Category Archives: Mushrooms & Vegetables

Paella with Chicken and Chorizo

Paella is a national of Spain, particularly in the Valencia area, made of rice, saffron, and additionally seafood, chicken, vegetables and sausages. Traditionally paella is served on Sundays or on March 19 which is St. Joseph Day. There are several versions of the origins of this dish, the first derives from the Latin word "patella" which translates to pan....
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Zucchini pancakes

Crispy pancakes with a nice soft center. They taste like the zucchini version of 'deruny', Ukrainian potato pancakes. It's better to use older squash or zucchini, they have less liquid so the dough is thicker and much richer flavor. You can add fresh garlic instead of garlic powder, the flavor is a little stronger. The herbs you can change depending...
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Mango Salsa

This refreshing salsa is perfect for summer. Very tasty and flavorful, great for grilled or steamed fish, on meat, or you can serve with chips and beer. Mango can be replaced with pineapple, papaya, apricot or peach and instead of cilantro try  basil or parsley....
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Sweet and Sour Sliced Pickles

A quick and easy recipe for crunchy sweet and sour pickles with a little spice. I like this version because the pickles aren't so sweet and you can still taste the cucumber flavor. You can use small or large cucumbers. The marinade will not cover completely the cucumbers at first since the cucumbers will have more juice after they marinate...
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Crispy Fried Onions

Crispy, slightly sweet onion. This is a great addition to burgers or salads. My kids like to add it to their pasta or mashed potatoes. The next day the  onions are not as crispy like on the first day so try to use the same day but if not, they can still be used in various dishes and stored...
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Greek Pasta Salad

Light refreshing and nourishing spring/summer salad, this  pasta salad can be a great dish for lunch on a hot day, or for a romantic dinner with the wine or bring it to a picnic in Summer! Cook the salad 5 hours before serving, or leave for overnight in a refrigerator so everything has a chance to soak up the flavors of...
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Ossetian Pies Kartofdzhyn

These popular Ossetian pies are baked with different fillings and often prepared on holidays. In Ossetia they traditionally serve three pies on a plate and only on days of mourning - an even number. These pies are a cult food in Ossetia and have ritual significance. Kartofdzhyn- the pie stuffed with potato and cheese. Ossetian cheese can be replaced with similar cheese such...
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Baked Eggplant with Tomatoes and Garlic

A similar dish is very popular from my hometown of Odessa, Ukraine called 'eggplant caviar'. I changed the recipe a bit, usually eggplant is baked over an open fire, I instead baked eggplant in the oven with tomatoes and garlic and added the walnuts to the recipe. Perfect appetizer for dishes with meat or fish, or you can serve simply with a toast....
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