Chicken Curry with Sweet Potatoes

• Vegetable oil
• Chopped garlic
• Sliced onion
• Freshly cut lemongrass
• Fresh ginger
• Curry powder
• Chicken
• Sugar
• Salt, chili
• Chicken broth
• Unsweetened coconut milk
• Peeled sweet potatoes inchunks
• Lime juice

Heat the oil, garlic, onion, lemongrass, ginger. Add curry powder and cook for 1 or 2 minutes. Add chicken, cook. Add fish sauce, sugar, salt and chili. Maintain a lively simmer.

Add coconut milk and sweet potatoes and simmer.

Vietnamese Roasted Aubergines

Sauce:

Fish sauce, lime sauce, water, sugar, garlic, chillies, green onions and mint.

Potato gratin with tomatoes, olives and capers

• Tomato – 4 large and ripe
• Large potatoes – about 2 pounds, cut into thick slices
• Red Onions – 2, thinly sliced
• Thyme
• Coarsely chopped black olives
• Garlic – 3 cloves, thinly sliced
• Small lemon
• Capers

Chop one tomato and slice the rest. Boil potatoes for about 4 minutes, drain and rince under cold water.

Combine oil, onions and thyme in a fryin pan. Sauté until onions acquire color. Arrange them in a lightly oiled gratin dish and scatter with the chopped tomatoes, garlic, and half the lemon. Season.

Make layers with the potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, thyme, lemon and capers. Cover with foil, bale for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until patotoes are tender.

Warm potato salad with celery

• Potatoes halved or quartered
• Olive oil
• Chopped parsley
• Celery

Aragula salad with pear and Pecorino

• Red wine vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Small french shallot
• Aragula – 4 cups
• One pear – ripe, but firm.
• Parsley leaves
• Pecorino or parmesan cheese – about 1 cup, shaved

Potato, beet and bean salad

• White beans, ex. cannellini
• One large onion
• Olive oil
• Wine vinegar
• Large beets, boiled or roasted, peeled and cubed
• Large potatoes – 4, or small ones

Mix in large bowl, season, lovely!

Rice salad with sausage and grapes

• Risotto Rice – 2 cups
• Lemon juice – 3 tablespoons
• Small red onion
• One large garlic clove
• Italian sausage
• Seedless grapes – 3 cups
• Some lettuce leaves

Cook rice and drain. Stir in the lemon juice, oil, onion, garlic and season with S&P.

Grill sausage, allow to cool and cut into bite-sized pieces. Add sausages and grapes to rice, season and serve on lettuce leaves, if you like.

Broccoli and Stilton Soup

The classic English recipe is a glorious winter fare. There are of course different versions, this one is simple and hearty. Great as a starter or light meal.

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 heads broccoli, chopped
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 ounces stilton cheese

In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in olive oil until translucent. Stir in broccoli and potatoes and cook until vegetables begin to release their moisture. Pour in water until the vegetables are totally immersed, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in cheese until melted and add salt and pepper to taste.

Puree soup in a blender or food processor. If unsure about the amount of water, you can always take some aside, blend and then add the water gradually to get the desired consistency.

Classic Meatloaf

Meatloaf belongs to the pantheon of foods only mothers can prepare. It’s wholesome and requires some dedication. In reality it’s easy to make and can be customized until you have your signture version. Mine is a classic American meatloaf, with an italian influence:

• Minced meat, for 4 people
• Carrot, medium one
• Celery, one or two sticks
• Onion, medium one
• Egg, one
• Garlic
• Tomato
• Paprika, one teaspoon
• Olive oil
• Salt & Pepper
• Cheese – cheddar or parmesan

Turn on the oven, so that it’s warm once the basis is done. Chop the carrot, celery, onion and garlic in small cubes and cook in saucepan with olive oil until golden. Add the tomato and condiments, let it simmer for a minute. On a separate bowl, mix the minced meat, cheese and raw egg in a bowl with the cooked vegetables. It’s easier and fun to use your hands. Place the mix in a tall oven mold. Cook for as long necessary. Half way through, you may find that you need remove excess liquid and cover with foil to avoid burning the surface.

Thit ga kho gung (caramelized chicken for those of you who don’t speak vietnamese)

• Chicken thighs
• Grapeseed oil (Neutral flavor, ideal for frying)
• Chopped garlic
• Ginger
• Chopped Shallots or onion
• 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• Salt and pepper
• Red chili flakes
• 1/4 cup of water
• 3 green onions

Fry large chunks of chicken. After a couple of minutes, push to the sides of the pan and add the ginger, shallots, and garlic to the middle of the pan. Toss well. Add the fish sauce, sugar, S&P, chili and mix well. Let the sauce come to a strong boil and add the water. Let is simmer for 10 minutes. Should be ready once the sauce is brown and syrupy. Finally add the green and serve.