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Cobb Salad (1,000 Foods to Eat Project)

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Cobb Salad

I can't believe it took me so long to try a Cobb salad. This salad is absolutely delicious, colorful, and calorific! In short, it's terrific. 🙂

The Cobb salad is one of foods listed in the 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die book by Mimi Sheraton. It is also the #4 item on my quest to try each of the 1,000 foods listed in this incredible book.

I have included in my recipe instructions on how to make this salad "from scratch." However you can buy precooked chicken, eggs, and bacon to save time when assembling this salad.

You can view my recipe for a Californian Inspired Cobb Salad here.

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket

Enjoy one of the 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die foods, and get a taste of California at the same time!

West African Soupe Gumbo - 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious West African Soupe Gumbo!

West African Soupe Gumbo

The Gambia, West Africa

It has been many years since I had the privilege of traveling to West Africa, but I remember much of it as if it was yesterday.

We made a trip to The Gambia, and also spent a little time in Senegal. These countries were the most exotic and amazing places that I had been to at the time. I was blown away by the scenery, by the endless possibility for adventure, but most of all blown away by the people.

Cows on the beach in The Gambia
Cows on the beach in The Gambia (West Africa)

The people were so friendly, and full of joy. I hope to make it back there again someday!

1,000 Foods To Eat Project

I wasn't a foodie back then, so unfortunately didn't focus in on the food. However, I am now keen on trying as many different types of foods as I can, and working my way through my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. This project is based on the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton.

West African Soupe Gumbo

One of the foods in the book, and in my project, is Soupe Gumbo, from West Africa. When many of of us think of gumbo, we probably think of Louisiana style gumbo. However, did you know that the seeds from the okra pods originally came over to the Americas from slaves who came from West Africa? Per Mimi Sheraton in 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, "the American "gumbo"comes from the Bantu word for okra."

There is a description for a Soupe Gumbo from the Ivory Coast in the book, but not a recipe. I played around with the ingredients of this soup and was able to come up with an absolutely delicious version, which I hope might taste like something you might find on the Ivory Coast!

I hope you will enjoy this hearty and delicious soup which contains okra, chicken, onions, and one of my favorites - scotch bonnet peppers. 🙂

Soupe Gumbo

Enjoy a taste of West Africa! This is #3 on my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project.

Soupe Gumbo

West African Soupe Gumbo

Grace
Try this hearty and delicious West African Soupe Gumbo!  Spicy and fiery, serve with lots of white rice, and enjoy a taste of the Ivory Coast!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Main Course
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb chicken thighs
  • 2 scotch bonnet peppers diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 100 grams okra topped and tailed
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 ts pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 4 green onions sliced for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a skillet on med high.  Add the chicken thighs, and fry each side for approximately 4-6 minutes until browned.  Remove to a plate, and allow to cool.  Once cooled shred the chicken. 
  • Add scotch bonnets and onion to a food processor, and process until diced.
    Diced onion and scotch bonnet peppers
  • Top and tail your okra.  Cut into bite sized pieces. 
    Cut okra
  • Heat up stove to med high, and add to a stock pot the chicken broth, diced scotch bonnets and onion, okra, and shredded chicken.
    Chicken broth onion scotch bonnet and okra
  • Add the tomato sauce, pepper, and a pinch of salt, and bring to the boil. 
    Soupe Gumbo Ingredients
  • Turn down to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes.  Taste and season with additional salt if desired. 

Notes

This dish is meant to be hot and fiery!  However if you'd like to try it but are not keen on hot and spicy foods, either leave out the diced scotch bonnets, or leave it whole and add to the soup whole when you add the okra, rather than diced. Enjoy this with lots of white rice and garnished with green onions! 
Keyword Soup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

New York Hot Dogs (1000 Foods to Eat Project)

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New York Style Hot Dog Sauerkraut Ketchup and Spicy Brown Mustard
New York Style Hot Dog

Hot dogs! Who doesn't love a hot dog?!

Hot dogs are one of foods listed in the 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die book, and #2 item on my quest to try each of the 1,000 foods listed in this incredible book.

Most of us in the US have tried hot dogs, however there may be many of us who have not tried a New York Style Hot Dog. Let me tell you these are delicious!

Your taste buds will thank you when you try this delicious hot dog topped with sauerkraut, spicy brown mustard and a cayenne infused ketchup!

You can view my recipe for a New York Style Hot Dog here.

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket

Enjoy one of the 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die foods, and get a taste of New York at the same time!

Easy and Delicious Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken!

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Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken in a cast iron skillet

Christopher Robin Movie Night

On a recent movie night, we watched the 2018 film Christopher Robin, with Ewan McGregor playing Christopher Robin. In this version, Christopher is all grown up. He meets his childhood friend Winnie the Pooh once again, who helps him rediscover fun and the joys of life. If you love the story of Winnie the Pooh, then most likely you will enjoy this film.

