Peruvian Grilled Chicken (Pollo a La Brasa) Peruvian Grilled Chicken can be grilled many ways. The whole chicken can be butterflied by removing the backbone and flattened. It can be quartered or you can use a vertical roaster or set the chicken upright on a can of beer half full or it can be grilled using a rotisserie. We chose use our Weber Rotisserie attachment and cooked two whole chickens at once. This recipe is for one whole chicken. The trick is to get the skin nicely roasted without drying out the chicken. It is important that you buy a 3-4 lbs. whole chicken because they are the …

Grilled Boneless Beef Short Ribs with Chimichurri Sauce This time of year my parsley, cilantro and oregano do exceptionally well in the garden. Cool weather seems to please these plants. Use the leaves at the top of the oregano stems which are the tenderest and have a bright flavor. The leaves on the lower part tend to be tough and less flavorful. I like to make chimichurri in the spring and fall when these herbs are at their peak. Chimichurri is an Argentinean sauce that is typically served with grilled meat. It is very simple to make. You basically mix everything together in a blender. The …

Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball) As the weather starts to cool off, soup season begins. This soup is loaded with vegetables and flavorful meatballs. Meatballs have a place in just about every culture. Here we are using them in a Mexican favorite, Albondigas. The meat for the meatballs has to be prepared the day before so that the flavors have time to meld together. First mix the ground pork with all the seasonings, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Form the meatballs the next day just before you are ready to drop them into the soup. This soup freezes well so double the recipe…

Tempura Thai Style Soft Shell Crab Live soft shell crabs cannot be found in Norcross so the next best thing is frozen. This particular product of frozen soft shell crab is all natural, no preservatives, fully dressed and live processed. These crabs were a medium size so 2-3 crabs are typical for each serving. Most Asian markets will carry this product or ones that are similar. Since this product is frozen, time will need to be set aside for thawing. These crabs are individually wrapped so it took about an hour on the counter to thaw 8 crabs. Gently unwrap the crab and rinse under cold water …

Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Crostini Fig season is here again! Did you know that fig trees produce twice a year? Originally thought to be cultivated in Egypt during Biblical times, figs were introduced in the Middle East and other Mediterranean countries around the 9th century. Eventually Spaniards planted fig trees in the missions of San Diego, CA around the 19th century where today California is one of the leading producers of figs. Figs are very perishable and should be refrigerated as soon as picked if they are not to be eaten immediately. Rich in potassium, figs are good for helping to …

Doi Maach (Yogurt Fish) Turmeric is one of the ingredients in this recipe. My dermatologist is forever after me to include turmeric in my diet. She believes it helps to prevent sun damage due to its antioxidant abilities. Of course, there have been many studies that claim turmeric also reduces inflammation and speeds wound healing. The antioxidant curcumin is the active compound in turmeric that has gotten the attention of the American Cancer Society. Let’s hope that further studies will show that it can help to prevent skin cancer. Doi Maach a wonderful Bengali comfort dish. There are so …

Thai Grilled Flank Steak with Forbidden Rice Salad Because of its rarity, legend has it that back in the day, only Chinese royalty were allowed to eat this black rice so hence the name Forbidden Rice. It is much more readily available today and can be found in any Asian grocery store. It is very common to mix black rice with other types of rice. Black rice became very popular in the 80s throughout the culinary world in Europe. It seemed that every up-and-coming new chef had a black rice dish on their menu. Black rice actually turns a purplish color when cooked. It has a rich nutty flavor that…

Peach Salad With Basil Vinaigrette July is one of the best times of the year for peaches here in Georgia. Fresh peaches are available for only 16 weeks each year, mid-May through mid-August. Originally from China, peaches were introduced to the Georgia coastal area in 1571. By colonial times, peaches were widely cultivated in Georgia. They were not commercially grown until the 19th century and by then Georgia became a leading producer for many years. Peaches are naturally low in calories, high in antioxidant Vitamin C and rich in vital minerals. The best way to store fresh raw peaches is to …

Maque Choux As draught conditions worsen over the U.S. Corn Belt, the price of corn has steadily risen. Right now corn at local farmers markets (such as Norcross' Whistle Stop Farmers Market) is not only available, but is fresher and cheaper than retail grocery chains. Stock up and don’t hesitate to freeze the kernels for future use. The freshest corn possible is needed for the making of Maque Choux (it's Cajun and pronounced mock-shoe). Capturing the "corn milk" is an essential ingredient for this dish to be creamy, so very fresh corn is a must. After cutting the kernels from the cob, scrape…

Grilled Lemongrass Chicken with Rice Noodle Salad The level of diet restrictions among today’s consumers can be a bit intimidating when hosting a dinner party these days. I have found that sticking to a ‘soy-less’ Asian menu typically allows just about everyone who has a restricted diet something to enjoy. There are so many Asian ingredients that are flavorful and healthy. Rice noodles are naturally gluten free and low in calories. They can be served hot or cold. These noodles cook in just one minute so if you are serving these noodles in a soup, add them right before you serve the soup. We …

