Before my husband and I were married, one of our first dates was a canoe trip. We had planned to have a picnic on one of the giant-flat rocks that sat in the middle of the river – it would be the first time I would prepare food for my then boyfriend …so I wanted to impress. I packed a bottle of wine, made a pesto and caprese panini, spiced-nuts trail mix, and for dessert I made Summer Berry Pudding. The dessert was super simple to make, packed up easily into the dry-bag of the canoe, and it definitely impressed. He asked me out on another date and a year later we were married – I’d like to think the picnic had something to do it.
Vegetarian
Korean-Mexican Grilled Corn
Hiya! How was your weekend? I spent mine grilling, and boy do I have an incredible recipe for you! It’s no secret that Mexican and Korean cuisine is a marriage made in foodie-fusion heaven. But have you ever had Mexican style street corn with a Korean kick?
Spiced Trail Mix Popcorn
Hello there! I hope you’re having a great week. I’m giving you a back-to-back post this week because I’m driving to Oregon to go camping for 4 days. In preparation for the excursion, I made this Spiced Trail Mix Popcorn which has a kick of heat paired with the saltiness of nuts, and the sweetness of chocolate – perfect for noshing at the campsite, picnic, or even movie-night on the couch. Enjoy!
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Hey there! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. If you’re here in the States, I hope you got a chance to get out and see some fireworks and eat some great food!
As some of you may know, Mr. HapaNom and I have recently moved. If you have moved, are planning to move, or just want a great dish that you can make with minimal prep and get on the table quickly, this post is for you!
Spring Vegetable Wonton Soup
Spring is here! The flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing, and the markets are filled with a bounty of seasonal produce. It’s an inspiring time of year and this Spring Vegetable Wonton Soup certainly embraces the season! Wonton soup is perfectly suited for this time of year. The weather can be a bit unpredictable, with plenty of […]
Edamame and Radish Crostini
Everywhere I look, I’m seeing green. With the abundance of rain we’ve received recently in the San Francisco Bay Area, all of those brown hills have turned green (50 shades of green as my husband jokes). In the morning, the fog hangs around the tops of the hills and it reminds me of the rolling pastures in Ireland. […]
Soba Noodle Salad with Walnut Pesto
Healthy and filling – this Soba Noodle Salad with Walnut Pesto is an easy way to get a good dose of greens in a delicious way!
Puff Pastry Nutella Apple Roses
Super flaky puff pastry, rich and creamy Nutella, and sweet apples rolled into beautiful rose-shapes. They’re deceptively easy to make and totally delicious!
Quinoa Burrito Bowl
Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a great week! Do you love Chipotle’s burrito bowl? Yeah, me too.
I do love them. The problem I have is that after I eat one, I feel like I need to be rolled out of the restaurant. Enter the Quinoa Burrito Bowl. I wanted some of those familiar flavors, just lightened up so I could remain a productive member of society.
Glogg (Swedish Mulled Wine)
This recipe is adapted from the Swedish side of my family’s cookbook. Glögg, pronounced like glug, is powerful stuff. A drink that warms the soul on cold winter nights (or days depending on your drinking habits), it’s what I would call a mulled wine/Scandinavian Long Island Iced Tea. There are a number of variations, but this particular recipe is made with red wine, rum, bourbon, brandy, warm spices and some fruit. The warm liquid raises the temperature of the mouth and stomach, and pushes blood to the surface of the skin temporarily giving you a warm feeling.
You don’t have to purchase expensive wines and spirits for this drink. The robust spices will overpower any subtle notes that more costly drinks contain. Something inexpensive, but not cheap is the way to go. When the pot of glögg is warming on the stove, make sure the contents do not boil – boiling will quickly dissipate the alcohol. Speaking of alcohol content, this stuff is high-octane, but it doesn’t taste like it – so be careful! I don’t call it the Swedish Long Island Iced Tea for nothing!
Green Tea Panna Cotta
I once heard someone say, ‘everyone wishes they were Italian.’ Of course that person was from Italy, but I think there may be some truth to that – I wish I had some Italian in my hodgepodge ethnic background. Perhaps that’s why I chose to study abroad in Italy; I fell in love with the history, food, and culture – I have returned to the country every chance I’ve had.
Panna Cotta is one of my favorite desserts – though being a hapa girl, I had to try to put an Asian twist on this Italian classic and make Green Tea Panna Cotta. Green tea goes surprisingly well with desserts – if you’ve had green tea ice cream, then you know how wonderful the combination tastes. Just be sure to use matcha (green tea) when making desserts. Matcha is a finely milled green tea powder frequently used in Japanese tea ceremonies; therefore it’s more expensive than the green tea you may purchase for everyday drinking. However, it has a smooth and refined taste, coupled with the rich color that is imperative for the success of desserts. Likewise, it is an amazingly easy dish to put together and it serves a crowd! The panna cotta itself takes approximately 10 minutes to prepare, and while it takes at least 6 hours to set-up in the fridge, that’s time you can spend doing whatever else it is you need to accomplish during the day. It is truly a ‘no fuss’ type of dessert, yet tastes and looks like you have spent hours working on the dish.
This Green Tea Panna Cotta has a wonderfully mild sweetness, and tastes fantastic on it’s own or garnished with some fresh berries. If you would like to add a bit more sweetness, try the Blueberry-Lavender Sauce I have included. Either way, it’s a beautiful and delicious dessert that is a wonderful ending to any meal. (Husband Comment: I’m not normally a dessert person and have very little of a sweet tooth. This is an amazing dish that I would eat and not consider a ‘sweet’)
Pumpkin Bread Pudding
This Thanksgiving are you looking to mix things up in the most delicious way possible? Then you’ve got to try this Pumpkin Bread Pudding! Do you love pumpkin bread? For me, no autumn is complete without the aroma of it baking in the oven. Well things may have changed slightly. I may need to update that statement […]
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Basil Pesto
Super creamy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, with brilliant ribbons of basil pesto make for an extraordinary side dish. Careful… they just might steal the show! I think one of the best aromas to come from the kitchen is roasting garlic. Who out there agrees with me? Roasting garlic creates a soft and caramelized delight that’s […]