A short post today… Quick, weeknight dinners need not be dull and boring. Meet larb, it may be just what you’re looking for. Larb (also spelled laap, larp, lahb or laab) is a salad of Laotian and Northern Thai origin. Larb can be made with various proteins, from chicken to pork to duck. The meat is minced … Continue Reading
As the temperatures gradually begin to rise, our thoughts turn to alfresco dining and outdoor grilling. Come spring, I also like to dust off the smoker that’s been standing by idly in my basement all winter long. Nothing hardcore, just an electric smoker, but it does the job. I love its ease of use: turn … Continue Reading
My love and appreciation for Mexican food developed when I moved to Chicago in 2001. What does Chicago have to do with Mexican food? While Chicago is of course nowhere close to Mexico, it has the second largest population of Mexican immigrants in the United States (Los Angeles is first). That statistic is from 2014, so … Continue Reading
I love harissa. Have you tried it? It’s a North African chile paste, a blend of dried chiles, spices, and olive oil. You could use store-bought harissa, but I prefer to make it myself. When you make harissa, you control the ingredients and level of heat, make it more or less spicy by the combination … Continue Reading
There was a time when I didn’t think I liked chicken. But what I really didn’t like was dry, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. A whole roast chicken is a completely different story. A whole roast chicken is divine. Today, I tried out a new preparation for whole roast chicken. And I have to say, it … Continue Reading
