If there was a reason for me to consider vegetarianism, this would be it.
Unfortunately, pulled pork exists, so that’s not really an option. But hey, a girl can dream, right? Continue reading
Palestinian Musaka’a
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Banana Bread with Pecan and Brown Sugar Crust
My mom didn’t bake much when I was growing up. She wasn’t the type who got the urge to bake chocolate chip cookies one afternoon, then whip up a pie the next.
But when she did bake, it was only the good stuff. Like this banana bread. This remains, in all my 26 years of life, my favorite banana bread recipe. And trust me, I’ve tasted my fair share.
I’m not sure what her secret is. It could be that the recipe comes from a book that’s older than I am. That would explain the equally amazing Christmas cookies she’s also known for.
But whatever her trick, it taught me from a young age, that quality is always better than quantity. Continue reading
Roasted Corn Salad with Tomatoes and Feta
I have to come clean. Corn has not always been my thing.
It seems like this time of year, everyone is raving about fresh corn on the cob at their late summer/ early fall BBQs, but it’s never really done the trick for me.
Oddly enough, there are many vegetables I would rather have a side than corn. Green vegetables even. Shocking, right?
But then, I discovered the secret key that would let me enter the corn loving club. It is, as with many things, all a trick of preparation. Continue reading
Zucchini Tots with Spiced Mayo
If you’re like me, you love yourself some tater tots. Fries are great but, let’s face it, though they are both children of the potato, there’s something about their little barrel shape, crispy outsides, steamy insides, and perfectly dip-able round bottoms that blows fries out of the water. (Except waffle fries…that’s a tougher battle.)
If I needed any further proof, a whole array of hot dishes have been centered around the tater tot. Possibly only in Minnesota, but still, can fries claim such culinary achievements?
However, if you are also like me, you do not like what tater tots do to the way your jeans have chosen to fit you today.
State Fair Part 2 – What Lamb Testicles Taste Like
I want to start this post by acknowledging the deep debt of gratitude I owe my good friend Charlie Cosimini. Without him, I would have no idea what lamb testicles taste like.
One of the new foods at the Minnesota State Fair this year are the Lamb Fries from Holy Land Deli. Please do not be fooled by the name, these are not chicken nuggets made from lamb. They are indeed lamb testicles.
And since I have a strict “No Ball” eating policy at The Culinary Capers, I was a little disappointed I couldn’t share the Lamb Fries experience with you all.
Until my good friend Coz stepped up to the plate. The following is a guest spot from Coz, and if you haven’t checked out his blog Chuck Does Art yet, you really should. He does even more amazing things than sampling lamb testicles there.
Lamb Fries – Holy Land Deli
How to Make Tomato Sauce from Scratch
Hello world! Can I have your attention please? I’m the girl bouncing up and down with the wooden spoon in her hand, grinning like a fool. Yes, that one, right there.
Everyone listening? Great! Now stop what you’re doing. Unless you are mid-surgery, or putting out a wildfire or something really important like that. Watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey for the 3rd time does not count.
Now, everyone go buy a lot of Roma tomatoes. I mean, a LOT of them. 10 pounds or more. Why? Because I just figured out how to make tomato sauce from scratch. And guess what?
It’s SO much better than anything you will find in a store. Taste-wise of course, but also in terms of added ingredients, sodium, oils, and all those other things that sneak into our sauces while we’re sleeping.
Embrace the joy of the ripe tomato.
Capering at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair – Part 1
I have been so flattered by the number of requests I’ve received for a write up on this year’s Minnesota State Fair! The fact you are all reading my blog enough to remember I did a State Fair post last year is amazing, and now you want more. Wow! Thank you!
So here’s some of my new favorites at the State Fair, and a few tips on how to discover favorites of your own!
Sweety Balls – Potato Man and Sweetie
The guy who served these to me thanked me for not making a joke about their name. While it is a funny name, these deep-fried mashed sweet potatoes are no laughing matter. Drizzled with chocolate sauce and served with a side of whipped cream, these sweet potatoes are like nothing you’ve tasted before.
Even if you hate sweet potatoes, I’d encourage you to give these a try, they taste more like cinnamon than sweet potato and have a buttery texture that works beautifully with the crispy outside. A word of warning: These things come out HOT, so let them cool a bit before biting into one.
Buttermilk Pancakes
Ahh….pancakes. Pretty much the perfect food if you ask me. The flavor combinations are endless, you can put things inside them, or on top of them, and they are a fast and easy way to feed a lot of people.
Besides, who doesn’t love breakfast?
Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Why hello there. Yes, you…the banana bar with frosting as thick as you are. Where have you been hiding?
Would you care to join me for a quick bite?
No?
Well, you are just too delicious to let slip through my fingers…NOM NOM NOM!
Creepiness aside, these are serious bars. I made these after a request, nay, a challenge, from a coworker to make a banana dish with cream cheese frosting – his favorite.
Luckily for him, I had 4 bananas quickly blackening and an oddly large amount of cream cheese in my fridge.
The Food of St. Andrews
St. Andrews is not a big place. Yes, it’s home to the Old Course, and yes, it’s where Kate met Prince William, but it is essentially a bubble or a world that houses a small fishing village, a lovely university (not that I’m biased…), and a large number of tourists/golfers.
It only has three main streets, but St. Andrews does not disappoint when it comes to food. Filled with adorable local cafes, bistros and bakeries, St. Andrews offers an amazing variety and quality of food not usually found around college students and tourists.
Here are my personal favorite places to eat while in St. Andrews. If you’re planning a visit, make sure to put these at the top of your list!
The Culinary Capers 