On movie nights, I cook a meal for that evening that has something to do with the film we are watching. The inspiration for the meal is usually the setting of the movie, or food actually eaten or highlighted in the film.

In the case of Christopher Robin, it was pretty easy to decide to cook with Pooh bear's favorite - honey!!

Jar of honey with a honey dipper poised above it
Photo by Art Rachen on Unsplash

Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken

Spicy honey mustard garlic chicken ended up on our plates that evening, served with a side of mashed potatoes.

These ingredients are all you will need to make this delicious dish:

  • Chicken thighs
  • Garlic cloves (minced)
  • Thai chilies (if you don't like spicy food I have got you covered! just reduce the number of chilies or omit entirely)
  • Honey
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Green onions (optional garnish)

You will devour this moist chicken, rich with the sweet flavor of the honey, and the wonderful punch of Dijon spice! The Thai chilies give this a fruity flavor with heat which I know you will absolutely love.

It's Super Duper Easy To Make This Dish!

It takes around 20 minutes to make Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken. All you have to do is:

Pan fry some chicken thighs which have been seasoned in some olive oil until browned.

Chicken thighs browning in oil in a cast iron pan

Remove the browned chicken (keep warm in a low oven) and then stir fry the chilies and garlic.

Garlic and Chilies in oil in a cast iron pan with a wooden spoon

Then add honey and Dijon mustard, and whisk away until all the ingredients are well combined, adjusting for seasoning if needed.

Sauce including garlic, chilies, honey, and dijon mustard in a cast iron skillet with a whisk

Then add the chicken back to the skillet and coat with the incredibly delicious sauce that you must whipped up!

Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken in a cast iron skillet

What To Serve With Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken

Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken garnished with green onions

My favorite way to serve this dish is with heaps of mashed potatoes! Rice or crusty bread to mop up all the juices are some other wonderful alternatives to accompany this dish.

You also can't go wrong with adding sliced green onions as a garnish. So good!

June Barrera's Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken
June Barrera's Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken

I hope you will enjoy this Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken!

Here Are Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

The BEST Tomato Basil Chicken

Tomato Basil Chicken

Belizean Stewed Chicken

Belizean Stewed Chicken

Russian Ground Chicken Cutlet

Russian ground chicken cutlets pan frying

If you'd like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken in a cast iron skillet

Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken

Grace
Try this delicious honey mustard garlic chicken, spiced up with Thai chilies!  So quick and easy to make, and full of incredible flavor!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 22 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet is preferable (or large skillet)

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 chicken thighs approximately 1 lb
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 4 Thai chili minced (leave out for a milder dish or add more if you LOVE spice!)
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 4 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 green onions sliced (garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Add salt and pepper to both sides of the chicken thighs
    Chicken thighs with coarse ground pepper on a white plate
  • Turn your burner on to med-high, and heat up 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet. Cook chicken thighs (without crowding the pan) each side for approximately 4-6 minutes, or until done.  It should look brown and somewhat crispy on the outside.  Remove the chicken to a plate and keep warm in a low oven.
    Chicken thighs browning in oil in a cast iron pan
  • Turn down your burner to med-low.  Add the minced garlic and chilies, and stir for  1 minute.  Then add honey, followed by the dijon mustard, and use your whisk to whisk all the ingredients. Season this sauce to taste with salt and pepper. 
    Sauce including garlic, chilies, honey, and dijon mustard in a cast iron skillet with a whisk
  • Add the chicken back in to the skillet, and turn the chicken so that is completely covered by the delicious spicy honey mustard garlic sauce 
    Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken in a cast iron skillet
  • Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
    Spicy Honey Mustard Garlic Chicken garnished with green onions

Notes

I'm sure Pooh bear would approve of this spicy honey mustard garlic chicken!  If you prefer a mild dish, then leave out the chilies.  Alternatively add more chilies if you love spicy food!
Enjoy garnished with green onions, and serve with a side of mashed potatoes or rice for a deliciously hearty meal!
Keyword asian chicken wrap, honey mustard, spicy chicken
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

California - Hangtown Fry (1000 Foods To Eat Project)

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Hangtown Fry

The Hangtown Fry is one of the dishes in my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project.

1,000 Foods to Eat Project

Last year, I purchased the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. The back of the book jacket states that the book contains "the tastes, ingredients, restaurants, dishes, and recipes (more than 70) that every food lover should experience or dream about." As I am a food lover, I certainly didn't want to miss out on anything, so I purchased this book and began my project.

My project is to try out each of the 1,000 foods. I will write more about this amazing book another time. In the meantime, I will say this book has a wealth of information about world cuisines. I find it an absolute joy and challenge to take on this project, and my hope is that you'll come along with me on this journey and try out these foods as well.

