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Paneer vs Chikko
As a fun Saturday project, Tod suggested we make paneer. I was on board with that because I have been wanting to make the Chiba version of paneer, chikko katametano. Chikko katametano (entirely too long a name, so I just call it chikko) is traditionally made with colostrum, but since that’s not available unless you…
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Green melon salsa
Summer fruits make good toppings for savory meals when you turn them into salsa. My basic recipe pairs sweet fruit with sour, salt, and spicy elements and a kick of herbs. I make variations of it with whatever fruits and herbs we have through the season; I adore mango salsa but mangos are rare. This…
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Happy 55th
Tod’s mom baked his favorite birthday cake and we invited friends over to enjoy it with us. We spent the day preparing. Tim & I hung lights in the garden while Jeanie baked. Evening came and so did the guests. Our first party on the patio was a success. Happy birthday, Tod!
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Ants Climbing a Tree
I made this Chinese noodle dish for a party and want to save my version of the recipe so I can make it again. The key to the whole thing is finely chopping all of the ingredients so that the “ants” can climb the tree of the noodles. The flavor is spicy from the mustard…
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Ricotta cheesecake cupcakes
I love cheesecake but a whole cheesecake at home for two people is daunting. Smaller servings are easier to share, so cupcake tins are the way to go. This recipe makes 12 single-serving baked cheesecakes that are creamy and delicious with a generous crust. I adapted this recipe to work with the ingredients I had…
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Pickle Chicken
Every time we finish a jar of pickles, I do a happy dance. Tod makes the most delicious fried chicken with the leftover brine. We call it Pickle Chicken. To be honest, it’s a riff on J Kenji Alt’s Buttermilk Brined Southern Fried Chicken recipe, but with pickle brine substituting for the milk marinade. Pickle…
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Black Panther Bake Sale Pie
A while back the the dreadful heat of summer, Lawrence was reminiscing about a pie he recalled from his student days. “The Black Panthers use to sell it at their bake sales. Made with beans and spices. We ate it up.” I promised him I’d make one when the weather cooled down. And so over…
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Ume chutney
With so many plums on hand, I’ve gotten creative. There’s only so much jam you can make and give away when everyone else is also making it. It’s sort of like “zucchini season” in Pennsylvania when everyone is overwhelmed with their harvest. This is an adaptation of a British chutney recipe from Saveur. I localised…
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Ume-zing spiced plum jam
All the ume trees in our yard are producing plums like mad this year. We made ume-shu and with the remainder of the first harvest I cooked up this jam. It’s really good. I’ll be making some more because we’re harvesting plums every other day now. Ume-zing spiced plum jammakes about 2 cups 1 kg…
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Chocolate Cake, 1933 style
“All About Baking”, published in 1933, is an excellent primer on baking with lots of lost wisdom about how to prepare pans, to set baking times, and to perfect mixing techniques in the days before electric mixers. Doing this with a hand mixer makes it so very easy. Creaming butter by hand is a good…
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