Dried beans are inexpensive, healthy, and usually annoying to use in cooking. Between soaking overnight and hours and hours of cooking time, most people just opt to use canned versions of the same. But if you have a heavy, lidded pot and a working oven, you can take advantage of dried beans without all the fuss. And you can enjoy South American Black Bean Soup on a day when winter has you chilled to the bone.
As Christmas Eve dawns, let's take a bit of time to see how foodies the world over celebrate it and contemplate our own special traditions, celebrations, and festive gatherings that are about to commence. However you celebrate, have a joyous holiday season. Seasoned Greetings to you all!
Continuing our ode to slow cooking, we're taking on one of my favorite ethnic dishes of all time: carnitas. Carnitas are a Mexican specialty of seasoned pulled pork, traditionally fried in lard, with a pleasing mixture of tender and crispy browned parts. This simplified recipe avoids the deep-frying step, and takes advantage of the slow cooker's ability to produce very tender meat and pairs it with a quick trip under the broiler to produce the tender, caramelized meat that typifies proper carnitas.
As cooler weather settles in and pumpkin becomes a focus in everything from coffee to coffeecake, it's time to remember that it can also star in some amazing savory dishes. Just in time for the weekend, a fantastic curry featuring pumpkin and either venison or lean beef is ready to be enjoyed.
Diehard foodies the world over will do almost anything or travel anywhere to get inventive, delicious and memorable meals. Trying things like squid, goat meat, street-vendor tacos, and curry make their mouths water—and, if they are not careful, their waistlines expand. Staying healthy on vacation might sound like a contradiction in terms, but with planning, it's possible to enjoy your travels AND watch your weight.
The final installment in a four part series on Chinese cooking looks at Canton and Fukien: the southern cuisine. Figure out where your favorite foods hail from and how to put together a beautiful, authentic Chinese meal featuring food from the many culinary regions of China.
The third in a four part series on Chinese cooking looks at Shanghai: the eastern cuisine. Figure out where your favorite foods hail from and how to put together a beautiful, authentic Chinese meal featuring food from the many culinary regions of China.
The second in a four part series on Chinese cooking looks at Szechuan: the western cuisine. Figure out where your favorite foods hail from and how to put together a beautiful, authentic Chinese meal featuring food from the many culinary regions of China.
The first in a four part series on Chinese cooking looks at Peking: the northern cuisine. Figure out where your favorite foods hail from and how to put together a beautiful, authentic Chinese meal featuring food from the many culinary regions of China.
Cooking a delicious Asian meal on a budget can be quite the challenge. Luckily, with some savvy grocery shopping and basic kitchen know-how, anyone can enjoy great Asian cuisine at home. Here are three great recipes that use basic, inexpensive ingredients so you can bring a delicious Asian feast right to your home, without spending an arm and a leg.
