Sometimes you might be in the mood for a crunchy taco, sometimes you might want a soft taco. The only problem with the latter is that it’s hard to find Qualitarian soft taco shells — the majority of the store-bought ones have all kinds of chemicals in them to keep them soft and supple. And [...]
Continue reading about Alternative Soft Tacos (in a French Kind of Way)
What do you get when you cross a French cheese with a corn tortilla? A crispy, creamy lunch or snack. How do you make it even better? Add a freshly-sliced pear! The only trick to making this quick-but-classy meal is not scorching the tortillas, an easy feat as long as you keep the heat at [...]
Mirepoix is a French culinary term for three basic vegetables (carrots, celery, and onions) that are chopped or diced and then used as the base to create sauces and soups/stocks. (The Spanish version is sofrito–it includes onion, garlic, and red pepper.) In this case, I added mushrooms, red pepper, tomato sauce and herbs to create [...]
Crêpes are classy, versatile…and easy. You can make savory ones to use as a substitute for toast (spread them with natural nut butter and organic jam to make an adult version of PB&J) or as a stand-in for an English muffin (top them with eggs and breakfast sausage). Fill them with cheese and seafood and [...]
“Thymus” meant “courage” in ancient Greek; the herb was associated with style and elegance. In the Middle Ages, thyme symbolized chivalry. A bed of thyme was also thought to be a home for fairies. In France, the herb was considered to be an outward indication of the Republican spirit that led the French people to [...]
This herb–which smells a bit like a pine forest–has been used since the days of the ancient Greeks. Back then, it was considered to be a memory aid–students wore garlards of it while studying for exams. It protected against evil spirits in medieval times, and in the 1500s in Europe, it was used to perfume [...]
Like cilantro and coriander, nutmeg is a 2-in-1 spice with mace: mace is the outer lacy covering of the fruit while nutmeg is the hard inner kernel. Four hundred pounds of nutmeg will only yield one pound of mace, a fact which means that you won’t find mace on the shelves of your grocery store [...]
Bay leaves come from bay trees, which in Latin is a Laurus. In Roman times, a wreath or crown made from bay leaves was a sign of honor for its bearer. (Think of the phrase “to rest on one’s laurels.”) Kings, priests, prophets, poets, and the victors of both scholarly and athletic contests wore laurels [...]
Nothing can compare to sitting in Brussels’ Grand Place and enjoying a salade nicoise at an outdoor café, but here’s a simple, tasty version I made for a last-minute dinner yesterday. (Minus the potatoes and anchovies.) Depending on your appetite, this could serve one or two people. Ingredients 1 can tuna 1 large tomato 1 [...]
