A while ago I discovered the secret to restaurant quality Mexican rice. Like most Americans, I had been putting all of the ingredients into the pot with the raw rice and cooking everything together. Sometimes the rice would come out perfect, but most of the time it would come out as a sticky mess. The secret is to cook the rice separately and then stir it into the sauce.
Karl’s Greek Lemon Rice
with Pearl Onions
Filed under Rice, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegan, Vegetarian
Jan wanted hamburgers and I used a Cook’s Illustrated recipe. If I was going to fire up the barbecue to grill hamburgers I might as well throw some corn on as well. My family generally does not like plain, so I have to doctor them just a bit.
Karl’s Barbecued Corn
with Garlic Butter
Filed under Barbeque, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegan, Vegetarian
Last week Jan had a work lunch that had Sweet Potato Biscuits with PB&J. She brought some leftovers home for us to try. She suggested that this would be a good thing to serve the teenagers on their Thursday movie night.
Karl’s Sweet Potato Biscuits
with PB&J
Filed under bread, California Fusion, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Usually, when I make my pan fried noodles I serve them with a well sauced stir-fry. Today, I am making char siu, a dry barbecued pork. The noodles on their own would be too dry to eat, I would have to add some kind of moist sauce.
Karl’s Pan Fried Sesame Noodles
Filed under Pasta, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
Son-in-law, Chris, is leaving on another trip, so the kids are not coming over for Sunday dinner. Jan requested something forbidden by his ketogenic diet, lasagna. Since this is also our anniversary week (31st) I agreed to make it for her. I also made her favorite salad, carrot, to go with it.
Karl’s Italian Sausage Lasagna
Filed under Casseroles, italian, Main Dishes, Pasta, Pork
Eilene’s friends are coming over again for Game of Thrones and this week’s theme is “marshmallows.” [Teenagers—what can I say.] Eilene has requested sweet potato casserole.
Karl’s Asian Sweet Potato Casserole
with Marshmallow Topping
Filed under California Fusion, Chinese-American, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Steaming, Vegan, Vegetarian
Jan suggested Israeli couscous as the starch dish to go with my Easter lamb. Ptitim, or “Ben-Gurion rice,” has only a nodding acquaintance with the fine grained couscous of the rest of the Middle East. It was created in the early years of the nation of Israel as a rice substitute.
Karl’s Zatar Spinach Israeli Couscous
Filed under Pasta, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
I am making my Middle Eastern Easter Feast. In addition to mixed olives and pickles, I saw some fresh garbanzos in my local Middle Eastern market. Pan roasting them with a bit of spice seemed like a quick and easy side dish for a feast.
Karl’s Sautéed Fresh Garbanzos
Filed under Beans, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
I am making a Southern (U.S.) roasted chicken. Southern chicken calls for yams to be the starch. This is one of those dishes that I try to make differently each time I make it. I am still looking for the perfect mashed yam dish.
Karl’s Mashed Yams III
Filed under Potatoes, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegetarian
Eilene has settled into a routine of a video night on Thursday. Three to five of her friends will show up to watch the Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones or whatever they are into that week. I, of course, am delegated to feed the masses. It is a struggle to think, “What will I feed several starving teenagers this week.”
Karl’s Mediterranean Wild Rice Pilaf
with Chicken and Shrimp
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Poultry, Rice, Seafood, Shrimp
karllueck
Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 