The Culinary Chase A peripatetic Canadian living in Bangkok, Thailand discovering food from around the world, postings from my own recipe collection and restaurant reviews. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 33 0 27 1215

Articles from The Culinary Chase

Ham, Asparagus & Mascarpone Tarts 2008-01-04 02:10:00 I like recipes that are simple to make and the end result is that the food tastes good! This dish is no exception. Mascarpone is a triple cream cheese and originated in the south west of Milan between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Mascarpone, which is most often associated with tiramisu, is also good for cheesecakes, flans and savory dishes. For more recipes using mascarpone, click here. This recipe is adapted from ABC's Delicious magazine.Makes 82 frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed30g unsalted butter2 teaspoon olive oil, plus extra to drizzle1 onion, finely chopped150g sliced ham2 teaspoons Dijon mustard250g mascarpone cheese2 bunches asparagus, trimmed and halved1 egg, lightly beaten1/4 cup shaved ParmesanPreheat oven to 180c and line two trays with baking paper. Cut each pastry sheet into 4 squares, then lightly score a 2.5cm border around the edges of each square with a knife, without cutting all the way through. Place the squares on the trays and chill while your ... Amp

Blue Cheese Polenta with Balsamic Mushrooms 2008-01-02 03:06:00 Polenta (cornmeal) is a traditional staple food throughout much of northern Italy and started out as peasant food. Today it is much sought after and can command high prices when ordering in a restaurant. The blue cheese in this dish adds a bit of bite to an otherwise bland dish. This recipe is adapted from Australian Good Taste magazine. Mushrooms are an excellent source of B vitamins (B2, B5, B3) and in the past it was the specialty mushrooms such as Shiitake, Maitake, and Reishi that were heralded as natural ways for cancer research. However, the common button mushrooms (including crimini) have been shown to have anticancer properties as well. For more health benefits on the mighty mushroom, click here.Serves 61L (4 cups) chicken stock750ml (3 cups) milk340g (2 cups) polenta70g (1 cup) Parmesan100g Gorgonzola or creamy blue cheese2 tablespoons olive oil2 garlic cloves, crushed2 sprigs fresh thyme80ml (1/3 cup) balsamic glaze60g baby rocketPlace the stock and milk in a large sauce ...

Little Zucchini & Basil Frittatas 2007-12-21 03:10:00 Another easy dish to prepare when entertaining this festive season. The following recipe is adapted from ABC Delicious magazine. Zucchini contains large amounts of folate (one of the B vitamins) and potassium and the rind contains the nutrient beta-carotene. This will be my last posting for 2007 as I will be on vacation for the Christmas holidays. Merry Christmas to everyone and a special word of thanks to all the people who visit my site on a regular basis. Stay tuned for more food adventures from The Culinary Chase in 2008!Makes 122 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil2 large garlic cloves, halved500g zucchini sliced into 4mm thick rounds8 eggs1/4 cup firmly packed shredded basil60g (3/4 cup) freshly grated Parmesan cheese100g fontina cheese, cut into small chunks75g (1/2 cup) self raising flourPreheat the oven to 175c and butter a 12 hole non stick muffin pan. Dust each hole with crumbs, then tap out the excess. Place olive oil and garlic in a large f ... Amp

Tourtière (meat pie) 2007-12-19 02:08:00 Growing up in New Brunswick (Canada's only bilungual province), our Christmas eve dinners always included a tortiere. The tortiere is a French Canadian dish and Quebec is generally credited as the birthplace of the tourtière with it being mentioned as far back as the sixteenth century. It's interesting to note that French Canadians have an old fashioned custom where they have always used spices to season their meat (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice). The addition of rolled oats in some tourtière recipes was added in the 17th century mainly due to the influence of the Scottish soldiers and potatoes later on were also introduced by the influx of Irish immigrants.Serves 6pastry for 9" pie 500g minced pork (can also use beef)2 onions, chopped fine1 garlic clove, minced1 teaspoon sage1/2 teaspoon thyme1/4 teaspoon dry mustard1/8 teaspoon ground cloves1 teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon nutmeg1/2 - 1 cup beef stock2 eggsCombine meat, water, onion, garlic and seasonings in a saucepan. B ...

Edible Christmas Tree Decorations 2007-12-17 04:05:00 What would Christmas be without edible decorations? Edible ornaments are a fun variation on the traditional Christmas ornaments plus they make a great gift for family and friends. I used to string popcorn around my tree as a garland when my kids were younger. I've come away from that but still decorate the tree with candy canes. I wouldn't put these decorations up too early for fear of none to be had on the 25th! This recipe is adapted from ABC Delicious magazine using Nigella Lawson's take on edible decorations.Makes 40335g (2 1/4 cups) plain flour1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon mixed ground spices such as cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and ginger120g unsalted butter120g (3/4 cup) dark brown sugar2 eggs3 tablespoons honey1 1/2 cups prepared royal icing or 340g icing sugar mixed with 3 tablespoons boiling waterSprinkles, edible glitter to decoratePreheat oven to 160c. In a food processor, combine flour, baking powder, spices. Add butter and sugar and process until smooth. Combi ...

