Jan had brought some ghost chili products back from a trip to Monterey. As a result, I was doing a Cal-Mex cuisine Sunday dinner. I did not want the usual beans and rice, so I decided to make enchiladas.

Karl’s Poblano and Bean Enchiladas
Jan had brought some ghost chili products back from a trip to Monterey. As a result, I was doing a Cal-Mex cuisine Sunday dinner. I did not want the usual beans and rice, so I decided to make enchiladas.

Karl’s Poblano and Bean Enchiladas
Filed under Beans, Side Dishes
Several years ago, Cook’s Illustrated had a oat muffin recipe. While it was a tasty oat cupcake, it was not a “muffin”—too sweet! They did, however, have some good techniques for enhancing the oat flavor by toasting the raw oats and then grinding them into flour.

Karl’s Banana Oat Mini Muffins with Fresh Raspberries
Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion, Desserts & Treats, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
It has been a long time since I have cooked anything en papillote. To cook something en papillote means that you are cooking it in a parchment packet—although these days it is more common to use aluminum foil. As I was looking for dinner ideas, I came across several recipes like this, but none that matched what I wanted, so I just took out on my own.

Karl’s Peach Chicken and Potatoes en Papillote
Filed under California Fusion, Chicken, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Poultry, Steaming
When I made mitsubi for Eilene, I had leftover sushi rice. While onigiri are usually made with plain, unseasoned rice, I decided to turn the remaining rice into small rice balls. Onigiri usually have some kind of filling, with what I had on hand I chose to use Ebi Fume Furikake.

Karl’s Furikake Onigiri
Filed under California Fusion, Rice, Side Dishes
Spam Misubi is an Hawaiian-Japanese adaptation of a rice ball dating from WWII. Daughter Eilene loves them, but mother, Jan, will not allow Spam in the house. Jan is teaching a night class, so I thought I would make Eilene spam misubi for dinner.

Karl’s Spam Misubi
Filed under Main Dishes, Pork, Rice
Jan’s favorite dish, when we go to a Japanese restaurant is kitsune udon. Udon is a thick wheat noodle that is a standard for a large variety of Japanese soups—both hot and cold. While kitsune refers to a fox, the distinguishing ingredient in this dish fried tofu—apparently the favorite food of the magical, Japanese, shape-shifting foxes.

Karl’s Kitsune Udon
Filed under Main Dishes, Pasta, Soups
My neighbors are taking care of one of their aged mothers. I went to speak with the wife and when she came to the door it was obvious that she as was exhausted. She was in clear need of a mitzvah.

Karl’s Mitzvah Beef Stew
Filed under Beef, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Stews, Vegetables
I had Stone Soup-ed my plain ham steak for Sunday’s dinner. Simple steamed green beans seemed inadequate. They needed dressing—a bit of butter, green onions and garlic would not be amiss.

Karl’s Green Beans with Balsa Mela Vinegar
Filed under Sauces and Spices, Side Dishes, Steaming, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian
I had originally planned on a simple coleslaw with a vinegar based dressing for this Sunday’s dinner. However, the Stone Soup drive made me start adding ingredients—maybe some red cabbage and radishes, maybe some marmalade and ginger. This was a salad to go with my ham steak.

Karl’s Colorful Coleslaw with Lemon Marmalade-Ginger Dressing
Filed under California Fusion, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Usually, I simply throw a large sweet potato into the oven and roast it whole. My diners may then cut off as much or little potato as pleased them. Since I never did anything more than prick the potato with a fork, I have never posted this dish, because it is hardly a recipe.

Karl’s Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Filed under Potatoes, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian