At four o’clock today, Eilene told me that her friends were coming over for dinner. She suggested florescent mac and cheese, trying to make it easy on me. I just could not do it. This meal was really almost as easy, and so much better for them.
Karl’s Mexican Rice with Beef
Filed under Beef, Main Dishes, Rice, Vegan, Vegetarian
Eilene is at Disneyland and Myr is not feeling well, so it is just Jan and me tonight. Jan wanted something that we could reheat when Eilene gets home late tonight, but also be good for lunches during the week. She decided that she wants ham and beans.
Karl’s Corona Beans and Ham
Filed under Beans, Main Dishes, Pork, Soups, Stews
I am making “chicken under brick” and a ciambotta. The ciambotta usually contains potatoes, but I have one diner who is on a diet that excludes potatoes. When Eilene heard that there was going to be no potatoes in the meal she said, “No Potatoes!!” To try and please everyone, I decided to make a separate potato dish.
Karl’s Roasted Italian Potatoes
Filed under Potatoes, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegan, Vegetarian
I wanted a vegetable/starch side dish to go with my baked salmon. Lately, I have been making dishes with noodles in white sauce for Jan and Eilene. Today, I decided to make it a green sauce.
Karl’s Noodles Florentine
Filed under Casserole, Pasta, Side Dishes, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Dong quai steamed chicken is one of those dishes that I had in Chengdu and reconstructed from the memory of the taste. You steam the chicken for hours until the meat is falling off the bones. I remember that it had ginger and Chinese broad beans and was finished off with pea top. Pea tops are the tender leaves at the ends of the pea plant.
Karl’s Chinese Steamed Ginger Chicken
Jan received some green beans and cherry tomatoes from the SJSU Environmental Studies garden [correction]. There were not enough green beans or tomatoes to make a separate dish. I started to think of ways I could add them to a main dish. I finally decided to use them in a seafood noodle casserole.
It’s Not a Tuna Casserole!
It’s not! It’s not! It’s not!
Filed under Casserole, Fish, Main Dishes, Pasta, Seafood
Eilene trimmed our grape plant—it was starting to overrun the fig tree. I looked at all of these fresh grape leaves and thought dolmas! I have made them with bottled preserved leaves, but I am sure they are even better with fresh leaves. When you say “dolma” you have only said “stuffed thing.” What is stuffed and what you stuff it with can cover a world of possibilities.
Karl’s Greek Dolmas
Filed under California Fusion, Lamb, Main Dishes, Rice, Steaming, Vegan, Vegetarian
Before I left home for the first time, I sat down with my mother’s recipe box and wrote down my favorite dishes. As I was making my chili California I had thought about using my mother’s recipe. I took it out and looked it over. I was surprised to find that it did not actually include any “chile.” I remember loving my mother’s “chili” as a child, but I am not sure I can call it “chili” any more—it was more of a German beef and beans. Continue reading
Filed under Beans, Beef, California Fusion, Main Dishes
Adapted from a chef Manuel Azevedo recipe
Traditionally this dish is serves as a casserole. Chef Azevedo, born on the island of São Jorge in the Azores, turns this Portuguese dish upside down. This allows the exposed codfish to brown slightly and the layer of potatoes on the bottom to crisp.
Karl’s Portuguese Salt Cod and Potato Casserole
Filed under Casseroles, Fish, Main Dishes, Potatoes, Seafood
I am making Santa Maria barbecue this Sunday and this needs a special kind of beans. I finally found a source for heirloom Santa Maria pinquito beans. If you live in the South Bay (San Jose, CA area) it is just a short 30 minute drive down to just south of Gilroy to where the 101 briefly becomes a two lane highway. Garlic World is an overgrown roadside fruit stand that specializes in Gilroy’s primary crop—I love when the wind is out of the south in the morning, it smells of garlic. Garlic World also carries Suzie Q’s pinquito beans.
Karl’s Santa Maria-Style Beans II
Filed under Beans, Pork, Side Dishes, Starches
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Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 