All across the United States, we are reminded of, and celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. What better way to honor him, but by talking about his favorite food!
If you do a quick search on the internet, you soon come to the conclusion that he loved Southern Comfort food, in particular, pecan pies. So, we will talk about pecan pies today. The earliest pecan pie recipe can be traced back to 1886, but the origin is hard to confirm, as some say it was invented by the French soon after they entered New Orleans, some say it originated in the early 1800s in Alabama. Regardless of the exact origin, the pecan pie is almost synonymous to the Southern culture, making its appearance in many poems and songs to symbolize the American South. For recipes, who better to go to but to Southern Living magazine! Here are a few recipes that sounds amazingly delicious. Tennessee Whiskey Pecan Pie pictured here, or how about a sweet, rich combination of Chocolate-Bourbon pecan pie? Pecans are so delicious and sweet on their own, but candied pecans are something worthy of a noble gift. Here is an amazing recipe for candied pecans that includes balsamic vinegar as a secret ingredient, recipe courtesy of Saveur magazine. Some of you may have a day off from work or school today, well, it’s a great time to have a pecan pie ready for dessert tonight!
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New Zealand may not seem like the culinary capital of the world, but there is one dish that everyone has heard of, and unanimously consider it to be delicious. It’s Pavlova! It is a meringue cake with a crisp crust and soft, light inside, usually topped with whipped cream and fruit. But why the Russian name? According to Wikipedia, the dessert is believed to have been created in honour of the Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova either during or after one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. The nationality of its creator has been a source of argument between the two nations for many years, but formal research indicates New Zealand as the source.
And since it is the height of summer in Australia and New Zealand, it is very appropriate to share and try the delicious summer time favorite, light and fruity Pavlova. Here is a recipe from Ina Garten, a very easy and delicious recipe that can be made without going to the supermarket! If you have enough eggs, sugar and whip cream in the house. Just a word of caution, leftover decorated Pavlova can be refrigerated overnight, but the dessert will absorb moisture and lose its crispness. Undecorated Pavlova can be left overnight in the oven, or for several days in an airtight container, to be decorated when ready. This would make an attention grabbing dessert and a cultural conversation starter at the next party for sure! In recent years in the US, Middle Eastern food has become somewhat of a fad, seeing food trucks pop up with irresistible falafel sandwiches, and hummus sold at every supermarket.
One of my favorite foods from the Middle East is their delectable salads. One in particular that we will mention today is the Tabbouleh (or Tabouli), a Lebanese traditional salad made of tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, lemon, olive oil and bulgur. Sounds very simple, but the combination makes a salad, or almost a dip that is just as satisfying on a toast. They are served as part of the Mezze, which is a selection of small dishes served to accompany alcoholic drinks as a course or as appetizers before the main dish in the Near East and the Balkans. Here is a brief history I found about Tabbouleh at ifood.tv. "Tabbouleh is known to have originated in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria. Edible herbs called qadb that are used in tabbouleh recipes even today, were eaten by Arabs since Medieval times. It is a part of the Arab food culture today, just as much as baba ghanouj, hummus and pita." Well, enough talking about Tabbouleh, let’s try making it at home. In the Northern hemisphere, you might want to make this when the herbs are at its peak in the summer, but these ingredients are available fresh throughout the year, so you can get started now! Here is an authentic Lebanese recipe, with lots of chopping involved. But the results will not disappoint! If you live close to NJ, and are craving for more authentic Lebanese flavors, I would recommend Headquarters Sannine Lebanese Restaurant in North Brunswick, NJ. Here is a yelp review on this restaurant. We have had nothing but positive experience at this restaurant, and we have been there many times. Tables are few, and service can be a bit slow, but that is part of the Cross-Cultural experience! |
AuthorUnicultural team and trainers, sharing our views and experiences on everything cultural. Archives
May 2016
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