Sautéed Tilapia with Blueberry & Corn Salsa For the first time in history blueberry sales have surpassed the famed Georgia peach. A series of studies on the health benefits of this berry have helped move the sale of blueberries to the top producing fruit in Georgia. While rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and fiber, these benefits also include improving memory in the older population, helps to reduce blood pressure and fights against heart disease. Adding blueberries to your diet is a good beginning to healthier eating habits.  Everyone is cutting back on carb loaded sugary treats.  Blueberries…

Brunswick Stew Making Brunswick Stew is a summer tradition in the South when the tomatoes are ripe and the corn is sweet. Using all the leftover smoked meat from the many “smoking and grilling” dinners is perfect for this stew. The freezer usually has several bags of pulled pork, smoked chicken and always some kind of smoked beef. The trick to good homemade Brunswick Stew is the barbecue sauce that is used to season the sauce. Homemade is the best and it will distinguish the stew as your own. We like to prepare the tomatoes and the barbecue sauce the day before. This allows the sauce to blend…

Steak Tampiquena Steak is always good for Father’s Day. Skirt steak is especially easy and quick to grill so if you’re not a grill master, this recipe is for you. Traditionally Steak Tampiquena is served with a cheese enchilada, rice and refried beans. I also like to top the steak with a dollop of fresh and spicy guacamole. This steak needs to marinate overnight and the enchilada sauce needs to be made the day before so the flavors have time to meld together. By doing these two steps, this dinner is easy to pull together the next day. This recipe yields 4 servings but it is really simple to …

Tempura Oyster Salad with Sriracha Mayonnaise Going to the beach this summer? Here is an easy recipe that is perfect for a beach vacation where fresh oysters are plentiful. Tempura batter fried anything makes even the pickiest of eaters happy so if little ones are part of the dinner crowd no worries, they will not skip a beat with this recipe. Seltzer water is the key ingredient to keeping this batter light and crunchy; great for seafood of any kind. Even if a beach vacation is not in your future, Hong Kong Supermarket seafood department has live, fresh oysters plus all the ingredients needed…

Riverview Farms Grass-Fed Beef Burgers on the Grill The Farm Mobile from Riverview Farms visits the Whistle Stop Farmers Market every Tuesday. Shoppers have a wide selection of organic and locally grown produce, sustainable meats, free-range eggs, local artisanal cheese, breads, pasta and more. Since Memorial Day is just around the corner, the grass-fed ground beef for burgers on the grill got my attention. I also purchased their cheese and onion. The bread and Raspberry Habanera Jelly were purchased from the other vendors at this market which make this burger uniquely tasty, fresh and …

Quail Eggs, Salad and Shrimp & Goat Cheese Quiche Looking for an interesting Mother’s Day brunch menu? Garnish the plate with quail eggs, they are in season. Quail eggs are just beautiful and cook in half the time as chicken eggs. They are easy to find in Norcross. Both Hong Kong Supermarket and Tomato carry quail eggs. Pairing the eggs with a nice salad and a scrumptious quiche is a perfect treat for a special day. Shrimp and Goat Cheese Quiche 1 sleeve Pillsbury Refrigerated Piecrust ¾ lbs. large shrimp shelled, & deveined 1 cup of Vidalia onion, chopped 2 Tablespoon of canola oil, divided …

Mesquite Smoked Salsa for Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the Mexican victory over the French on May 5, 1862. It is widely celebrated both here in the USA and in Mexico. Need a dish to bring to a Cinco de Mayo party this Saturday? Got a smoker? Try Mesquite Smoked Salsa. Roma or Plum tomatoes, jalapenos, red onion and garlic are all smoked to create this wonderful mesquite flavoring. Even though it takes awhile to smoke (4.5 hrs. at 250 degrees), it is very simple to make and worth the time. Smoke the vegetables the day before and refrigerate overnight. Chop everything up …

Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu) & Coconut Rice Barbecue season is here! Tired of the same old grilling recipes? Try some Chinese barbecue pork. With just a few ingredients, it is very easy to make and great for a crowd. Hong Kong Supermarket has all the ingredients for this easy dinner. Keep in mind that the long marinating time is a must, no cheating. Not only does it flavor the pork but it will tenderize it as well. Since it requires a minimum of overnight marinating, it makes dinner the next day a snap. Coconut Rice is an easy and tasty side dish for this grilled barbecue pork. Using …

Grilled Shrimp & Cactus (Nopal) Salad Cactus is in season and great for grilling. It tastes similar to green beans. Cactus paddles are common in all parts of Mexico and used in many dishes such as salads, tacos and stews. They can be cut, battered and fried as French fries, or grilled and served with meat. They are rich in Vitamin A, C, B complex, iron and fiber. I found these cactus paddles at Brito Supermarket. Look for ones that are succulent and not wilted. In some Latino supermarkets they are sold pre-cut and are called nopalitos. It is important to handle cactus paddles with garden …

Masoor Dal (Split Red Lentils) with Poached Eggs, Cilantro and Greek Yogurt I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal about topping dal with poached eggs and just had to try it. Now that eggs are having somewhat of a comeback from those days of fearing its cholesterol evil, I am seeing eggs on top of everything from burgers, salads, noodles, banh mi sandwiches and vegetables. Poached eggs especially leave a lovely rich and creamy sauce on anything they top. This particular dish makes a wonderful brunch entrée. It’s healthy, light and can possibly help you lose weight. Unprocessed …