Braised Oxtail
I’m a big fan of oxtail. But every time I mention that I eat oxtail, I seem to get looks of surprise from my friends. If you’ve never had oxtail, you should give it a try before making a judgment. Oxtail is a bony and gelatinous, but very flavorful cut of meat that is best braised or stewed for hours. And though it is no longer as cheap as it used to be years ago, you can get some pretty good deals at Asian and Caribbean grocers. The recipe I’m sharing is a great way to warm up during the cold winter days. It requires very few ingredients and the oxtail cooks in its own juice, resulting in a very flavorful stew. Continue reading Braised Oxtail
By Raissa Nebie on January 11, 2010 | 7
Zaatar Focaccia
One thing I really miss about living in Cote D’Ivoire is the overabundance of great Lebanese food. One of my personal favorites was Zaatar Manaeesh, a pita-like flat bread topped with Zaatar (a thyme-based middle eastern spice mix). Manaeesh is a popular breakfast food in Lebanon where it’s eaten with Labne, a thick strained yogurt. For a while now, I’ve had a full jar of Zaatar that my friend brought me from Israel and I never got the chance to use it. So, when an Italian friend of mine asked me what he should do with Zaatar, the first thing that came to my mind was Manaeesh, followed by fond memories of my time in Abidjan. I looked for a recipe on the internet, but nothing was really convincing. Therefore, I decided to improvise and do my own thing. I figured flat bread… hmm why not Focaccia? And BAM! I whipped up this Zaatar Focaccia. If you don’t have any Zaatar, you can easily substitute your favorite dry herbs. Continue reading Zaatar Focaccia
By Raissa Nebie on January 4, 2010 | 1
Shrimp in a Blanket
The holiday season is here and wherever you turn, someone is having a party. Sadly, I’m not having a holiday party this year, for various (good) reasons. But if I were, there is one appetizer that would have a guaranteed spot on my table: shrimp in a blanket. I used to order these babies from a Thai restaurant in my neighborhood until it dawned on me one day that making my own would save me a lot of dough.
I’m usually wary of frying because it’s a messy activity, but these appetizers are well worth the effort. Continue reading Shrimp in a Blanket
By Raissa Nebie on December 21, 2009 | 4
Wilted Red Cabbage Salad
Is it only me or did winter just creep up on us? I mean 40 something degrees in mid-October… Really? Clearly, this means salad season is over. Bad news for calorie watchers? Maybe not. With a little creativity, everything can be revisited. After all, there’s no law stating that all salads are to be eaten cold. When I was a kid, my mom used to make a warm salad of wilted cabbage tossed with a Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Believe it or not, this was one of my favorite salads. Continue reading Wilted Red Cabbage Salad
By Raissa Nebie on October 14, 2009 | 1
We Won!!!
Special thanks to all those who came to support me at the Fierce and Sweet Bake Off on Sunday. I had a lovely time in your company and your sexy cheers certainly did not go unnoticed.
For those who were not able to make it, I’m pleased to say that Rachel and I won two of the prizes. I won the prize for Most Surprising Ingredient with Pop Rocks and Rachel won for Best Presentation. My entry was an almond and raspberry bar topped with Mascaretto cream and Pop Rocks. I dressed up as a vampire (well sorta) and was assisted by three delicious humans who helped me work the crowd. It was a lot of fun! Read what Pastry Chef Dalia Jurgensen had to say about it.
By Raissa Nebie on October 13, 2009 | 0
