Here’s the summer. Here comes the 4th. There goes Juneteenth. Lots of thoughts clouding my mind. Quarantine effects linger. One prevailing thought: keep it simple! Looking around my kitchen, we came up with the below. When cooking with ingredients, its helpful to see the ingredients for the flavors they contribute and the roles the play in a dish, rather than just what we’re used to seeing them used for. Think sweet, salty, savory, bitter, sour. Think strawberries, tomatoes, cheese, balsamic.
Category: cooking
Roasted Berbere Veggie Medley
This Black Beauty’s own Instagram identifies her as a Somali home cook in Brooklyn, ShEO of @basbaassauceI. There’s still plenty to learn about her but I was briefly introduced to the work of Hawa Hassan by the podcast “From Scratch” by Michael Ruhlman. During her feature, she shared a simple recipe for roasted carrots, chickpeas,…
Roasted Carrot and Spice Soup
This isolation situation we find ourselves in has warranted a new life for us all. It’s afforded me time to try some new recipes and new experiences. Last night, I had a blast cooking with the Culture New Norm family on IGTV and we made this simple soup that pays you back much more than…
For the Love of Cooking! 5 Tips to Love Your Time in the Kitchen
Breathtaking aromas, melodious rhythms, smiling faces- not to mention the rolling beads of sweat. This is the kitchen. This is cooking. Happy Thanksgiving to all. I’ve spent the last 5 away from home, but no matter where I am, Thanksgiving takes me back, to memories of crowded kitchens- with most if not all of my…
Serving Our Willing Warriors- a Taste of Japan
Happy Veteran’s Day! I thought today was an appropriate one to catch up with you and share an opportunity I’ve had to show a veteran some appreciation. There’s an organization called SOWW, Serving Our Willing Warriors, in Bull Run of Haymarket, Virginia. They offer retreat getaways to veterans in some form of recovery and invite…
Airbnb Glazed Carrots #Kitchenlessness The #kitchenlessness is getting real…and old. I ended up in an Airbnb reservation on Thanksgiving but found a dinner to crash. And thought I’d bring a side. Mac’n’Cheese was missing from the menu but I had my qualms about shopping and producing on time in a kitchen that wasn’t my own….
Check Please #HoneSweetHome
I love to quote my Belizean jam-roll-baking, coconut-tart-filling Auntie Donaldine when she says “Ting done! Pah-ty Ooova!” Advanced Culinary came to an end, with our graduation ceremony this past Friday. Chef Andre Ward, a Certified Pastry Chef and Certified Executive Chef and recently retired SFC (Army) with quite a resume was the guest speaker. Service…
Advanced Culinary #HoneSweetHome
We’re at the halfway point! Since the last post, I’ve been practicing some culinary techniques and honing my skills, adding a few new ones to the arsenal. IF you’ve been following on Facebook @ChefTasteBud, you’ve seen the photos- what the U.S. military’s Joint Culinary Center of excellence has named its Advanced Culinary Skills Training Course. …
#HokkaidoSummerSlice
Hey! It’s me! It’s you! Not at all a long post, but just dropping in to say “Hi, I’m back.” Or maybe to say that I’m still here. Keeping up with you has gotten a bit harder lately, every time I think I’ve figured it out. Lots on the plate. One of my new favorite…
Cutting Edge: Prepping for “Chopped”
Tomorrow’s the day. The name of the game is Chopped. The object of the game is to not be Chopped: mystery basket cooking competition:3 courses, 4 mystery ingredients, and at least 70 minutes of intense cooking. We’ll start with 4 cooks, but only one will be named Chopped Champion! Am I nervous? Not yet. It’s…
A Tor in Ayutthaya, Thailand #PostCards #SE43
Oops. This one got lost in the mail… Perhaps CIA isn’t technically my alma mater, I’m not sure the rules. But it seems Tor is indeed my brother. I had taken very little time to actually plan what I’d do once I arrived to Thailand. So it was a great pleasure to meet up with…
Meatless Fridge
Some like the Meatless Monday’s, some have health problems, some have diet preferences, and some will soon be declaring New Years resolutions. Me? I just need to go shopping. In the meantime, did lil search for some meatless motivation and there were many suggestions but those peppers L👀K pretty good. What you thinkin? “So how…
Tip of the Tongue 