Korean gochujang paste is my new obsession: think of a blend of sweet and spicy miso paste. I’ve seen it once at the mini price store (some years ago sighhh), but it does exist in San Jose. If you find it, grab it and share it with your loved ones. A small amount goes a long way.
Ingredients for the fried chicken wings
1 kilo of whole chicken wings
1 teaspoon of salt
1 pinch of black or white pepper
1/2 cup of cornstarch (maizena)
oil for deep frying
Instructions
Split the wings into drumettes and wingettes, discard the tips (good for making stock).
Pat dry with paper towels and let sit for a few hours in salt and pepper.
Pat dry again before tossing in cornstarch to coat evenly.
Heat oil until it spatters and cook wings in several batches until well done.
This should take at least 1/2 hour depending on size of wings. Check for doneness.
This is a remake of the classic pecan pie with macadamias as the star ingredient. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and your guests will rave about about this awesome tropical dessert!
For an 8 inch pie dish.
CRUST
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups flour, plus extra for rolling
1 tbs sugar
1/2 ts salt
3 tbs manteca (shortening) chilled
4 tablespoons of butter (preferably unsalted) chilled
4 to 6 tbs water
1/2 shot vodka
Directions
Work the dough by hand combining fats and flour into a crumbly mix.
Moisten with water and vodka until you can form a ball.
Let rest for 2 hours.
Roll out and line pie dish.
FILLING
Ingredients
2 cups of coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup of light corn syrup
3/4 cups of white sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla
3 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 3500F (1980C).
Cream eggs, sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla together until well blended.
Add nuts and pour into prepared pie shell.
Bake for about one hour or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
When bananas become old and mushy, they are perfect for this recipe. You will love how quickly and easily these loaves are prepared.
Makes two 8 X 4 inch pans.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons of soft butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 large ripe bananas
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 cups of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips
Directions
Prepare the pans and preheat the oven to 350 F (197 C)
Cream the butter and the sugar, add eggs, continue to blend while adding vanilla and bananas. Mix together dry ingredients before incorporating them into the batter. Lastly add the chocolate chips and pour into prepared pans.
Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the loaf.
Years ago, I learned that Italian polenta is a finer version of those exact little “grits” so beloved in the US south. Here to satisfy those soul food cravings, this is comfort food at its best. The topping is extremely versatile so you can use your favorite proteins, sauces, or leftovers…
Serves 6
For the shrimp and gravy
1/2 kilo (one pound) medium to large shrimp, peeled, and deveined. Pat dry with paper towels.
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons of olive oil
4 sun-dried tomatoes (optional)
1 cup of tomato puree
A couple drops of Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh thyme and parsley
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Using your favorite frying pan, fry garlic in olive oil, add dried tomatoes, herbs, and finally tomato puree.
Season with salt, pepper, Worcestershire, and brown sugar.
Allow to thicken before adding shrimp.
Stir-fry for no more than 5 minutes and remove the entire pan to keep warm.
After we thank our Jamaican friends for Bob Marley, we should also thank them for this Jerk seasoning recipe which is the absolute king of marinades.
For 10 assorted bone-in chicken pieces.
Marinade Ingredients
1 entire bunch of scallions(cebollino in Costa Rican) chopped to facilitate processing.
3 garlic cloves
1 shot of dark rum
1/3 cup of lime juice
10 crushed or 1 tablespoon of allspice berries (called Jamaica in Costa Rica)*
1 inch cube of ginger
2 whole habanero peppers or to taste. Fiery habaneros or scotch bonnet peppers are recommended, but they can be lessened or eliminated if your guests have low heat tolerance.
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup oil (I like to use coconut, but any other is fine)
Salt and black pepper
*I like to dry fry the allspice berries for a few minutes to release the fragrance and then pound them with a mortar and pestle. The powdered kind is significantly weaker.
Directions
Mix all the marinade ingredients in a food processor.
Marinade the chicken pieces in the refrigerator for at least four hours or overnight.
Set the grill to a low temperature to avoid burning.
Grill the chicken pieces, turning frequently, for 45 minutes and then finish in a 350 oven for 30 minutes ensuring that all pieces are done. Juices should run clear when a toothpick is inserted into the thickest part.
This marinade works well with pork chops too. Great served with rice and beans.
This dish has become soooo popular worldwide, and here’s why; because of that deliciously decadent balancing act between comfort and blandness from the rice noodles, with the zest and pop of lime juice, hot peppers, sweet brown sugar, crunchy peanuts… Optimal when served immediately! 8 servings.
