Jan and I were watching a BBC documentary series called The Spice Trail, detailing the sources, history and uses of six common spices. One of the spices detailed was black pepper. It turns out that the ornamental pepper trees of my youth have nothing to do with the spice on the table.
Tag Archives: recipes
Karl’s Caprese Salad 3
I had bought some Ciliegine Fresh Mozzarella—one inch balls of cheese—for my Italian Salad Bar. In the rush to get out the door to deliver it, I forgot to take them out of the refrigerator. Trying to think what to use them for, I remembered that caprese salad is one of Jan’s favorites.
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Weeknight
Karl’s “Potato” Salad – Two Ways
These salads are based on my mother’s potato salad, but the kids are coming over and this is a dilemma. They are on the Atkins diet, which means no potatoes. I decided that I would make two almost identical salads: One with potatoes for those of us eating starchy foods and a second with the potatoes replaced with cauliflower.
Filed under California Fusion, Salads, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Karl’s Yellow Gazpacho
I finally have a little time to start surfing through the sites of the people who have liked my recipes in the past three years. I have religiously kept track of everyone who has ever “liked” one of my recipes, but I have had little time to do more than just visit their “about” pages. This summer, I have been working my way through other people’s recipes. When I saw Caitlin’s recipe for Yellow Gazpacho I knew I had to do something like it.
Filed under Side Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Karl’s Honey Balsamic Glazed Salmon
I made some biscuits for a weekday dinner and I wanted something to go with them. Today, I felt like salmon. Trying to think of something new to do with it, I used some honey and Balsamic Vinegar de Modeno.
Filed under Broiling, California Fusion, Fish, Main Dishes, Seafood
Karl’s American Biscuits
For some reason, I have never made biscuits from scratch. I frequently make scones for breakfast, but I have always depended on Bisquick for biscuits. Part of the reason for this is that I really did not understand the difference between the two. While I was making biscuits for biscuits and gravy, I discovered that they are easy and, by themselves, the are a delicious and versatile bread.
Filed under bread, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Karl’s Biscuits and Beef Jerky Gravy
More than forty years ago, I visited my second cousins in “Pleasant Valley,” Arizona. While I was there I had one of the most memorable meals of my life, biscuits and beef jerky gravy served with a side of fresh pinto beans. While biscuits and gravy is a standard Southern/Western dish, I have never had—before or since—as good as I had that day.
Filed under bread, Breakfast, Sauces and Spices
Claudia’s Potato Salad
I making potato salad for the Fourth of July today, and I am making it based on, my mother, Claudia’s recipe. I have had to make some adjustments—I am not trying to feed seven hungry mouths and—while I remember there being celery in it—there was none listed on her 3×5 card recipe. Another twist is that Myr and Chris are on the Atkins diet, so I decided I would make a second salad—with cauliflower replacing the potatoes—just for them. Continue reading
Filed under Potatoes, Salads, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegetarian
Karl’s Moong Dal Tadka with Chingri (Shrimp)
I have recently discovered dals. Not that I did not know that they existed, but that they were easy to make and not just restaurant fare. Many of the recipes I have found call for cooking the legumes in a pressure cooker—which I do not own—or alternatively cooking them for hours. I have found that neither of these is required to produce a decent dal.
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Seafood, Shrimp, Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian
Karl’s Carrot Ribbon Salad with Lime Dressing
I wanted a side salad to go with my Moong dal with shrimp.
Filed under California Fusion, Root Vegetables, Salads, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian








