Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry with General Tso’s Sauce

If you had told me two years ago I would be posting a recipe about tofu I probably would have laughed until I caused some sort of internal injury. I grew up a mid-west meat and potatoes boy. I had crossed paths a time or two with tofu in the 80’s and 90’s and I was not a fan. All of that changed a couple … Continue reading Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry with General Tso’s Sauce

Food Court Copycat General Tso’s Sauce

Whether you know this as General Tso, Tao, Tso’s, or even Tse, this spicy sauce a popular across the U.S. in Chinese restaurants. While there was indeed a General Tso (sort of) and he was from the Hunan province of China neither he nor China have anything to do with this sauce. It is a completely American creation, and no one can honestly say exactly … Continue reading Food Court Copycat General Tso’s Sauce

Falafel – Street Food of the Levant

There are as many recipes for Falafel as there are ways to eat it. If you are unfamiliar with this Middle Eastern delicacy, think of it as hummus meets hush puppy. The base is usually fava beans or chickpeas (garbonzo beans) or a combination of both. Where I live fava beans are hard to come by, so I use a chickpea only version similar to … Continue reading Falafel – Street Food of the Levant

Spicy Maple Bourbon Refrigerator Pickles

A good pickle is hard to beat. They are great snacks, garnishes and ingredients if you want add a little zip to your daily meal. The good news is you can make these at home with no special equipment. If you have a large bowl, some jars with lids and a refrigerator you can make awesome pickles. I started with a basic spicy dill pickle … Continue reading Spicy Maple Bourbon Refrigerator Pickles

Veggie and Mushroom Bourguignon

This is a meat free version of Beef Bourguignon, a.k.a. Beef Burgundy, which is a French beef stew. Even without the meat this is a savory and hearty meal. Don’t let the fancy French name fool you, this is actually an easy dish to make and even beginning cooks can master this on the first try. In France this is commonly served with noodles or … Continue reading Veggie and Mushroom Bourguignon

Guayaba y Queso Pastelitos (Cuban guava and cheese pastries)

I am by no means fluent in Spanish, but in the years since the story below I have traveled to many places in the Caribbean and southern US and I have learned enough to get by in hotels and restaurants. I like to eat to where the locals eat and that generally means “no Inglés”. I’m sure they chuckle at my pronunciations and grammar, but … Continue reading Guayaba y Queso Pastelitos (Cuban guava and cheese pastries)

Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Feta

This recipe is another great example of why roasted vegetables need to be in your cooking arsenal. They are incredibly easy to prepare, there are endless variations, and they taste incredible. This recipe amps up the flavor of the sweet potatoes with pecans, red onions and a simple maple glaze. The second recipe in the video below is a variation using apples in place of … Continue reading Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Feta

Saturday Morning Stuffed Strawberry Waffles

Many recipes are good, some are great and a precious few are epic. I put this recipe on the epic list for several reasons: it is out of this world good, it is easier to make than it looks and the fruit sauce alone is a recipe every cook should have as a secret weapon in the kitchen. The filling is a good recipe to … Continue reading Saturday Morning Stuffed Strawberry Waffles