I moved from northern California 2 years ago to Miami and prior to that had never eaten Cuban, or Peruvian food. I became hooked. The first time I tried OX tails I was a bit skeptical but they are delicious. I also loved the cilantro and lime used so generously in Peruvian food. I also made a trip back home to Cali and while out here tried Greek cuisine for the first time. I was blessed with an ex's mother being Thai so I did learn a few recipes from her and still to this day get jars full of her dried Thai chili peppers and ground browned rice. I love that I have experienced so many different cuisines.

As fro being a flavor whore lol I am on that boat as well. I was raised with salt/pepper and lawrys garlic salt being the staple spices, but after years of experimenting I am definitely venturing out.

You are very kind Duchess ... Welcome to the thread!

Come on over! I think its time to start planning a dinner party, we have a lot of talented cooks here.

I look forward to it.

Go Bob!
 

Now here is a great story:

Owner of Bobs Red Mill Natural Foods Gives His Company to His 209 Employees

Some of my cooking is Sat and Sun mornings making pancakes with my seven year old son and seeing how big we can make the smiley faces with the whipped cream.

Lovely thread Sun. I am learning.

From my experience the Peruvian food I have had uses a lot of Lime juice and they have a cilantro salsa. They make this dish called: Lomo Saltado (angus loin slice sauted)
Lomo Saltado is a dish of marinated Angus loin slice sauted,onions w/tomatoes and french fries, served over white rice. It is one of the most popular recipes in Peru
They have fried corn which is similar to corn nuts in a sense on the tables.
My gf gets this dish : Sudado de pargo entero (Whole poached red snaper)
Red snaper pouched w/ tomatoes,onions and special peruvian vinegar corn
we also share this dish : Jalea (Fried fish and Seafood mix)
Deep fried fish and seafood mix, tender inside and crispy outside, this breaded fish and seafood is served with fried yucca, tartar sauce, and criolle onions sauce)
They have a red onion, Cilantro, and heavy limejuice salsa. It is really flavorful. Ceviche is a big dish in the Peruvian resturants as well.
One of our favorite Peruvian resturants is Sabor a Peru which all these dishes are from.

As for the ground red chili peppers, I tend to make a hot sauce with Fish sauce, lime juice and dried ground chili peppers, its used on meats, or lots of things. The ground brown rice is used to make a dish called Larb.

lol Sun buddy...When you come to visit we are making crepes.

The Zoo is great. Can't wait to see you.

Can you please try to arrange for a baby Panda to be at the Zoo this time please? Every time I go I get hopeful that I am going to see a baby Panda and then nothing!

Seriously..I need to see a baby Panda.

Or I have to go to China.

And eat dim sum.

Which is not a bad thing really.

What else are we making?

This is probably a mistake, but I'm having a bowl of homemade chili with crackers. Of course, being an Ohio girl, I have been known to throw it down with spaghetti, onion, cheese and beans. This delicacy must be savored after 2AM and a lot of horsing around. To sell it in the freezer section is a sin.

And behold, the recipe for Gui's Chili-I don't fool around with this.

2 lbs ground beef or turkey
2 cans kidney beans (can drain if too liquidy)
4 cans tomato sauce (standard size)
4 cans petite diced tomatoes (careful about how many spicy varieties there are now, in the small print)
1 packet mild taco seasoning
1 packet mild chili seasoning

Simmer all this together on low heat, or in a warm crockpot for who the heck knows. It's even good to make it one day and serve it the next.

According to Wikipedia, it started in 1922 with restauranteurs from Macedonia, of all places. They were trying to make an American form of their cuisine (like chop suey for the Chinese). Then it went from there, through Skyline, Empress, Gold Star.

3 way-chili, spaghetti, cheese
4 way-chili, spaghetti, cheese, beans
5 way chili, spaghetti, cheese, beans, onion

Hey, Sun, this is the wrong thread but anyway, I took your advice that you weren't even giving me and started today (Monday?) by writing an affirmation about how I wanted the day to go-what I wanted to accomplish or manifest. I found the entire energy of the day was changed. I believe our minds "feed" on whatever we give them-negativity or positive vibes. What a good idea :).

