Tag Archives: Philosophy of Cooking

Karl’s Five Mushroom Soup

I have been craving oxtails recently. You may wonder what does “oxtail” have to do with “mushroom” soup. It all comes down to my wife’s, Jan’s, gallbladder—or rather the lack of the same.

Karl’s Five Mushroom Soup

Karl’s Five Mushroom Soup

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Filed under California Fusion, Side Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Open-faced Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Pita Bread

I made chicken stock yesterday, which always leaves me with the problem of what to do with the chicken bits I pick off the neck and back bones. I know that the professional chefs consider this meat “used up” after they have made a stock. They simply discard it as being tough, flavorless, and too much trouble to pick off the bones. As a home cook, I cannot help but think this is wasteful.

Karl’s Open-faced Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Pita Bread

Karl’s Open-faced Chicken Salad Sandwiches
on Pita Bread

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Filed under Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry, Salads

Karl’s Santa Maria Barbecued Tri-tip

On the Fourth of July we went to a friend’s house for Santa Maria barbeque. Jan liked it so much that she asked me to make it this Sunday. A Santa Maria Barbecue is not complete without pinquito beans and Santa Maria style salsa.

Karl’s Santa Maria Barbecued Tri-tip

Karl’s Santa Maria Barbecued Tri-tip

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Filed under Barbeque, Beef, Main Dishes, Sauces and Spices

Karl’s Barbecued Chicken Teriyaki II

Eilene is having friends over tonight and one of them is a picky eater. If it is not Vietnamese or sweet she will not like it. I would make pho, but it takes a long time to make the stock. Jan suggested that she would like chicken teriyaki.

Karl’s Barbecued Chicken Teriyaki II

Karl’s Barbecued Chicken Teriyaki II

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Filed under Barbeque, California Fusion, Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry

Karl’s Chicken Teriyaki

When I was leaving home as a youth, this is one of the first recipes I copied out of my mother’s card file. When Dad returned from Japan in the early ‘50s, he brought back a love of all things Japanese and many Japanese recipes. Mother was making chicken teriyaki when it was still an exotic foreign food in California. When most American families were getting hamburgers and hotdogs, we were getting chicken teriyaki and rice once a week. This is one of the comfort foods of my youth.

Karl’s Chicken Teriyaki

Karl’s Chicken Teriyaki

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Filed under Barbeque, Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry

Karl’s Crab Cakes with Aioli and Champaign Pickled Radishes

This meal started in a very different place than it ended. In the morning, I suggested to Jan that I make fish that night. Lately, that has meant fish tacos, but I am getting board with that. Jan suggested lobster rolls, but that is too expensive in California. I suggested Langoustine, which are kind of Italian mini-lobsters. When I got to the store, I found no Langoustine and there was not even any lobster.

Karl’s Crab Cakes with Aioli and Champaign Pickled Radishes

Karl’s Crab Cakes
with Aioli and Champaign Pickled Radishes

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Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Salads, Seafood

Karl’s Spanish Turkey Meatballs

Jan wanted gazpacho for dinner. I do not consider this a meal in itself, it is a liquid salad. She agreed to let me add meatballs, but only if they were turkey.

Karl’s Spanish Turkey Meatballs

Karl’s Spanish Turkey Meatballs

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Filed under Main Dishes, Poultry, Turkey

Karl’s Salmon and Tofu Teriyaki with Six Pickles

Jan and Eilene have been on me to make meals are less heavy on the meat and starch. They want more vegetables. A simple green salad though is so boring.

Karl’s Salmon and Tofu Teriyaki with Six Pickles

Karl’s Salmon and Tofu Teriyaki
with Six Pickles

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Filed under Fish, Main Dishes, Pickles, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian

Karl’s Peach Jam

Last weekend Eilene’s friends invaded the house for Fanime. This meant peaceful days, but a hungry horde descending upon the house at 10 PM. Eilene asked for fresh crackers as a snack when they arrived. While I was at the farmer’s market I saw some peaches. Peach jam and crackers seemed like just the thing for starving teenagers.

Karl’s Peach Jam

Karl’s Peach Jam

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Filed under Desserts & Treats, Sauces and Spices, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Karl’s Chicken Minestrone

Jan, Miriam and Eilene are all going out for a girl’s massage evening. This is part of Miriam’s birthday week. After work, Jan has 20 minutes to eat dinner before she has to take Eilene to meet Miriam at the spa. Jan asked for soup and Eilene asked for minestrone.

Karl’s Chicken Minestrone

Karl’s Chicken Minestrone

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Filed under Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian