Butter Cookies

Butter Cookies

Ingredients: 250 gr Sugar 500 gr Butter 750 gr Flour 2 Eggs 2 Vanilla beans 1 Egg to “paint” the cookies Directions: Blend the butter and the sugar until smooth. Cut the vanilla beans through their lengths and scrape the inside. Add it and the 

Zucchini with Tomatoes

Zucchini with Tomatoes

This is a nice summer side dish. Ingredients: 8 zucchinis – sliced 2 red peppers – chopped 1 onion – finely chopped 2 garlic cloves – pressed 6 tomatoes – chopped salt and pepper to taste Directions: Fry the onions and the garlic for about 

Chanterelles (Pfifferlinge) in Cream Sauce

Chanterelles (Pfifferlinge) in Cream Sauce

I was lucky to see chanterelles at the market. Although I do relate them to a milder climate, and although it has been so hot in the last couple of weeks that my family has been on a food strike, I must say that it 

Broccoli Quiche

Broccoli Quiche

Ingredients: 1 large pie crust 1 1/2 cups broccoli 1/2 cup peas 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 cup shredded Gruyère 3 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 teaspoons salt nutmeg and pepper to taste Directions: Arrange the pie crust in a 

Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil Salad

Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil Salad

Ingredients: 3 ripe tomatoes 1/2 lb (250 gr) mozzarella Basil leaves Balsamico Cream Olive Oil Salt to taste Directions: Slice the tomatoes and the mozzarella. Arrange in circular form, alternating tomato slices with mozzarella and basil leaves. Sprinkle some balsamico cream and olive oil.   Add 

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

I added some Grenadine to the Frozen Yogurt for a twist and some color.  Grenadine is a syrup made of pomegranate juice, so it is sweet and adds a really nice flavor –  just make sure it’s the real thing and not some corn syrup 

Pabellón Criollo

Pabellón Criollo

This is Venezuela’s National Dish.  You can also serve it with Arepas and Queso Blanco (white cheese – similar to mozarella). Ingredients: Rice (cooked) Plátanos Fritos Black Beans Carne Mechada Directions: Serve all ingredients on a plate and sprinkle some shredded queso blanco over the 

Plátanos Fritos – Fried Plantains

Plátanos Fritos – Fried Plantains

For this dish you need really ripe plantains.  When I mean really ripe is when they look so black that you think you should be getting rid of them.  This is common sense for anyone born and raised in or around the Caribbean, but I 

Zacusca – Romanian Vegetable Spread

Zacusca – Romanian Vegetable Spread

A friend of mine from Romania thought me how to make this delicious spread.  You can serve it with crackers, toast or any type of bread. Ingredients: 3 Eggplants 5 Pimentos 3 Carrots 1 teaspoon tomato paste 1 – 2 teaspoons salt pepper to taste 

Turmeric and Ginger Pork Stir Fry

Turmeric and Ginger Pork Stir Fry

I was at the Asia-Markt this morning, and they had Ginger Turmeric tea. I must say I found the combination so interesting I had to have it for dinner – not the tea – the stir-fry! Ingredients: 1/2 lb pork meat – sliced 2 onions 

Venezuelan Shish Kebabs – Pinchos

Venezuelan Shish Kebabs – Pinchos

We’re having such a terrible summer, that I had to make the Shish Kebabs on the stove.  Either way works well, but I must say, with pork it almost works better on a pan, since one can adjust the cooking time and temperature a little 

Banana Stracciatella Frozen Yogurt

Banana Stracciatella Frozen Yogurt

If you’re tired of buying ice cream at the store, try making your own.  Right before serving dinner, I add all the ingredients to the Ice Cream machine, and by the time we’re done eating, it’s ready! Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt 1 banana 

Peanut Butter Chicken

Peanut Butter Chicken

A friend form Peru told me about this dish yesterday and it sounded so interesting I just had to try it!  The original Peruvian recipe is made with chicken pieces, previously fried, but I gave it a twist, and made it in the oven since 

Yogurt with Bananas & Berries

Yogurt with Bananas & Berries

It’s time to add my family’s favorite snack on the blog.  When the kids were little, I started to make “cambur machacado”.  “Cambur” is banana in Venezuela (not in other spanish speaking countries), and “machacado” means mashed.  I think the name started as a joke, 

Kasseler with Sauerkraut

Kasseler with Sauerkraut

Ingredients: 4 smoked pork chops 1/2 Cabbage – thinly sliced 1 can sauerkraut 1 onion – chopped 4 peppercorns 1 teaspoon salt 4 bay leaves 4 dried juniper berries 1 cup apple juice Directions: In a large pot, fry the chopped onions slightly in a 

Diablitos Gourmet

Diablitos Gourmet

Diablitos was everyone’s favorite in Venezuela when I was a kid.  It is actually an American product – Deviled Ham, but its largest consumer is Venezuela.  It’s usually consumed with arepas, toast or crackers.  A friend of ours started mixing it with mayo and parmesan 

Komm Morgen Wieder

Komm Morgen Wieder

This is a Latvian Specialty.  I have searched to find out the origin of the name without any success.  All I know is that the Latvians that left Latvia in the 40’s call them “Komm Morgen Wieder” which means “come back tommorow” in German, and 

Mushroom Cream Sauce

Mushroom Cream Sauce

1 lb (500 gr) fresh mushrooms – sliced 1/2 onion – finely diced 2 garlic cloves – pressed 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup milk Salt Pepper Nutmeg 1 teaspoon cornstarch – dissolved in water Parmesan or Pecorino – grated Cooked tortellini Directions: Fry the 

