Archive - December, 2011
I love coming up with quick dishes on the whim with whatever ingredients I have in the kitchen. Asian noodle dishes always come to mind, whether they’re in soups or stir fries. I used rice vermicelli noodles which are light and versatile, you can mix virtually anything with them. They absorb flavors and enhance your ingredients beautifully. Try this out if you’re having a lazy day and want something quick and simple.
Here’s a delicious chocolate chip brownie recipe if you’re looking for a healthier chocolate dessert alternative. I used soy flour, which is made of finely ground soybeans. You can find it at your local grocery or health food store. I like to sift the soy flour before I mix the batter because it tends to get somewhat clumpy in texture.
Christkindl markets, or German Christmas markets, are street markets with various stalls celebrating Christmas time. Glühwein, literally “glow wine” or German mulled wine, is served at special stands at Christkindl markets throughout Germany and Austria. Mulled wine is a traditional warm beverage combined with different spices, red wine, citrus fruits and sugar. It fills your house with a wonderful aroma and warms you up on a cold winter night. Serve this festive drink during your holiday party!
Here is the follow-up post to my spiced carrots which is loosely based on a recipe by Eric Ripert. Essentially it’s a twist on the French classic Duck a l’Orange, a wonderful combination of flavors that complement each other perfectly. My first taste of it was actually in Germany during one Christmas when my mother-in-law made it with a side of crispy croquettes, small ball shaped mashed potatoes which are lightly breaded and fried. I was hooked! Duck is very fatty, so I don’t make this dish often. But I’ll make an exception since it’s the holiday season.
This simple carrot dish is adapted from a recipe by Eric Ripert. He uses baby carrots with the greens attached. I think they’re beautiful and make for a pretty presentation, but use what’s accessible to you. My carrots were large so I halved and quartered them. For a nice kick, I grated in some fresh ginger which will balance out the sweetness of the carrots. This is one of my favorite vegetable appetizers because it’s so flavorful and goes well with many entrees.
Masala chai, or mixed spice tea, is a drink from India made by brewing black tea with milk and a mixture of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves. It’s my go-to drink for this time of year and perfect for the holiday season. Instead of regular milk, I sometimes add almond milk whenever I make a fresh batch. The subtle flavor of the almonds is a nice complement to this aromatic tea.
My previous post was a step-by-step guide on how to make almond milk, so I created a delicious vegan gluten-free cookie recipe made from all the leftover almond pulp. These cookies are a bit crumbly but great if you want a healthy alternative to your regular homemade or store bought cookies. Hopefully this recipe will inspire you to make your own nut milk!
Wishful Chef is about cooking simple and healthy dishes. A fusion of different cuisines, my recipes are inspired by family, travels & cooking idols. Thanks for visiting!
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