It is amazing how we connect different food with certain situations. I still cannot eat cheese without thinking of my first pregnancy. I had these strong cravings for cheese and crackers! Garlic reminds me of my friend who made it her mission in life to teach me to eat hot food. Garlic, chillies and a lot of other delicacies filled her house every Saturday. She did succeed, I have to admit, I am almost as crazy as her now about garlic and chillies.
The holiday season is another common time for special food. How many of us don't continue serving a particular gravy or vegetable for special occasions, just because our mother and grandmother did so? That food makes us feel good, the aroma and flavors remind us of happy memories with friends and family. I, for example, alway connect the winter holiday with mulled wine. Those gorgeous spices filling the air in our house, the fire cracking and a lot fo good friends.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Asian Food
When you say Asian Food, most people will think of Chinese food. Not so strange, considering the amount of Chinese restaurants all over the world. While I have always loved Chinese food, my husband is the opposite. This totally changed when we went to Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, at least some 15 years ago, there was a restaurant at every corner. People would eat all their meals out, starting from breakfast. Our Chinese friends made it a point to let us try every restaurant they knew, we never ate in the same one twice!
What really impressed us about the food in Hong Kong was the fresh seafood and fish! Shrimps, crab, fish- you name it! In the restaurant you could point at the fish you wanted in the fish-tank and they would prepare it for you. Now that is what I call fresh!
Another Asian food that is very popular in the West is Indian food. Here, too, there is a fantastic variety, depending on what part of India we are talking about. What I particularly like about Indian cuisine is the wide range of vegetarian dishes. The way they will put loads of little plates on the table, and all of them harmonize so well. Eating a good curry also scores high, even though I am still on the Mild stage! Making samosa has become a normal thing in our house-hold, it is very easy to change the filling to suit everybody. (Here you can see how easy it is to Make Samosa!)
Something that is common for most Asian countries is that they eat rice. A lot. In many different ways. Either as a dish by itself, like fried rice, or accompanying another dish. Rice and curry, rice and vegetables, rice and...The list goes on. Cultivating rice is a back-breaking work when done by hand. A lot of water is needed, as well. For every kilogram of rice produced, 5000 litres of water has been used! Consider that, on an average, every person in Asia consumes 100 kg of rice each year! Rice is truly important to these people.
So, next time somebody speaks about Asian Food, which one will come to your mind? Or will you automatically think of rice? Let us know!
In Hong Kong, at least some 15 years ago, there was a restaurant at every corner. People would eat all their meals out, starting from breakfast. Our Chinese friends made it a point to let us try every restaurant they knew, we never ate in the same one twice!
What really impressed us about the food in Hong Kong was the fresh seafood and fish! Shrimps, crab, fish- you name it! In the restaurant you could point at the fish you wanted in the fish-tank and they would prepare it for you. Now that is what I call fresh!
Another Asian food that is very popular in the West is Indian food. Here, too, there is a fantastic variety, depending on what part of India we are talking about. What I particularly like about Indian cuisine is the wide range of vegetarian dishes. The way they will put loads of little plates on the table, and all of them harmonize so well. Eating a good curry also scores high, even though I am still on the Mild stage! Making samosa has become a normal thing in our house-hold, it is very easy to change the filling to suit everybody. (Here you can see how easy it is to Make Samosa!)
Something that is common for most Asian countries is that they eat rice. A lot. In many different ways. Either as a dish by itself, like fried rice, or accompanying another dish. Rice and curry, rice and vegetables, rice and...The list goes on. Cultivating rice is a back-breaking work when done by hand. A lot of water is needed, as well. For every kilogram of rice produced, 5000 litres of water has been used! Consider that, on an average, every person in Asia consumes 100 kg of rice each year! Rice is truly important to these people.
So, next time somebody speaks about Asian Food, which one will come to your mind? Or will you automatically think of rice? Let us know!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
How it all started
Getting hooked on cooking (and eating) was quite a slow process for me. My mother hates cooking, so my impression from home were not the best. She did cook for us all, and she cooked well. But there was no joy, no passion, about food and cooking.
What really changed things for me were my foreign friends. These women came from countries where cooking is an important part of the culture. One day I would eat Turkish food, another day Nigerian, my head and palate were simply spinning around with all these new flavours. Finally, food and cooking took on a deeper meaning. To these my friends, cooking and decorating food was truly an art. They gladly shared this with me, being so pleased that I appreciated what they were creating.
The next step, of course, was travelling. Seeing how the food was grown added even more depth to eating. I still remember the first time I saw a lemon tree, it was on my honey-moon in Italy! My husband laughed when I got all excited about a tree. Together we travelled the whole world, eating our way through countless strange (to us) dishes. When I liked something I would ask how they prepared it, or buy a cook-book when I got home.
Today, I am the one cooking strange food. One day we will eat Thai food, the next day Italian pasta, yet another day Ethiopian food. All cooked by me! My mother is so impressed. She still doesn't cook much, but likes to taste things when I prepare them for her.
To me, food is a hobby. Learning about food and cooking is interesting, not only eating!
What really changed things for me were my foreign friends. These women came from countries where cooking is an important part of the culture. One day I would eat Turkish food, another day Nigerian, my head and palate were simply spinning around with all these new flavours. Finally, food and cooking took on a deeper meaning. To these my friends, cooking and decorating food was truly an art. They gladly shared this with me, being so pleased that I appreciated what they were creating.
The next step, of course, was travelling. Seeing how the food was grown added even more depth to eating. I still remember the first time I saw a lemon tree, it was on my honey-moon in Italy! My husband laughed when I got all excited about a tree. Together we travelled the whole world, eating our way through countless strange (to us) dishes. When I liked something I would ask how they prepared it, or buy a cook-book when I got home.
Today, I am the one cooking strange food. One day we will eat Thai food, the next day Italian pasta, yet another day Ethiopian food. All cooked by me! My mother is so impressed. She still doesn't cook much, but likes to taste things when I prepare them for her.
To me, food is a hobby. Learning about food and cooking is interesting, not only eating!
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