We have been intrigued by this Filipino recipe and tried it with Chinese eggplant: https://panlasangpinoy.com/filipino-vegetable-food-eggplant-omelet-tortang-talong-recipe/. Our modifications: first, we made only one eggplant (a quarter of the recipe). We grilled the Chinese eggplant directly on our gas burner on medium heat. We charred it until the skin turned brown and the flesh appeared to soften…… Continue reading Filipino egg-dipped eggplant (tortang talong)
Tag: 2026
Creamy mac and cheese with panko topping
My husband loves mac and cheese, and we decided to try this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/791299472-creamy-mac-and-cheese-with-buttered-crumbs?unlocked_article_code=1.G1E.ourk.neG1O0njXeTE&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Our modifications: first, we halved the recipe as follows: for the main body, 12 oz (minus 1/4 cup, set aside) Trader Joe’s Ooey Gooey Cheese Blend (https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products.html), which is a combo of cheddar, gruyere, and havarti (see note below); 2 Tbsp…… Continue reading Creamy mac and cheese with panko topping
Sicilian-style roasted cabbage with cannellini beans
We had half of a medium green cabbage in our fridge, and we tried this recipe featuring Sicilian flavors: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1027365-roasted-cabbage-and-butter-beans?unlocked_article_code=1.GVE.83ft.KgNNjUppQSZc&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share. This was a surprisingly delicious and complex recipe; definitely a keeper. Our modifications: first, we halved the recipe as follows: 1/2 medium cabbage (see Note below), 1 Tbsp avocado oil (for roasting) 2+ Tbsp olive…… Continue reading Sicilian-style roasted cabbage with cannellini beans
Kichidi by Divya’s Kitchen
We tried this recipe from Bon Appetit: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/simple-khichari. We especially liked the addition of quinoa, which we had not seen in other kichidi recipes. Our modifications: first, due to our pantry, we omitted the curry leaves. Instead, we added 1/8 tsp asofoetida, 1/4 tsp cumin seeds, and 1 large dried bay leaf to the turmeric.…… Continue reading Kichidi by Divya’s Kitchen
Japanese curry fried rice
We noticed this recipe on the No Recipe blog: https://norecipes.com/curry-fried-rice/. We found the ingredient measurements hard to follow. We also doubled the recipe and used these proportions: 4 Tbsp vegetable oil, 1 cup finely minced onion (1 medium onion), 1/2 lb minced turkey, 4 cups cooked rice, 2 Tbsp Japanese (S&B) curry powder, 2 tsp…… Continue reading Japanese curry fried rice
Black-eyed peas, Instant Pot style
We need cooked black-eyed peas for a recipe, so we followed this easy method for cooking 1 lb dried black-eyed peas in the Instant Pot: https://beanrecipes.com/instant-pot-black-eyed-peas/ We followed the instructions for manual timing and manual release (despite warnings to the contrary on the Instant Pot panel). The peas turned out very well: perfectly cooked but…… Continue reading Black-eyed peas, Instant Pot style
Pasta with store-bought pesto
This is an easy weeknight meal that is barely a recipe. I’m posting it mainly to record our method and additional ingredients that brighten the dish. We love Severino pesto (available at Whole Foods in 6.5 oz containers), Sartori shredded parmesan, and grape tomatoes. First, cook 1 lb pasta (we prefer gemelli or penne) until…… Continue reading Pasta with store-bought pesto
Sausage and potato soup with spinach
We tried this recipe as an option for a packed lunch: https://www.skinnytaste.com/creamy-sausage-and-potato-soup/. This was delicious and easy to make. Our modifications: first, the amount of sausage was vague to us, so we used 3 links of raw spicy Italian chicken sausage (about 1.15 lb), which we removed from its casing. The next time, we will…… Continue reading Sausage and potato soup with spinach
Skillet lasagna
We had a craving for lasagna, but didn’t have time to make a classic version. This skillet version is excellent and simpler to execute: https://www.skinnytaste.com/skillet-lasagna/. We used our oven-safe Ultimate pan. We also omitted the cottage cheese mixture entirely. Our modifications: first, instead of 8 oz minced beef, we used minced chicken. Because chicken has…… Continue reading Skillet lasagna
Summer melon salad
We tried this recipe for our friends’ BBQ. We found this melon salad refreshing and a good complement to grilled meat. We omitted the onion. (Aug. 2026)
