The Foreigner… A Bit of History: I believe almost all of us could identify a scallion or a green onion, but did you know they are also known as spring onions, sibies, or a Welsh onion? Given these names, one might think that scallions are a native species in Wales. However, the term Welsh onion,…
Category: Appetizers
Crispy Air-Fried Mushroom Nuggets
Mushroom Madness… with Homemade Tomato Za’tar Ketchup Introduction: My friend Jana very kindly gave me their air fryer while in the process of converting to a different unit. At first, I thought I would just play around with it. However, I discovered that we use it on a daily basis. It is such an easy…
Green Garlic Risotto Crackers
From A GlassBlower’s Lips… A Bit of History: Risotto a creamy Italian dish is made from short grain arborrio rice, broth or wine, and vegetables. Risotto dishes often contain butter or olive oil and spices, especially saffron, or fresh herbs. However, I like to make risotto with a bit of crunch to it like my…
Cilantro Poblano Pepper Hummus
An Herb of Many Kitchens… A Bit of History: Cilantro is truly a global herb. It is an integral part of cuisine ranging from Mexico, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Cilantro seeds or coriander have been found in caves in Israel dating back 8,500 to over 10,000 years ago and some of the…
Nibble the Night Away…Mezze Part 1: The Spreads
Recipes for Fava Bean Hummus & Cilantro Mint Sauce Mezze simply refers to appetizers or small plates of food that are meant to be shared. It is very common to see mezze listed on Greek and Middle Eastern menus. Sometimes, we even make a meal of mezze at my house. I love setting out a…
Nibble the Night Away…Mezze Part 2: The Small Dishes
Recipes for Roasted Vegetables with Za’tar and Spring Vegetables with Fresh Herbs A mezze platter would not be complete without breads, dipping sauces or spreads, and small dishes of either vegetables, meats, or cheeses. My family prefers some small plates of different vegetables and olives to accompany our mezze platter. Last week we had an…
The Champagne of Mangoes….
A Recipe for Mango Salsa. Every spring I wait patiently for the first appearance of Ataulfo mangoes at the store. As soon as I spy them, I buy a box and start making mango salsa. Ataulfo mangoes are often called Champagne mangoes due to their smooth, velvet like consistency and juicy sweetness. They are grown…
Crisp Broccoli Wraps with Spicy Peanut Miso Sauce
That’s a Wrap… Introduction: My latest CSA box contained a few heads of broccoli that I promptly stuffed in the back of my refrigerator. Broccoli is not one of the most sought after vegetables in my house. Pretty soon, ideas for the unused broccoli began percolating in the back of my mind. However, after I…
Hot Honey…Parsnips that Pack a Punch
A Recipe for Hot Honey Roasted Parsnips with a Creamy Garlic Horseradish Dip. It’s getting to the end of winter root vegetable season in South Carolina, and I have been racking my brain for creative ways to prepare and serve them! I stumbled across a bottle of Red Clay Barrel Aged Hot Habanero Honey in…
Double your Luck….
Did you know that basil is considered one of the seven lucky plants for 2021 according to Feng Shui? I wondered if combining a lucky plant like basil, with the leaves of the lucky fava bean if you could double your luck…. A Recipe for Fava Greens Pesto served over couscous with carrots, spring peas,…