Karl’s Salt and Pepper Mushrooms

My family loves salt and pepper chicken wings. I wondered if I could make a vegetarian version with meaty tasting mushrooms. Daughter Miriam would love it— daughter Eilene won’t touch it.

Karl’s Salt and Pepper Mushrooms

Karl’s Salt and Pepper Mushrooms

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Karl’s Mango Rice Pudding

Daughter Eilene had wanted Thai mango rice, but we were ordering dinner from a Chinese restaurant. Mother and daughter went on about how much they liked mango—personally I can take it or leaver it. To please them, I decided to make mango rice pudding.

Karl’s Mango Rice Pudding

Karl’s Mango Rice Pudding

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Karl’s Italian Crackers

Since I started making fresh cream crackers, I have made many variations on the basic recipe. I have made them with sesame seeds, rosemary and parmesan, raspberries, za’atar, and even French onion soup. This week, I decided to seasoned them with Italian spices—oregano and  basil—with Parmesan and Romano cheeses.

Karl’s Italian Crackers

Karl’s Italian Crackers

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Karl’s Barbecued Big Plate Chicken (Da Pan Ji)

Jan asked for Central Asian barbecued chicken—at our house this means Uyghur. However—do to the scarcity of fuel—the Uyghurs would never barbecue chicken. A signature dish of the Xinjiang region is Big Plate Chicken (Da Pan Ji). I decided to adapt the flavors of this usually wok sautéed dish into a barbecue sauce for the grill.

Karl’s Barbecued Big Plate Chicken (Da Pan Ji)

Karl’s Barbecued Big Plate Chicken (Da Pan Ji)

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Filed under California Fusion, Chicken, Main Dishes, Sauces and Spices

Karl’s Central Asian Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon Dill Vinaigrette

For wife Jan’s birthday, I am making carrot salad. Daughter Miriam is having trouble chewing and eating carrots might be a bit hard for her. I decided to make a tomato and cucumber salad with tender greens just for her.

Karl’s Central Asian Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon Dill Vinaigrette

Karl’s Central Asian Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon Dill Vinaigrette

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Karl’s Uyghur Carrot Salad III

Wife Jan loves carrot salad and it is her birthday dinner. This is my third attempt at making a carrot salad for a Uyghur meal—big plate chicken this time. Today, I am trying for a black vinegar vinaigrette.

Karl’s Uyghur Carrot Salad III

Karl’s Uyghur Carrot Salad III

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Karl’s Saffron Challah Dinner Rolls/Crackers

I’m making big plate chicken, and while this is a Central Asian dish, I decided to make challah as my starch. I thought that the soft bread would be good for daughter Miriam, because TMJ is so bad lately. Wife Jan said, “It’s my birthday and I want crackers.” To please them both, I used the same dough to make some of each.

Karl’s Saffron Challah Dinner Rolls

Karl’s Saffron Challah Dinner Rolls

Karl’s Saffron Challah Crackers

Karl’s Saffron Challah Crackers

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Jan’s Ruby Chocolate Mousse

For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. Jan has started to make it on anyone’s birthday. Jan spent years perfecting the techniques of making the mousse, but she got bored with making just “chocolate” mousse. She now make a different variation every time she make it.

Jan’s Ruby Chocolate Mousse

Jan’s Ruby Chocolate Mousse

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Karl’s Cheese Soufflé

Jan’s friends, Pat and Barbara, came for the Quilt Festival. Barbara has chickens and brought us 18 fresh eggs. Jan suggested that I make a soufflé to use some of them up.

Karl’s Cheese Soufflé

Karl’s Cheese Soufflé

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Karl’s Minestrone with Chicken Meatballs

Daughter Miriam is having trouble with her jaw, so she needs soft foods. She is also off onions and garlic. I decided that a specially adapted minestrone soup would be a good choice for Sunday dinner.

Karl’s Minestrone with Chicken Meatballs

Karl’s Minestrone with Chicken Meatballs

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Filed under Chicken, Main Dishes, Soups