Baked Stuffed Pumpkin 2007-12-14 01:23:00 Unwrap this fragrant baked pumpkin and show it off at the Christmas table! Pumpkin is very low in calories (20 cal per 100g) and is rich in potassium. This recipe is adapted from ABC Delicious magazine which highlighted Jamie Oliver's take on what he'll be serving this Christmas. I have been a long time fan of Jamie's ever since his early days of The Naked Chef cooking shows. His style is so open and fresh and his passion shines through in everything he does.Serves 2 (or 4 as a side)1kg whole pumpkin2 garlic clovessplash of olive oil1 red onion, finely choppedsmall handful black olives, pitted and chopped2 rosemary sprigs, leaves finely chopped1/4 teaspoon dried chili flakeslarge pinch of ground nutmeglarge pinch of ground cinnamon50g (1/4 cup) basmati rice, rinsed and drained75g dried cranberries50g shelled pistachio nutszest of one orange200ml vegetable stockchopped flat leaf parsley (for garnish)Preheat oven to 230c. Cut the lid off the pumpkin (don't throw it away), scoop o ...

Christmas Eggnog 2007-12-12 18:36:00 This recipe was given to me the other day by a friend of mine and I have to say it's absolutely delicious! Eggnog (first recorded in the 17th century) was a trademark drink of the upper class in England. In those days the average Londoner rarely saw a glass of milk as farms belonged to huge estates. Those who could get milk and eggs to make eggnog mixed it with brandy, Madeira or sherry. Eggnog became more popular in North America as farms and dairy products were plentiful (as was rum!). For more on the history of eggnog, click here. Christmas eggnog was always a family tradition in our home and I love how the first sip of eggnog brings back a flood of Christmas memories!Serves 1212 cups milk (can use skim or 2% milk)1 1/2 cups sugar3 tablespoons cornstarchpinch of salt12 eggs separated (whites refrigerated)1 tablespoon nutmeg1 tablespoon vanillaIn a pot, heat 12 cups of milk until almost scalding. Mix together sugar, cornstarch and a pinch of salt. Whisk sugar mixture into the mil ...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae 2007-12-10 01:12:00 This is indulgence at its finest! Of course, if you're not a peanut butter fan this won't appeal to you. For something so decadent it's quite easy to assemble. This recipe is inspired from ABC Delicious magazine which features a few recipes from Nigella Lawson's new book, Nigella Express. Nigella is one of my favorite chefs. Like Jamie Oliver, she makes cooking fun and, I think, is an inspiration for all cooks.Serves 4 (very lucky people)175ml cream100g milk chocolate, chopped100g smooth peanut butter3 tablespoons golden syrup4 scoops toffee or caramel ice cream4 scoops chocolate ice cream4 scoops vanilla ice cream4 tablespoons salted peanuts, roughly choppedPut the cream, chopped chocolate, peanut butter and golden syrup into a saucepan and place on medium heat to melt, stirring occasionally. In about 2 minutes you should have your sauce ready. Get out 4 sundae glasses and put a scoop of toffee or caramel ice cream in each followed by one of chocolate ice cream and then anot ...

Parmesan Tarts wih Caramelised Shallots 2007-12-07 05:01:00 Perfect little tidbits to pass around this festive season! This recipe is adapted from the New Zealand magazine, Dish. Shallots are very rich in chromium (a trace mineral that helps cells respond to insulin), plus vitamin C. For more health benefits of the shallot, click here.Pastry200g plain flourpinch of salt2 teaspoons chopped thyme100g butter, diced and chilled1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon milk Shallots24 small shallots2 tablespoons olive oil1 tablespoon butter1/4 cup balsamic vinegar2 tablespoons brown sugar1/4 Port, Madeira or MarsalaParmesan Cream150ml crème fraîche3 eggs, lightly beaten1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese1 garlic clove, mincedsea salt and pepperPastry: Put the flour, salt and thyme in a food processor and pulse to blend. Add the butter and pulse again until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and milk to the flour and pulse until the dough starts to come together. Form into a flat disc and chill for 1 hour.Preheat oven to 190c. Roll out the pastry ...

Happy 80th Birthday, King Bhumibol! 2007-12-05 04:40:00 Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej celebrated his 80th birthday today and Thais, showing their support for their king, lined the streets wearing yellow shirts. Millions of people across the country have worn yellow shirts every Monday since last year, when the king marked his 60th year on the throne as the world's longest-serving monarch. Yellow is the colour that Thais associate with Mondays, the day of the week when the king was born. Bhumibol's birthday is a national holiday in Thailand and has become a day of nationwide tribute to the man who is the most influential figure in modern Thai history. Many Thais have never known another sovereign. King Bhumibol's position is constitutional with no formal political role, however, he is regarded as a key to Thailand's stability. In his six decades on the throne, he took an active role in rural development and is respected for his dedication to helping the country's poor. Click here for more on the King's birthday celebrations. ...