What????
Wow.
Okay.

That is fantastic! I love Bobs Red Mill everything. We have this random weird "discount" store here, sells everything from flip flops to cowboy hats to lawn furniture, toothpaste, you get the idea. They have an entire aisle of everything Bobs red mill ever produced. So weird and so awesome.

Thanks for sharing!

Are you talking about Ocean State??? We have them here too.... That's where i got my awesome possum Christmas cards :) I saw that they have Red Mill and I was so happy. Im gonna get their steel cut oats.....and I got their gluten flour for a bread recipe...awesome stuff....

I NEVER tire of Chinese/Asian food....I could seriously have Thai every day....and I heart Japanese...and sushi.....I actually had good sushi the other day at the casino buffet....shocking :)

My ex's mum is going to teach me how to make Rendang this week hopefully. :D

And then you are going to teach us yes?

We could schedule cooking lessons in this thread.

That would be fun

You all have good things to teach us! .

it is regional....i dont know how MUCH of a discount it is....but I know its way cheaper than getting it at say trader joes or whole foods.....i want to find a nice healthy breafast for teddy before work and the oats sound like a good deal...with some dried fruit and coconut flakes....vanilla...dates mayhaps....

I was thinking about privilege myself, before Sun said it.

Next week I'm going to be serving at a food kitchen for Thanksgiving, before whatever I'm doing for dinner.

I was thinking...in a way, taking care of ourselves with food to me is recognition that we have a great gift, not only our bodies but the food itself and for some of us, the gift of preparing it.

While I know I can do more here to help hungry people (probably we all can), the least I can do is not squander what I've been blessed to receive-a healthy body and available good food ("good" as in nutritious). Not sure I'm expressing myself well, but by honoring myself with food, and taking care of my health by not forcing junk in, maybe that helps me better help others?

I know there's a thought in there that moved me, but I'm having trouble getting it out so it makes sense :(.

That's a great thought Sun, I was thinking of taking some photos at least. I'm pretty sure the rendang most folks get overseas is quite pale to the read thing, hell, in fact you can get pathetic rendang right here in Malaysia! :bigcry: I don't know how to describe the real thing - creamy with the coconut milk and wonderful texture with the coconut thread, lemon grass, etc and then this delicious spice ... :awww:

A couple of years ago I was very fortunate to attend the birthday party of one of my ex's aunties. This aunty in particular is a fantastic cook and she made her own rendang. To. Die. For. :awww: You wouldn't believe it though, there was also pizza and kfc. :blink: I asked her why and she said it was for the kids. Huh? Was my response. She said that children these days don't like spicy food.

I understand exactly what you're saying, and I think that's a really good way of looking at it. Nobody, least of all ourselves, benefits when we're unhealthy. And if we eat wisely then aren't we also spending wisely and wasting less? :)

spice....if I forget....I must be reminded to post my client's spice/rub recipe...its good to add to sauteed veggies....or to hummus....or to lentil stew.....or use as a rub on chicken...maybe even beef....? I will let Sun make that determination....lol


<<<< NOT a chef...

my honey makes her version of fried rice weekly and a lot of it so I can eat during the week while I study. she uses brown basmati (healthy version), green onion, shredded carrot, turkey bacon, soy, egg, and black pepper. its absolutely one of my favourite dishes she makes.

I love it more when she uses Sushi rice--

So anyone -- do you like fried rice, what's your favourite?

storing cooked food ...
 

Sun, or anyone else ... After we've finished eating, and if there are left-overs, my ex insists on reheating the food and then letting it cool down before refrigerating it. Is the reheating necessary?

This caught my eye

Tostada de Platano con Camarones

sheeeesh that looks delish Sun! ... and talks of chinese dumplings, and ox tails. yum! making me hungry ya'll. :)

My gram used to make a good soup with Oxtails and cabbage in it. mm mmm.

Hope you all enjoy your evening. My day is just starting as I'll head to work in a couple hours.