Chicken and dumplings is an classic Southern (U.S.) that is basically a chicken stew topped with biscuit dough. At my house it is a weekday comfort food, whenever someone is stressed out. Although I make this dish once or twice a month, I realized that I took it for granted and have never posted about it.
Karl’s Chicken Marsala
and Butter Dumplings
Filed under California Fusion, Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry, Stews
23andMe is a powerful, but dangerous tool. Jan has assumed she had one father, when in fact there were two. According to her genes, Jan’s ancestry is ¼ Iberian and ¼ Cora—although they refer to themselves as Naáyarite—an indigenous tribe that lives in the mountainous region of along the Jalisco / Nayarit border of north Pacific coast Mexico—although much of Jan’s extended family has moved to the coast.
Karl’s Corn, Poblano and Crab Tamales
Filed under Main Dishes, Seafood
Jan’s newly discovered Mexican family lives/lived on the boarder of Jalisco and Nayarit. Jan decided on a Mexican Christmas feast of crab tamales, I though a shrimp soup would go nicely as a starter. I found a site on Nayarit cuisine that described a caldo de camarón (shrimp broth). Adding some tomatoes, fresh shrimp, and cilantro makes it soup.
Karl’s Sopa de Camarón
Filed under Shrimp, Side Dishes, Soups
Jan recently discovered that her birth father’s people live/lived in the mountainous region of along the Jalisco / Nayarit border. She asked for a Mexican Christmas with tamales this year. I decided that I needed a salad to go with them. A site I found describing Jalisco cuisine mentioned a pico de gallo of “pieces of jicama, orange, pineapple with lime juice and ground chili.”
Karl’s Jalisco Pico de Gallo
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian
This year I was unable to participate in the family holiday rum-ball spectacular. I was in Italy, and also had the stomach flu. That is indeed as unpleasant a combination as it sounds.
So now that I’m stateside and better, Christmas Eve I did some pickup cookie assembling. I popped on A Very Murray Christmas (which I love but my parents can’t stand) and made my own twist on Jan’s Christmas Rum Balls. Only, I used bourbon and scotch whiskeys. The base is the same, the boozy variations follow.
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats
Jan requested that I make meatloaf for dinner. Both Jan and Eilene like the outsides of the loaf to have plenty of “crusty bits.” One way to please them is to make mini-meatloaves. A second, easier, way is to not make the loaf too thick—a low thin loaf. Add some fry bread and a salad and you have a really nice meal.
Karl’s Meatloaf with Orange Marmalade Sauce
(on the right)
Filed under Beef, California Fusion, Main Dishes, Pork, Sauces and Spices
Jan had requested meatloaf for dinner and I wanted a bread-like side dish to go with it. Jan has problems with digesting fats and she generally avoids white flour breads. Knowing that Jan would probably eat only a bite or two of this bread—Jan would be happy with just the salad and the meat—freed me to make it how I would really like it to be.
Karl’s Fry Bread (on the left)
Filed under bread, California Fusion, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
I was looking for a vegetable side dish to go with my meatloaf. A few weeks ago, I discovered that letting the root vegetables marinate in a marmalade base worked really well as a salad dressing. This is what I settled on for tonight’s salad.
Karl’s Asian Pear-apple , Radish,
and Arugula Salad
Filed under California Fusion, Green Vegetables, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
I wanted something quick and easy for a weekday dinner. I have been experimenting with dry frying skin-on salmon fillets. A simple salad and a quick couscous dish completed the meal.
Karl’s Dry Fried Salmon
Filed under California Fusion, Fish, Main Dishes, Seafood, Weeknight
I wanted a starch dish to go with my fried salmon. I wanted something that was quick and easy. Couscous cooks in just minutes and can be a very versatile starch. A bit of this and a bit of that and viola, dinner is served.
Karl’s Couscous Florentine
Filed under California Fusion, Green Vegetables, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegan, Vegetarian
karllueck
Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 