Even though I believe it might be sacrilege in the South, I never was a fan of sweet tea. My mom and dad loved it, and as a child, I would drink it, but I preferred to put so much lemon juice in it that it tasted like tea-flavored lemonade (or, I guess I just loved Arnold Palmers from a young age!). It wasn’t until adulthood set in that I even started drinking tea again. And when I did, it was the discovery of hot tea, unadulterated, that lured me back. When it got the least bit lukewarm, I would throw it away.

That is, until I traveled to Sharjah. While there, I had one of the most refreshing drinks I’d ever tasted on a 100 degree day – iced mint tea, served in a tiny, Moroccan glass no less. (more…)

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Dairy free, Drink Time, Gluten free, Mid Eastern, Vegan, Vegetarian by Courtney

Three-day weekends and sunshine just scream for firing up the grill, getting together with friends, and enjoying all the world has given you. So in that spirit, I thought it would be fun to give you a little inspiration if your plans this weekend involve barbecuing, or grilling out as we call it down South (because barbecue is reserved for almighty smoked pig event!).

Double Cheeseburgers: If you’re looking for the standard fare, there’s nothing much better than the cheeseburger. Juicy beef, melty American cheese, fresh from the garden lettuce – mmm! Here’s my take on the double cheeseburger, with a great, mild seasoning for the meat.

Lamb sliders: If you’re looking for an amazing twist on the humble cheeseburger, look no further. This recipe starts with fresh ground lamb, adds some heat and Mediterranean spices, and gets topped with feta, haloumi, and cucumbers for a refreshing crunch!

Grilled Chicken Wings: I’m going to go ahead and say you should get at least 3 pounds of chicken wings per person, because these guys are amazing. There will be nothing left on the bones and your guests will be begging for more (or at least for the recipe).
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Cooking outdoors by Courtney

I’ve been on a bit of a Thai kick lately. Earlier this week I played around with a couple of recipes for Thai beef salad, and while I was perusing my Thai recipes, I came across a recipe for Tom Khaa Kai, or Chicken, Coconut and Galangal soup.

As I read through the recipe, I realized I had most of the items I needed already in my pantry or freezer to make the tropical-flavored soup. Originally I was going to make the soup to go with the Thai beef salad, but I ended up not being that hungry the other night, so I decided to put my soup and sandwich tray to good use, making monster spring rolls to go with the soup.

And that’s how this recipe became more than a variation on the cookbook recipe. (more…)

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Dairy free, Dinner, Gluten free, Sandwiches, Soups, Thai, Vegan, Vegetarian, World traveller by Courtney

Upon receiving my bounty of salmon last week, I knew just what I wanted to make with it. Earlier in the week I had picked up a copy of Saveur magazine on a whim. It promised delightful Corsican foods and bread recipes that I could make. Buried deep inside the issue, though, was a gem of an article on Senegal feasts, with recipes ranging from fritters and stews to magnificent salads. Upon seeing these salads I headed right back out to the store, picking up the ingredients and making them that evening. (more…)

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African, Dairy free, Gluten free, Lunch, Salad, Sunday Suppers, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wine pairings by Courtney

I’m feeling like quick and easy is the way to go on hump day, so with that theme in mind, I give you orecchiette with peas and mint, one of the simplest one-pot meals to make. It’s the perfect pasta for this time of year – simple flavors that aren’t to heavy, leaving you with the taste of tangy goat cheese, sweet peas, and fresh mint dancing around in your mouth.

Ready for the instructions? Because this is way too easy to call a recipe… (more…)

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Lunch, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian by Courtney