What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller….. ~ “Stronger”, Kelly Clarkson Life has a way of throwing a curveball when we least expect it. Self-help gurus will tell us to ‘stay positive’, ‘shift your perspective’, the advice goes on. What really happens is we don’t read (or write) blogs, we face […]
Author: felix
Char’s Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Soups are a great way to introduce a lot of vegetables to kids. Stir-fries, too, because they contain so many different shapes and colors. ~ Emeril Lagasse A couple of days ago, we had a lovely Thai Chicken Curry at a teensy weensy cafe that’s been around for at least 25 years, served by the same […]
Bakwan Kepiting – Pork and Crab Meatball Soup
Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential. ~Winston Churchill I confess mine is not the modern family which has the luxury of planning meals in advance? Let’s just say ‘it’s an ongoing endeavor’. However, Bakwan Kepiting will taste oh-so-much-better with some preparation ahead of time, I promise you. It will also save you a bunch of time. […]
Eggplant with Dried Shrimp
Is the eggplant a fruit or a vegetable? The Oscars were being awarded. I never had the patience to sit through the red carpet event, knowing there would be no shortage of lists and articles in the mornings summarizing all I want to know and more. I was definitely out of the movie loop – I did not […]
Ethiopian Cabbage
Good music goes with good food. ~African Proverb Ever since stumbling on an Ethiopian restaurant, we have been going back there and persuading friends to go with us. Eating is very communal in the culture and we unabashedly and awkwardly tucked in using our right hands, as Ethiopians do. Ethiopian food incorporates lots of earthy and aromatic spices, […]
Braised Pork Ribs with Black Beans and Bitter Melon
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau Bitter melon, also called bitter gourd, is a green-colored, tropical fruit with a waxy skin. Its slightly bitter taste can be discouraging to some but recipes usually include ingredients and sauces to offset the sharpness, resulting in a rather unique taste. Recently an old friend, J, mentioned […]
St. Patrick’s Deviled Salmon Cucumber Rounds
May your troubles be less and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through the door. ~ Irish blessing I have always thought of St. Patrick as a ‘fun’ sort of saint. His namesake day March 17 tends to be associated with pageantry and revelry. Lenten restrictions are often lifted on this feast day of the […]
Tomato Pie
A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~ Laurie Colwin, ‘Home Cooking’ Today I attended my first trunk show. I had never been to one before, so when a friend asked whether I was interested and assured me there would be no pressure to buy anything, I agreed. Fast forward a couple of […]
Golden Turmeric Milk
I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. ~Woody Allen The rains have finally ceased. Blue skies span the astral fabric, interwoven by threads of winnowy clouds. Spring birds begin to come out from hiding, stretching wings and voices, bringing light-hearted songs in the wind. Something that helped carry our household through […]
Spinach Linguine in 15 Minutes
Life is a combination of magic and pasta. ~ Federico Fellini Around here, great Italian restaurants abound featuring cuisine from every region in Italy. While I do not imagine to come close to the superb standards from these establishments, I do enjoy a simple pasta in the comfort of home. I have perused dozens of recipes, tried […]