Karl’s California Fusion Tomato and Cucumber Salad

When I make shashlik and naan I make a Central Asian salad to go with it. Since I am breaking with the tradition menu for this meal, I do not feel constrained about the ingredients I put in my salad. There is not a lot of the European dill and fennel in Central Asia, but as a Californian I’m going to add it to my salad anyway.

Karl’s California Fusion Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Karl’s California Fusion Tomato
and Cucumber Salad

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Filed under California Fusion, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Karl’s Uyghur Heirloom Carrot Salad

For my birthday, I am making a variation of  Uyghur Shashlik and Naan for dinner. Meat and bread call for salads and a traditional Xinjiang dish would be a carrot salad. The last time I made this I used large Asian carrots. Today, I decided to use the colorful heirloom carrots that have become common in California.

Karl’s Uyghur Heirloom Carrot Salad

Karl’s Uyghur Heirloom Carrot Salad

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Jan’s Ginger 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 Ginger Chocolate Mousse

Jan’s Ginger Chocolate Mousse

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Filed under California Fusion, Desserts & Treats, Holidays, Treats, Vegetarian

Karl’s Fried Green Onion and Ham Deviled Eggs

My mother, Claudia’s recipe for deviled eggs was fairly standard for the Fifties. My wife, Jan, is very unadventurous when it comes to deviled eggs—a little mayo, raw green onion, a bit of pepper & salt, and she won’t kick if I top it with a sprinkle of paprika. When I am making deviled eggs just for myself—if she is away on a trip or something—I like to push the boundaries.

Karl’s Fried Green Onion and Ham Deviled Eggs

Karl’s Fried Green Onion and Ham Deviled Eggs

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Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion, Side Dishes

Claudia’s Deviled Eggs

My mother, Claudia’s recipe for deviled eggs was fairly standard for the Fifties. This is mostly a Southern (US) recipe. If you went to any church potluck back then, someone would bring these deviled eggs. Everyone’s home recipe was virtually identical, so they almost always tasted the same. Continue reading

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Karl’s Biscuits and Gravy

This posting is more of a “what do I do with the leftovers.” When I make a whole roast chicken we will usually eat only about half of it. If I have a left over breast, I will slice it for a Chinese chicken salad. If I have made the pan drippings into gravy, I have the joy of biscuits and gravy for breakfast, today with leftover fruit salad.

Karl’s Biscuits and Gravy

Karl’s Biscuits and Gravy

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Filed under bread, Breakfast, Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry

Karl’s Buttermilk Roast Chicken II

In Southern cooking (U.S.), a buttermilk marinade is frequently used to tenderize the chicken pieces before frying. I decided to try the technique in roasting a whole chicken. I found a few recipes that called for cutting up the chicken, but none for leaving it whole. While I have made buttermilk roast chicken before, every recipe has room for improvement.

Karl’s Buttermilk Roast Chicken II

Karl’s Buttermilk Roast Chicken II

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Karl’s Cream of Broccoli Soup

My son-in-law is on a low starch diet, so it is a challenge to come up with recipes that fit his desires. I decided that a cream of broccoli soup would be the thing. Looking on-line for ideas showed me that most of the recipes included some form of starch—flour, potatoes, corn starch, beans, and even nuts. For this recipe I did my usual, one ingredient from this recipe, another ingredient from that recipe to make something new and different.

Karl’s Cream of Broccoli Soup

Karl’s Cream of Broccoli Soup

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Filed under Green Vegetables, Side Dishes, Soups, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Karl’s Sweet Potato Mash

I am making a Southern-ish buttermilk roast chicken, this kind of main dish calls for a sweet potato side. I could have done just a simple roast potato, but I decided spice up a mash. The question is, of course, what spices? Today, I chose ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.

Karl’s Sweet Potato Mash

Karl’s Sweet Potato Mash

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Filed under Potatoes, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegetarian

Karl’s Grape and Mango Fruit Salad

I bought a mango several days ago and it was in danger of becoming over ripe. When I mentioned that I was thinking about making a fruit salad to go with my chicken dinner the response was quite positive. Gathering what fruit I had produced this salad.

Karl’s Grape and Mango Fruit Salad

Karl’s Grape and Mango Fruit Salad

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