Category Archives: Sides & Bites

Tomato Cheese Salad

Easy and really tasty salad-appetizer for picnic or party. You can use any flavor chips you like, we prefer the cheese or onion flavor. Decorate with the chips just before serving or they will be soggy....
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Boquerones, Spanish Tapas with Anchovies

Boquerones is a type of Spanish appetizer (tapa) and the main ingredient is anchovies, small fish marinated in vinegar and olive oil. The first time I tried boquerones tapas was in Barcelona, you can find them everywhere in south of Spain, any bar or restaurant. This appetizer can be made with the addition of red marinated peppers, for example piquillo...
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Sunflower Kozinaki

Another Slavic sweet and easy recipe from my childhood that can be prepared quickly from sunflower seeds or nuts. Kozinaki (Gozinaki) are Georgian and Armenian sweets with walnuts and honey, traditionally prepared for the New Year and Christmas. Instead of walnuts they can be made from hazelnuts, sunflower seeds or sesame seeds. It's definitely kid's favorite!...
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Edamame with Spices

I began to grow edamame a few years ago, they are easy to grow and perfect for freezing, very tasty and healthy. Last year I save some of them for seeds for this year, and the rest of them go into my freezer so I cooked them the whole year....
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Baked Brie with Fig Jam and Nuts

This appetizer can be cooked two ways, with or without the puff pastry. If you decide to cook without puff pastry, then cut the cheese lengthwise into two parts, spread the jam with walnuts and thyme in the middle of the first part, wrap cheese tightly on all sides with foil. Cook in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Serve...
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Pigodi, Korean Steam Pies with Meat and Cabbage

Pigodi are a type of Korean pies that are steamed. I usually cook them in a bamboo steamer. The most popular type is with meat and cabbage. Its best to use finely chopped pork but they can also be prepared with ground meat. Serve with various sauces, for example, mix the soy sauce with wine vinegar, fresh finely chopped cilantro...
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Vareniki with Potato and Mushrooms

Vareniki (varenyky, pirogi) are stuffed dumplings from Ukraine made from unleavened dough and different fillings. Some of the more popular fillings are vegetables, boiled potatoes, salted cabbage, baked pumpkin, fruits and berries, meat, mushroom, cheese, poppy seed or buckwheat. My favorite fillings are meat, potatoes with onions and mushrooms, cottage cheese or curd cheese and cherries. Vareniki with berry...
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Baked Eggs with Bacon

Very interesting idea how to cook the ordinary breakfast of bacon and eggs. I used a one cup bowl, but you can use a muffin pan also which are a little smaller, so you’ll get more servings too. It’s not necessary to add spinach or it can be replaced by other herbs as well....
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