Vegetarian

Esta es La Pera: Pears Poached in Red Wine and Cassis

Esta es La Pera: Pears Poached in Red Wine and Cassis

In Spain,  Esta es La Pera is a popular idiom used to describe a particularly enjoyable experience. Literally translated, it means “This is the pear.”    So, in the spirit of this season when pears shine, here is a “no fuss” dessert that showcases one of the best…

Memories of the Adriatic: Lemony Stuffed Peppers

Memories of the Adriatic: Lemony Stuffed Peppers

I enjoy stuffed peppers.  While I never had them in my childhood, as an adult I was fortunate to travel to Dubrovnik in the then Yugoslavia where stuffed peppers and stuffed tomatoes were regularly on the menu. Loved them then.  Not too much worked in…

Green Pea Soup (Indian Style)

Green Pea Soup (Indian Style)

Two of my good friends just married and I made this soup for them and for some of our friends who gathered to celebrate their marriage. The soup was very well received and my friends urged me to post the recipe here. So, here goes. …

Banana Cake With Malted Milk Ball Garnish

Banana Cake With Malted Milk Ball Garnish

Milk Duds. Abba Zaba bars. Sugar Daddies. Atomic Fireballs.  (Atomic Fireballs?! Yikes!) Candy memories and Retro Candy. Who knew it was a thing?  I didn’t. But, then, I recently came across this recipe for a Banana Cake With Malted Milk Ball Garnish. Malted Milk Balls!…

Stay Calm and Carry Strawberry Basil Crumb Bars (in your purse “for later”)

Stay Calm and Carry Strawberry Basil Crumb Bars (in your purse “for later”)

  In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, news sources are filled with colorful anecdotes about her life. One such story describes wild strawberry picking in the pine forests that surround Balmoral Castle. (No. Wait.  That sentence didn’t come out right. “Wild strawberry picking”…

Hot Weather Food: Spicy Corn and Chile Salad

Hot Weather Food: Spicy Corn and Chile Salad

We’re under an extreme heat “dome” here in SoCal.  An hour ago Alexa told me the temperature was 104 degrees F. Just now, with a little more cloud cover, Alexa says it is 84 degrees F. Is that kind of precipitous temperature drop even possible?…

Noodles with Eggplant and Mango Salad

Noodles with Eggplant and Mango Salad

“A well-made salad must have a certain uniformity; it should make perfect sense for those ingredients to share a bowl.”                                                  …

Oldies But Goodies: Chermoula Eggplant With Bulgur and Yogurt

Oldies But Goodies: Chermoula Eggplant With Bulgur and Yogurt

Every month Blue Cayenne features recipes from our archive of more than four hundred recipes. These recipes are our “Oldies But Goodies.” Today’s Oldie But Goodie recipe is for a tasty main dish, Chermoula Eggplant With Bulgur and Yogurt.   You will find a link…

From Breakfast to a Late Night Snack, This is An Exceptional Spice Cake

From Breakfast to a Late Night Snack, This is An Exceptional Spice Cake

  This is a spectacular little spice cake for just about any time of the day. (I’ve done personal research.)  The spices in the cake really sing, reminding me of the spicing in a good cup of chai. The cake is moist with a fine texture.…

A No Recipe Recipe: Mushrooms In Puff Pastry

A No Recipe Recipe: Mushrooms In Puff Pastry

You can go home again! After a too long Covid-related hiatus and with a nudge from some good friends, I finally made it back to the Long Beach Marina Farmers Market.  As I strolled through the trimmed-down market, I was reminded of the many reasons…