Category Archives: Pre-preparable

Devonshire Cream

Posted on by
Reply

Devonshire cream, clotted cream, cream tea, mock Devonshire cream

I first tasted Devonshire (or clotted) cream at The Drake Hotel. Similar to whipped cream, but not as sweet or light, it’s easily spreadable, and is often served during cream tea, which consists of an assortment of scones and jams and, of course, clotted cream. Preparation of authentic Devonshire cream requires a lot of time and effort, as it’s made with unpasteurized milk left at room temperature for several hours, then heated and cooled. This process produces a thick layer of cream at the top, which is skimmed off to yield clotted cream. read more

Krab Salad with Spicy Mayo

Posted on by
1

Krab Salad with Spicy Mayo

Krab salad with spicy mayo makes for a wonderful appetizer or light entrée. It’s made from imitation krab sticks, which are composed of precooked fish with crab flavoring. Krab sticks have a slightly sweet taste with a hint of crab. They’re low in fat, easy to prepare, and inexpensive, making them an excellent item to have on hand. If you’ve ever tried a California roll, then you’ve had imitation krab.

Imitation Krab, krab sticks, imitation crab, krab salad, crab salad

The spicy mayo adds a nice kick to the subtly sweet krab. The krab’s delicate texture, which mimics actual crabmeat, gives the meal an airy lightness, balanced with the richness of Japanese mayo. The spicy zest of the mayo and the thick, sweet eel sauce add waves of flavor to this salad and really takes it to the next level. read more

Colored Dough Decorative Cookies

Posted on by
Reply

Colored Dough Decorative Cookies, Christmas cookies

I love Christmas and I love all the delicious sweets that surround the holiday. Hot cocoa, apple cider, sugar cookies, eggnog, gingerbread men, candy canes, sandtarts, etc. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is making Christmas cookies. This year I learned a revolutionary technique, at least revolutionary for me! Instead of using icing or sprinkles to decorate your cookies, create decorative patterns using colored dough. Such a marvelous concept. It takes you back to your playdough days, where you roll out snakes and balls. For once, you can encourage your kids to play with their food! Take this simple recipe for dough and let your imagination go wild. This recipe can apply to all holidays and themes, just change the cookie cutter shapes and dye the dough whatever color you want. Voilà! Instant hit. read more

Red Pepper Hummus

Posted on by
6

Red Pepper Hummus, Roasted Red Peppers, Pita Chips, Chickpeas

Hummus is one of the oldest foods in the world. In fact, it is believed that chickpeas were  being cultivated over 7000 years ago in the Middle East. The exact origin of hummus remains a mystery, since its long history. However, it is most often theorized as coming from the Middle East. The name hummus actually means chickpea in Arabic. You might also hear chickpeas referred to as garbanzo beans, which is the Spanish translation. There are endless variations of hummus and today I present you with one of my favorites: Red Pepper Hummus. read more

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Posted on by
5

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

I love Vietnamese Spring Rolls. They’re fun to make and can be prepared in advance, making them a great party food. Their transparent wrapper makes for a wonderful presentation, highlighting the vibrant colors of the filling. They’re also a healthy alternative to fried spring rolls and dumplings. Having a crisp, cool spring roll paired with two delicious sauces leads to a satisfying appetizer.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls Ingredients

I have decided that it would be fun to do a Featured Ingredient Series, where I highlight a specific ingredient in a meal. This way I can introduce new ingredients to your kitchen. read more