sometimes make do for a weekday meal. Of course, the brand of canned food matters.

Karl’s Red Beans and Rice

Karl’s Red Beans and Rice

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Filed under Beans, Main Dishes, Pork, Rice

Karl’s Louisiana Green Beans

February 13th was Fat Tuesday and wife Jan asked for Louisiana food for dinner. I had decided on red beans and rice as my main dish. Since that dish is mainly meat and starch, I thought that I wanted a vegetable side dish.

Karl’s Louisiana Green Beans

Karl’s Louisiana Green Beans

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Filed under California Fusion, Side Dishes, Vegetables

Karl’s Moroccan Chicken Tajine II

Adapted from a The Guardian recipe

I have made a Moroccan chicken tajine before, but there is no set recipe for that title. This leaves open a wide variety of options in what to include in this dish. The last time I made this I heavily spiced the chicken, but in reading the discussion of The Guardian recipe, I learned that you may make it so that the chicken is the star attraction of this stew.

Karl’s Moroccan Chicken Tajine II

Karl’s Moroccan Chicken Tajine II

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Filed under Chicken, Main Dishes, Vegetables

Karl’s Moroccan Carrot Salad

I am making Moroccan chicken tajine and I wanted a vegetable dish. While many tajine recipes include the vegetables in the stew, I wanted something on the side. Wife, Jan really likes carrot salads.

Karl’s Moroccan Carrot Salad

Karl’s Moroccan Carrot Salad

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Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Moroccan Couscous II

I had decided to make Moroccan chicken tajine for this Sunday’s dinner. Couscous is an obvious side dish—especially since some of my diners are on a low carb diet. The chicken would be well spiced so I thought that the side dish should be a bland-ish canvas for the flavorful sauce.

Karl’s Moroccan Couscous II

Karl’s Moroccan Couscous II

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Filed under Pasta, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian