Tag: quick
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Classic Beets Salad
Out of the Russian gastronomic stereotypes (apart from cabbage, which is also German, and vodka, which is really quite popular around the globe) beets is one of the most persistent. And yes, we are truly beet-eaters. Beets are a proud ingredient of many traditional Russian dishes. Nothing to be shy about. Beet root is known…
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Cheater's Green Tea Ice Cream
In the last few weeks of summer, it is permissible to catch up on ice cream before the coming of sleet, rain and snowfalls, before the unforgettable slushy winter blues catch up with you and steal your soul, if only temporarily. Because I have been careful to avoid ice cream in the sweltering July days…
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Portobello Salmon
Finally, there came to be a dreary Sunday, the kind that causes bouts of spleen and laziness, chains one to her Brooklyn apartment, and hence also to its aging gas stove. Thus it came to be that I ignored my plans to go to the city for yoga, and instead cooked my favorite salmon recipe…
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Jilo
I live in the area where due to some mysterious immigration tendencies there are many Portuguese speaking people, some are from Brazil, some from Portugal. Those from Europe are a little scornful of those from South America, but both are very friendly and hard working people. They keep bakeries, restaurants, and little shops with Brazilian specialty foods. A…
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Soup with Puff Klezki
A soup with klezki, one of the simplest Russian dishes, must have been handy during the time of empty shelves in the Soviet supermarkets. I barely remember those times, they left in me no bitter sediment, and this soup has left me nothing but warmth. There are other variations on klezki, most notably the German kößchen, but the klezki I…
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Poor Man's Caprese
Most people who’ve paid a few visits to Italian restaurants know caprese, a traditional Italian salad composed of just 5 ingredients: tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It is lovely, satisfying, complete, but as a history of restaurant-going has proved, caprese is not the surest item on the menu. It leaves nothing…
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What Is This?..
What do you think you are seeing? Raw pork? No. Pink peach wedges? No! Unripe watermelon? No!! If somebody showed it to me some time ago and said it’s potatoes, I wouldn’t believe it. But the truth is it is potatoes. Freshly dug out and almost young potatoes was my last weekend happy find at one of…
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Zucchini with Wasabi Cream
Among squashes like pumpkin or butternut squash zucchini has a rather bland taste when used alone. So very often it is mixed with other vegetables in stir fries or used as a side dish. Zucchini of a bigger size has better more distinctive taste, but for some reason growers do not allow this vegetable to mature…
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Japanese Eggplant
Those who know me also know that eggplant is one of my favourite vegetables. Unlike many people, including my other half, I absolutely adore this nature’s creation. Eggplant (also aubergine) comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and today I experimented with different types of this fruit. I found my inspiration in the past, as…
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Tomato Herring Salad
Herring is one of those products that is under appreciated here in the US. It evokes the feelings of unconcealed disgust and possibility of poisoning. This is strange since anchovies, which are very similar, are widely used in gourmet preparations. Herring is not only Russian traditional food, it is also a favourite in many European countries, Scandinavians being the…
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Cucumber & Crispy Bacon Salad
Oh no, there’s yet another one of my lazy, spontaneous salads. But it is good, I do promise you! At least one witness does agree with me. Today, after another evening of fruitless apartment hunting in the heat and smelliness of New York, I told Gary over the phone that I was in no mood…
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Nutty Fish
How useful leftovers could be – once and again I had a tasty proof of it today. Fish for today’s dinner was planned ahead, but I hesitated for a moment about what to roll fish in before frying. Suddenly I glanced at ground walnuts that were sitting on the counter top since Masha’s elaborate experiments in our kitchen…
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Curried Daikon Salad
No, it is not black caviar you are seeing. It’s roasted black mustard seeds. Working from home today (a luxury I sometimes allow myself), I alloted myself a small lunch break. Not appreciating this distraction caused by hunger, I rummaged through the fridge, uninspired and impatient to get back to work. There was daikon, sour…
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Spiced Swordfish
My contribution to this dish is small. With good seafood, most of the flavor comes from the raw ingredients at its own accord: no need to awaken it and draw it out. With excellent fish, the main responsibility of the chef is not to overcook. Yesterday I bought fresh harpoon-caught swordfish at the Whole Foods,…
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Avocado, Zucchini and Watercress Salad
Next to mama’s elaborate posts informed by years of experience and accompanied by beautiful photos, mine are beginning to look more amateur than I would like. But there is not much that I can do about the scarcity of time. I suppose, our recipes reflect our lifestyles. Mine are usually about quickly throwing something tasty…
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Wild Strawberries Thrill
You are not mistaken – these are wild strawberries. I’ll tell you more: those strawberries were unexpectedly found by Alex when he was moving the lawn and ran into a small strawberry field that spread between two lots. It is beneficial sometimes to have a neighbor who doesn’t give a damn about his lawn – it offers Mother Nature…
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Shrimp Scampi My Way
Once long time ago we were visiting Lui-Lui, an Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant in New Hampshire. Recent immigrants and inexperienced out-eaters at that time, we had a vague understanding of local and international food. Dishes in the menu looked intriguing and mysterious. Calsone, antipasto, bruschetta, prosciutto, ciabatta, and what not. Among those difficult to pronounce viands was shrimp scampi.…
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Summer Eggplant and Tomato "Sandwich"
Summer is around, and with everything blooming, growing and producing, one longs for something right from the garden. Eggplant is one of these fruit of agricultural labour that is particularly good during summer time. Winter eggplant that is grown and forced to produce fruit artificially, has a bitter taste and requires special handling, hence more time for…
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Chicken Tenders with Brussel Sprouts
After working day aggravated by a few errands around town, I had no time for intricate preparations. Besides, my empty stomach was already beginning to play its hungry overture. It’s good to plan ahead for such days, so from yesterday’s shopping I had fresh chicken tenders, and some Brussels sprouts waiting to be used in my fridge. This…
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Daikon Salad
This favourite of ours was inspired by Asian salads that became popular in Russia in the 80-s. Korean salad, as we called it, was made mostly of carrots with the addition of garlic, red and black pepper, salt, white vinegar (there was nothing else in stores), and sunflower oil (also the only option we had at that time). Daikon, Japanese…
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