Avocado Shrimp Cocktail

Avocado Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp Cocktail with avocado was one of my favorite meals in Venezuela. Ingredients: Cooked shrimp – 6 per serving Avocados – 1/2 per serving Salsa Rosada: 2 Tablespoons Mayo 4 Tablespoons Ketchup Lemon Juice Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 teaspoon horseradish Directions: Mix all 

Pork Roast with Quince

Pork Roast with Quince

You can make this dish with quince jam, or any jam of your choice – I would stick to the light ones though (apricot, peach). Ingredients: 1 Pork roast 2 Tablespoons Quince jam 3 Onions – cut in small pieces 4 garlic cloves – chopped 

Cheese Sticks

Cheese Sticks

Ingredients: Puff pastry Parmesan cheese – grated Olive oil Salt Garlic powder Directions: Cut the puff pastry in 1.5″ x 10″ (4cm x 25 cm) pieces. Brush olive oil over the puff pastry. Sprinkle salt, garlic powder and parmesan cheese over the puff pastry. Take 

Cheese Quiche

Cheese Quiche

Being in Switzerland at the moment, there’s no wonder all my dishes this week are packed with cheese.  This is no exception! 1 lb (500 gr) grated Swiss cheese 1 teaspoon cornstarch 3/4 cup half & half (or milk) 1 Tablespoon flour 2 Tablespoons ricotta 

Klimpas Soup

Klimpas Soup

This used to be my childhood’s favorite soup!  My Latvian great-grandmother used to make it when I was very, very young, and then my mom took over the recipe.  I just learned it from her!  Here’s the recipe: Ingredients: Consommé – see yesterday’s post 1 

Chicken with Broccoli

Chicken with Broccoli

  I think I like any dish with cheese… I guess it has to do with my swiss roots 😉  In Switzerland, at family restaurants, almost everything has cheese in it – if not, they put cheese on top! Ingredients: 1 chicken – in pieces 

Fish Sticks

Fish Sticks

This is an easy way to make home-made fish sticks! Ingredients: 1 lb (500 gr) fish filets – cut into thin stripes 1 egg 1 cup bread crumbs salt oil Directions: Sprinkle some salt over the fish stripes Scramble the egg in a medium bowl, 

Moussaka

Moussaka

Hola Sonia, aquí te dedicamos mi mamá y yo la receta! It’s been a very long time since we have made Moussaka at home.  We adjusted the preparation of the eggplants to save on a few calories … We have been grilling eggplants for so 

Crunchy French Toast

Crunchy French Toast

I remember eating “crunchy” French Toast when I was a kid.  There’s a tiny little trick in order to make them! Ingredients: 8 slices sandwich bread 2 eggs 1 cup milk sugar cinnamon oil Marmalade, powder sugar, maple syrup Directions: Mix 2 eggs, milk, 1 

Tortellini with Saffron Sauce

Tortellini with Saffron Sauce

Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon Saffron 1/2 onion – finely diced 2 garlic cloves – pressed 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup milk 2 egg yolks – mixed with a little bit of milk Salt Pepper Parmesan or Pecorino – grated Cooked tortellini Directions: Put the saffron 

Crispy Chicken

Crispy Chicken

Ingredients: 2 cups corn flakes 1/2 cup flour 2 eggs 1 chicken – in pieces salt, pepper and garlic powder Oil Directions: Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic powder over the chicken pieces. Place the corn flakes in a large plastic bag and crunch them well 

Pork Filet with Prunes

Pork Filet with Prunes

Ingredients: 1 Pork filet 15 – 18 prunes 2 Onions – chopped in large chunks 7 oz (200 gr) sliced bacon salt and pepper 1 cup water Directions: Slice the Filet lengthwise.  Place prunes along the middle. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Wrap the filet with 

Garlic Pizza Bread

Garlic Pizza Bread

Ingredients: 1 Pizza Dough 1 Garlic clove – crushed 2 Tablespoons Olive oil Oregano Marjoram Directions: Make the pizza dough. Warm up the oven to 360ºF (200ºC). Form your pizza bread, cover with a towel, and let rest for 15 minutes. Mix the garlic, olive 

Black Beans

Black Beans

You will find this dish throughout the Caribbean, and the north of South America.  I make it Venezuelan style.  I do know that in Brazil and that in Cuba it is prepared similarly, but I am not sure how close their recipes are.  The only 

Chicken Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas

I love this dish. Yes, it does take more time to prepare all the ingredients, but then it is a lot of fun to eat! Tip 1:  leftovers taste great, so do not worry about making too much of anything! Tip 2:  Cover the leftover 

Mushroom Omelette

Mushroom Omelette

You can adapt the recipe and make cheese, mushroom or any combination of your favorite Omelette.  It is important though to have a good non-stick pan to make this dish. Ingredients: 7 oz (200 gr)  mushrooms 1 onion – chopped finely Salt and pepper to 

Pizza

Pizza

We like to make Pizza on Tuesdays, because the kids have sport until 6 pm, and then there’s not enough time to cook. I usually set the bread machine to make the dough while we are away, so that as soon as we get home, 

Crêpes

Crêpes

Ingredients: 18 oz (550 ml) Milk 3 eggs 2 Tablespoons oil 1/2 lb (220 gr) flour 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions: Mix all ingredients in a blender. Make Crêpes in a Crêpe pan at med – high heat.  Use a soup serving spoon