Fine, Who’s Mani?

No, not who, but what. “Mani” is the Spanish word for “peanut.” At least it is through the majority of Latin America, though in Spain and in Mexico “cacahuate” is preferred, it seems. Bolivia, though, definitely favors “mani.” Hence, one of the most beloved dishes on the country’s tables is Sopa de Mani, or Peanut…

Use Your Noodle

Pad Thai is a prominent offering in Siamese restaurants, no matter whether it’s served up in the dining room, or if it’s delivered. With good reason, of course. Juicy chicken is sliced thinly and is woven among chewy rice noodles. The combination is drenched in a luscious sauce exuberant with Southeast Asian flavors, including tangy…

Veggies, All of It?

Yep, that’s right.  Today’s entry is completely vegetarian-friendly, from the first cilantro leaf to the last grain of rice.  Yet it’s warming and satisfying, due to hearty pieces of sweet potato and a lusciously rich peanut butter-tomato sauce.  Honestly, you won’t spend the whole time you’re eating fantasizing about other ingredients.  Mainly because you already…

A Plate Full of Ghana

It all comes together this week, as one plate holds everything you’d need for a full meal, from meat, to potatoes, to vegetables.  Wrapping the total package in style is a recipe Fine Cooking offered in its April/May 2019 release, Crispy Peanut-Chile Chicken with Sweet Potatoes. The preparation is inspired by Ghana’s affinity for combining…

(Almost) Everybody Loves Peanuts

Not just people, either.  Pigs have an affinity for the nut, which makes up a major part of their diet.  Unsurprisingly, perhaps, pork and peanuts pair particularly well.  It’s a culinary fact not lost on Southeast Asians, who make ample use of both in their kitchens.  Today’s offering is one such inspiration, this one from…

Your Turn

Gulp!  After ordering Kung Pao Chicken many times over a decade or so of takeout, it finally is time for the blog to attempt this beloved Szechuan classic.  This is it, the course exam.  Will today’s offering be anything close to what professionals prepare every day in kitchens spanning the globe? It might be, if…

A Reese Heir Must’ve Talked

Despite inducements advanced to the Reese family, nobody has unlocked the formula for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  The candy remains a mystery, its special combination hidden, its secret perfection never quite replicated. This applies to what’s found in stores,  but today’s submission takes a new approach.  Cupcakes have that unique power, don’t they?  The notion…

Three Kinds of Comfort

What better time than Thanksgiving weekend to luxuriate in a satisfying meal’s reassuring warmth?  This week brings three more classics from Williamsburg, as featured in The Williamsburg Cookbook, Cream of Peanut Soup, Sally Lunn Bread and Indian Corn Muffins.  Each one stokes a contented glow, but their combined effect is pure bliss. Peanut Soup is…

Don’t Let the Picture Mislead You

Other dishes we’ve seen, most actually, have been more colorful, their vibrancy advertising the intense tastes waiting to be unleashed.  Every once in a while, though, something comes along that gives no warning of the flavorful journey that’s ahead.  Such a surprise is today’s entry, Cambodian Spicy Lemongrass Chicken. You likely guessed that this is…

Taste 1, Gluten 0

This blog is always up for a challenge, so when one of you sought a recipe for good gluten-free noodles, the search began.  We needed something that not only showed promise, but also delivered that potential, producing practical and, even more important, tasty results. Another priority was culinary authenticity.  The recipe had to be gluten-free in…