Category Archives: Country

Easy Outdoor Party with Seasonal Produce (Part 3 of 3)

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Summer Berries

Summer Berries

What could be a better finish to our seasonal party than a shortcake with peak-of-season local berries?   Since our party was in June, strawberries were just the ticket. It is August now and, at least here in Michigan, local strawberries have moved over to make room for our luscious blueberries and blackberries.  No worries.  You can use any seasonal berry or mix of berries in this easy dessert.

There are a number of reasons why this dessert is so easy for a party menu: Continue reading →

Easy Outdoor Party with Seasonal Produce (Part 2 of 3)

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Sangrias at the Drinks Table

Sangrias at the Drinks Table

This summer party was a group effort – a beautiful backyard provided by our hosts, menu by A Global Garnish and food/drink contributions from all attendees.  Don’t confuse this group effort with a potluck, which has the emphasis on luck.  If you’re lucky, a potluck party will have a good distribution of appetizers, main dishes and desserts as well as a mix of ingredients/flavors.  But why leave all this to chance??  If you give out menu assignments, you KNOW the final meal will all come together.  Further, you save your guests the trouble of wondering:  “what should I make?”. Continue reading →

Easy Outdoor Party With Seasonal Produce (Part 1 of 3)

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Israeli Couscous with Sweet Red Peppers and Asparagus

Israeli Couscous with Sweet Red Peppers and Asparagus

Summer solstice – time to enjoy the glorious evening daylight, the early summer climate, lush gardens and early seasonal produce. Could there be a better time for an outdoor party?  My clever friends thought not. Continue reading →

Moroccan Chicken with Preserved Lemons, Olives and Artichokes

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Chicken with Preserved Lemons, Olives and Artichokes

Chicken with Preserved Lemons, Olives and Artichokes

Memories can be tricky.   My sister and I recently compared childhood memories only to find that, while some matched, many did not and a few were completely contradictory.  So, when I returned to Morocco after a 40-year hiatus, I feared the food would not live up to my seemingly indelible memories of magical scents and flavors. I was wrong.  It was better. Continue reading →

Cuban-Style Citrus – Mojo and Mojito (Part 2 of 2)

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Mojito Ingredients

Mojito Ingredients

“My Mojito in La Bodeguita, My Daiquiri in El Floridita.” … Ernest Hemingway.

La Bodeguita and El Floridita were favorite Ernest Hemingway haunts in Havana.  If you’ve read anything by or about Hemingway, you won’t be surprised that he lingered as regularly as possible in the proximity of his favorite drinks. La Bodeguita was his place for Mojitos. Continue reading →

Cuban-Style Citrus – Mojo and Mojito (Part 1 of 2)

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Historic Ybor City

Ybor City – Historic Cuban-American Neighborhood

Perhaps because it is so difficult for Americans to go there, I am fascinated by Cuba –with its rich history and culture.  To gain access, Americans must get a license from the U.S. Treasury Department, and that license requires a specific purpose (e.g., journalism, charitable work, government business, etc).   I haven’t applied for a license since I don’t think writing a food blog would qualify 🙂 Continue reading →

30 Years of Ukrainian Egg Parties – Painted Eggs, Party Menu and Paskha

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Pysanky - Artwork by Nanci Yermakoff

Pysanky – Watercolor by My Sister, Nanci Yermakoff, 2000.

Countries steeped in Eastern Orthodoxy celebrate Easter with glorious painted eggs and a traditional Easter buffet feast.

The eggs (pysanky) are quite an art form.  The style of egg-painting is different in each country (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus et. al.), but perhaps the most beautiful are the Ukrainian batik (wax-resist dyed) eggs. Continue reading →

Russian Easter “Ham” – Buzhenina

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Buzhenina

Buzhenina

Growing up in a Belarusian family, we always had Russian-style “fresh ham”, or Buzhenina, for Easter.  It didn’t look or taste like most Easter hams, because it was a “fresh ham”.  In which case, was it really a ham??? Continue reading →

Ireland’s Burren and Beef Stew

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The Burren, Ireland

The Burren, Ireland

Most people who visit Ireland go to see castles, explore pretty coastal villages and eat  hearty Irish meals, all of which was exactly what I had in mind on my first trip to Ireland.  But I made the colossal error of asking my husband to plan our trip.  So, we flew into Dublin and drove straight across the island to climb on rocks at The Burren.  I was not entirely sure about all this. Continue reading →