Semiserious Chefs

So it took me forever to track down decent translations of the Thai words ต้มข่า, tôm khàa, or ‘boiled/soup galangal’. You see you don’t ever see them alone. It’s always ต้มข่าไก่, tôm khàa kài, ‘galangal soup with chicken.’ But I don’t want ‘with chicken’! What I wanted to make available was a vegetarian Thai coconut […]

  Yeah, I know that calling it ‘bread’ seems like a knock-off, but I’m not sure what else to call it. You use it like bread. I had the same problem when trying to make the duxelles ‘meatballs.’ If you call them Meatless Balls, which is what they are, it just sounds neutered, and Mushroom […]

Running a preschool in our home for the last 4 years has definitely had an affect on how I view cooking. There are the quick kid friendly meals and the mass production recipes of course, but there are also really silly creative meals that come from bizarre themes and crazy child suggestions. Maniac Muffin Rolls […]

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and it started in a way I most enjoy, with a walk to the market. Okay, so our ‘market’ is just the local Fred Meyer, but it’s very close and there is a wonderful block of wild woods along the way. This particular Saturday I was blessed with the […]

Almost everyone is familiar with kimchi. Smelly fermented cabbage, right? I’m pretty sure that most of the people who won’t touch it fall into one of two categories: “I don’t do spicy”or “Ew, cabbage! Icky!” Well, if you are a member of the latter group let me introduce you to a very pleasant option. Kkakdugi. […]

It’s pretty obvious by looking at the recipes around this one that I am on a total Korean kick. It all started when I found out what banchan even were through my discovery of Dubu Jorim. I love these little side dishes! One might be sweet, one might be spicy, this one has a ginger […]

As many of you know, at least at this time in my life, my go-to reads of choice have been cookbooks. Yes, I am currently reading other genres; several food magazines, Nat Geo, Voice of the Martyrs, and various publications about North Korea , but for the last little while I have been reading individual […]

There are so many renditions of picnic rice, and quite a few ways to modify this recipe. I love that this is a great family dish. It’s perfect for little hands to practice with plastic lettuce knives, or even just the stirring. It can be adjusted to your family’s personal tastes and is a great […]

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 […]

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 […]