This is how I used up some of my thanksgiving leftovers (weeks ago, of course), while simultaneously testing out a new kind of pastry crust I had read about: hot-water pastry. Wikipedia describes this form of pastry. In short, the process of making it is exactly the opposite of proper pie crust: melt fat in […]
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No-Knead Bread
Suffice it to say, it works:I made this after both Lillian and my boss (now a reader of this blog!) suggested it. I basically followed the recipe exactly, but double. I made one loaf in a cast iron dutch oven, and a second in a ceramic casserole. They were pretty much identical. Here is the […]
Middle Eastern Vermicelli Rice
I’m re-posting this – it was originally in the Melukhiyya with Vermicelli Rice entry, but I think it’ll be easier to refer to it if it’s in its own entry. I’ve updated it a bit, since I had a word translated wrong (I don’t think that it’s made with lard as I thought – I […]
Kufta Hotdish لحم بالصينية
So I realize that this is very similar to Lillian’s previously posted Lamb Kibbeh Hotdish, however, this it is different enough that I figured it warranted a new entry. The Arabic name actually, literally means, “Meat in a Pan.” It’s relatively easy, but needs about an hour or more to cook. I originally learned this […]
Flaky Biscuits
The only problem with these biscuits is that they’re likely to be tastier than whatever they’re accompanying. The trick to these is keeping the dough soft and rolling and folding the dough with melted butter. This is an adaptation of the basic biscuit recipe from The Joy of Cooking. Makes at least six beautiful 2″ […]
MaPo Tofu
This recipe will knock your socks off and clear your sinuses out! It requires a couple of special ingredients, but once you have them you can make this all the time. No need for a trip to Tea House when you can make Ma Po Tofu at home! You can see the chili black bean […]
Dill butter chicken thighs, parsely roasted potatoes
This is an extremely simple roast chicken dish that was orgasmic. I made some dill butter and put it under the skin of $.79/lb chicken quarters, then salted and peppered the exterior. I browned the chicken briefly in a pan, and roasted it on 475 until crispy and delicious. For the potatoes, I diced small […]
Living the good life, $0.65 at a time
Middle Eastern Vegetable Ragout
Melanie got this recipe from an Arabic cookbook, and upon testing, results indicated delicious. We ate it with flatbread, but it’d be good on rice as well. I’ve translated it from the cookbook.: Ingredients3 Tbsp Olive Oil1 Onion, cut into slivers2 cloves crushed garlic4 small zucchini, cut into circles (remember these are theoretically the lighter […]
Peace Like a River Fish Chowder
One of my favorite books is Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. It’s a story about a crime, the road, the trials a family faces, and miracles. It takes place in Minnesota and South Dakota in the wintertime–the perfect setting for chowder. My recipe was inspired by this line: “Supper that night was Swede’s […]