Semiserious Chefs

This is a spin off Tom Kha; Thai galangal soup with coconut. I would have named it Tom Kha Sauce, but it would have translated to galangal soup sauce, and that’s a little silly. And since I didn’t feel the need to include galangal in this recipe, (it isn’t exactly the easiest ingredient to come […]

First off I will mention that rum could easily replace the bourbon. I suppose that triple sec could as well, but that would make it maple orange, and quite a bit sweeter. You can of course just replace the booze altogether with water if it fits your lifestyle better, but then, you might as well […]

This recipe was created when I was working on the beet and oranges recipe a month ago. Not only were they fantastically incorporated into that recipe, these onions are perfect as a topping for sandwiches, hotdogs, hamburgers, or pork chops. Serve them cooled with the sauce as a dressing over romaine for a salad, or […]

Over the last couple of years I have really expanded the line of products I purchase from The New Central Market here in Anchorage. Given, they have expanded, too. The one thing I don’t usually go for, and probably because I simply like to cook myself, are their pre-made dishes. The owner, Somya, is always […]

This rice cake recipe was inspired by Chef Kirsten Dixon of Tutka Bay Lodge near Homer. She created a recipe that used kippered salmon and a spicy mayo. I decided to adapt it using my mom’s personally smoked salmon, and a recent addition to my cooking repertoire, garlic sesame soy dressing. I was a little […]

While shopping for Christmas gifts last year we took our annual trip to the 5th Avenue Mall. Yup, you heard right, annual. As much as I would love to go on a mini rant about the fact that the shopping ‘situation’ in America is completely blown out of proportion, and don’t get me started on […]

One day I happened upon some pita bread in the discount bin. Yup! That is very often where my inspiration comes from: discounted produce, discounted bread, discounted meat… This evening it was a double whammy when I also found prepackaged ultra thin sliced beef on discount. As it is a pretty safe assumption that I […]

Calamari is the most ‘exotic’ food that your average person has tried. Squid. Exotic, right? Well is certainly isn’t escargo! (Which, to be totally honest, even I haven’t had the opportunity to try yet.) In the scope of our entire world there are a TON of unusual ‘delicacies’ that rate way higher on the exotic […]

I discovered this sauce in one of my favorite go-tos, “The French Market Cookbook” and was very excited to have the first opportunity to use it last Thanksgiving. Not only was it the perfect dip for our steamed artichoke leaves then, but I have been repeatedly making it since for a whole variety of uses. […]

A few weeks ago, during one of my many excursions to the library, I skimmed through the recipe section pulling off a forgotten favorite on Russian and Polish cooking, then the title ‘Breakfast’ caught my eye. Joy of Cooking’s “All about Breakfast and Brunch.” I can see why a lot of people would be attracted […]