Ingredients
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 package, 14 oz (396 gm) of Pad Thai noodles, soaked in water for 30 minutes & drained
1 bundle of green onions or scallions, chopped
1/3 cup of chopped garlic
1/3 cup of blanched bean sprouts (optional)
1/3 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
2/3 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of fish sauce or Nam Pla (available locally)
2 tablespoons of chopped hot peppers or to taste
1/2 cup of chopped unsalted peanuts
1/4 cup of freshly torn and chopped cilantro leaves
1 kilo of shrimp*
*Shrimp can be replaced with chicken, pork, mushrooms, other veggies of your preference, or any combination thereof.
A good friend gave me this surprisingly easy recipe and it’s been a hit every time that I make it. Allow for it to sit overnight and top it with the whipped cream right before serving.
For 8 portions.
Ingredients
1 package of 150 gm “cocanas” store-bought coconut cookies coarsely broken up (pounding them in a bag with a mallet is a fun stress-reliever)
3 tablespoons of Dos Pinos salted butter
1 cup and 3 tablespoons of coconut flakes
1 1/2 cups of crema dulce (Dos Pinos or other brand)
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 eggs beaten
3/4 cups of white sugar
1/2 cup of wheat flour
1/4 ts salt
1 ts vanilla extract
1 very cold 250 ml box of whipping cream (crema dulce again) + 1/3 cup sugar OR 1 cup of frozen whipped topping—thawed (yes, this option is perfectly acceptable and another reason to love this recipe).
The cuisine of my mother’s country will never cease to amaze me with it’s unlikely marriage of clean-and-crisp with depth AND simplicity– a culinary menage-a-quatre! LOL! This recipe is very easy, all you need is to concentrate on the timing since it is best served immediately. 4 servings
1 kilo or 2 lbs of beef tenderloin cut into 1/2 inch or 2 cubic centimeter cubes
This recipe is vegetarian, but you could also easily add flavored strips of meat or seafood to complete this one-bowl meal.
Soba noodles are a true Japanese delicacy. Thin like spaghetti, they are made with buckwheat flour and their nutty flavor makes an excellent base for stir fries and salads, hot or cold.
This classic recipe from New Orleans can be used as an alternative cocktail sauce for the typical ketchup and horseradish concoction, or as a dressing for a salad as pictured here.
For 6 to 8 servings or 1 kg of medium sized peeled, deveined, and poached shrimp. Allow to cool, and leave the tails attached if serving as a shrimp cocktail.
1 stick of celery, leaves removed
1 small white onion (no more then 1/2 cup if chopped)
2 strands of green onions
1 tablespoon of chopped parsley and some for garnish
1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons of good quality mustard, preferably whole grain, but Dijon is fine
2 tablespoons of paprika
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or to taste
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup olive oil
1 cup mayonnaise
Place all ingredients except for the oil and mayo into a blender. Turn on lowest speed and slowly pour in the oil to obtain a thick emulsion. Check seasonings and then fold in Mayonnaise.
The locally farmed and cured smoked trout is a great substitute for smoked salmon that only comes from distant and colder waters.
Here’s a little spin on this classic bite-size appetizer.
Note: Vegetarian options are applesauce and cinnamon, or sour cream.
Elevate the humble chayote (or mirliton in Louisiana) with this Cajun-inspired recipe. The miniature version (or cocorro in these parts) makes for an attractive party appetizer or side dish. Try this unfailing southern technique of: boil–hollow–stuff–bake, and you’ll be on to something!
These are surprisingly easy to make. The key is in the sweet vinegar rice. Sushi rice should stickier then usual so don’t fret if it looks like too much cooking liquid.
We must be thankful that one of the hottest superfoods in the world is now readily available in our town. Not only is kale loaded with vitamins, but it is also known to lower cholesterol, fight certain cancers, and eliminate toxins.
Here’s a quick and simple crowd pleaser that you can make for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If bacon is not your thing, try crumbled smoked trout.
Ingredients for the fried chicken wings
This is a remake of the classic pecan pie with macadamias as the star ingredient. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and your guests will rave about about this awesome tropical dessert!
For the shrimp and gravy
Directions
A good friend gave me this surprisingly easy recipe and it’s been a hit every time that I make it. Allow for it to sit overnight and top it with the whipped cream right before serving.
By Desiree Brassert
By Desiree Brassert
By Desiree Brassert
By Desiree Brassert