Green Bean and Asparagus Salad 2007-12-03 02:51:00 Salads were first enjoyed by ancient Romans and Greeks. Although they did not use the world "salad," they enjoyed a variety of dishes with raw vegetables dressed with vinegar, oil, and herbs. Salads like this one are easy to prepare and come loaded with vitamins. A nice side dish to compliment the upcoming Christmas turkey or ham dinner. This recipe is adapted from New Zealand magazine, Dish. Click here for more on the history of salads.Serves 6-8600g green beans500g asparagus200g sugar snaps2 handfuls baby spinach leaves1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted2 roasted red bell peppers, peeled and slicedDressing2 tablespoons red wine vinegar1 shallot, finely chopped3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1 teaspoon honey1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard1 garlic clove, mincedBlanch the beans, asparagus and sugar snaps. Refresh in iced water then drain and pat dry. For the dressing, combine vinegar and shallots in a bowl and leave for 15 minutes. Whisk in the remaining ingredients and season to taste.T ...

Guacamole in Wonton Baskets 2007-11-30 03:18:00 With Christmas just around the corner, these little tidbits are perfect for holiday entertaining. This recipe is adapted from Australian Good Taste magazine. Avocados contain more potassium than bananas and are high in vitamin A. Click here for more nutritional information.Makes 3636 wonton wrappers2 avocados, halved, stones removed, peeled and mashed1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce5-6 drops of red Tabasco pepper sauce1 large tomato, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, minced1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 small red onion, finely chopped or grated1/3 cup fresh coriander, chopped2 tablespoons lemon or lime juicePreheat oven to 190c. Spray thirty six 30ml (1 1/2 tbs) capacity mini muffin pans with oil to lightly grease. Place wonton wrapper in each pan and press to line the base and sides. Bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Set aside in the pans to cool.Mix all other ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Spoon guacamole evenly among the wonton crisps an ...

Chili Beef on Avocado 2007-11-28 02:42:00 A quick weeknight meal to make. The cocoa powder will remind you of the Mexican sauce Mole. Another ingredient to help spice this dish is cinnamon. Did you know that the American outlaw, Jesse James (1847-1882), refused to rob a bank in McKinney, Texas because that is where his favorite chili parlor was located (urban legend?......you decide). Chili originated in Texas and not Mexico although tourist destinations in Mexico do serve it. This recipe is adapted from ABC Delicious magazine.Serves 41 tablespoon olive oil1 large onion, finely chopped 500g beef mince400g can chopped tomatoes125ml (1/2 cup) beef stock or water2 tablespoons tomato paste1 tablespoon cocoa powder1 teaspoon chili powder1 teaspoon dried oregano420g red kidney beans, rinsed and drained2 avocados, halved with stone removedsteamed white rice, thinly sliced red onionHeat the oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Increase heat to high and add beef and co ...

Pizza with Fennel Sausage, Tomato and Mozzarella Salad 2007-11-26 02:21:00 Pizza is probably the most globally recognizable food today and was originally a food for the poor but it has now become a dish for everyone. Its existence started around the year 1000 in the city of Naples. At that time pizzas were prepared with lard, cheese and herbs. The pizza as we know it today was developed after the introduction of the tomato which originally came from the Andes. And of course, the most famous pizza of all is the "pizza Margherita". According to the story, in 1889 the Italian monarch King Umberto and Queen Margherita were touring Naples. In order to impress them and to show his patriotic zeal, baker Raffaele chose to top flat bread with food that would best represent the colors of Italy: red (tomato), white (mozzarella cheese) and green (basil). The king and queen were so impressed that word quickly reached the masses. The end results were that the dish was well received and soon others began copying it. Click here for more pizza history. This recipe is adap ...

Sardinian Risotto 2007-11-23 02:36:00 This risotto is very different from the Northern Italian risotto and is more similar to that of the Spanish paella. This was due to the Spaniards, who ruled for centuries, who lent the most pronounced accents to foods and wines of Sardinia. The traditional foods of Sardinia were always more influenced by the land than the sea mainly due to the fact that Sardinia's coast has always been victim to invasion so the Sardinian people found refuge in the mountainous hinterland of the island. Today, much has changed and now seafood has been embraced by Sardinians. Sardinia is Italy's leading producer of organic produce. Sardinia, more than any other region, is a land of shepherds, whose Razza Sarda sheep produce some of the best Pecorino cheeses in Italy. For more information click here. This recipe is adapted from Antonio Carluccio's book, My Favourite Italian Recipes. I love Antonio's passion for food and when my husband and I were in London in July, we ate at his restaurant, Carluc ...