California - Hangtown Fry

So on to the Hangtown Fry.

Did you know that the state motto of California is "Eureka!"?  Eureka is Greek for "I have found it" and most likely refers to the discovery of gold in the state.  The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and ended around 1855.  From this rich history comes our dish which originated in California, called the Hangtown Fry.

Legend has it that a prospector who struck it rich walked into the Cary House hotel, and demanded the most expensive dish that the kitchen could cook up.  The Wikipedia entry states:  "The most expensive ingredients available were eggs, which were delicate and had to be carefully brought to the mining town; bacon, which was shipped from the East Coast, and oysters, which had to be brought on ice from San Francisco, over 100 miles away."

"Oysters for breakfast?!  Well, I wasn't a fan of that, so I cooked up the Hangtown Fry for dinner instead.  Even so, I believe this is a dish that you either love or hate... but it's worth trying if you have even a small amount of fondness for oysters just to say you've given it a go.  I used canned oysters to keep the cost of the dish down, but fresh oysters are best.

I love the history behind the Hangtown Fry, but I confess I am not the biggest fan. However, I am glad I tried it and knocked off my first food of the 1000 Foods Project. Only 999 to go. 🙂

Hangtown Fry

California Hangtown Fry

Grace
If you love oysters, give the famous Hangtown Fry a try!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 5 eggs lightly whisked with ½ ts black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon butter split
  • 8 oz canned oysters (I used ½ can of Bumble Bee - ½ can was leftover and can be used for snacks!)
  • ½ cup flour
  • 3 strips bacon fried and crumbled
  • 1 green onion sliced

Instructions
 

  • Fry the bacon until crisp and drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside. Keep the bacon fat.
  • Drain and pat dry the oysters. Dip the oysters into the flour to coat and set aside.Fry the oysters in the bacon fat (med high heat), until golden brown. It may take 5-7 minutes. Drain excess bacon fat on paper towels. 
  • Heat up ½ tablespoon of butter in a nonstick pan (omelette sized - stove set on med high heat) Pour ½ of your whisked eggs into the pan. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, lift up a small portion of the edge of the eggs so that the runny and uncooked egg slides into the open space in the pan. Continue doing this a couple of times, and then turn your heat down to medium.
  • Sprinkle ½ of your crumbled bacon and ½ of your fried oysters over the egg. Continue cooking (lifting up sides and letting the runny egg slide into the open space continue cooking as necessary) until most of the egg has set.
  • Lift up one side of the omelette and turn it over ¾ (see picture). Keep warm in the oven, and repeat for your second omelette.

Notes

Sprinkle with green onions and a bit of cayenne if you like.  Great with Tabasco!!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Utah Inspired Potato Tots - Tatchos

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Drafts Inspired Tatchos

It seems that potato (tater) tots are to Utah, what nachos are to Mexico. Utah loves its tots! And a great tot meal is Tatchos Potato Tots!

For one of our Sunday movie nights, we watched a film called Hereditary. This film is a tense and dark thriller with quite a surprise ending. On movie nights, I cook a meal for that evening that has something to do with the film we are watching. The inspiration for the meal is usually the setting of the movie, or food actually eaten or highlighted in the film.

The beautiful state of Utah is the setting for Hereditary, and is where it was filmed. Therefore, I decided to make my own version of Tatchos when I discovered that Utah was the setting. Tatchos are a featured item at Drafts Burger Bar, located in Park City, Utah. Their menu lists Tatchos as comprised of tater tots, smoked gouda cheese sauce, bacon, tomato, green onions, and sour cream.

Cheese and Tots!!!

I decided to top the tots with a cheddar cheese sauce instead of the gouda cheese sauce, so cheddar cheese fans rejoice! However, you may also like to use your favorite queso which is perfectly acceptable and delicious!

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Korean Green Onion Kimchi - Pa Kimchi

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This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Here is a post about Korean Green Onion Kimchi!

Green onion kimchi in a white bowl with silver chopsticks
Pa Kimchi (Wild Green Onion Kimchi)

My mother is Korean. Growing up I didn't have the best appreciation for Korean food, but I certainly do now. Korean food is hands down one of my favorite cuisines, and I am excited to share some Korean recipes with you...starting with kimchi.

Kimchi is so very important in Korean cuisine. There are many different types of kimchi, which basically refers to fermented and pickled vegetables.

Kimchi is generally served as a side dish, or "banchan.'' I confess that sometimes I am way more excited about the banchan than the main dish! Typically you will be served several types of banchan if you dine at a Korean restaurant. They are colorful, beautiful, varied, and delicious!

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North Carolina - Okra Fries

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the most AMAZING North Carolina Okra Fries!!

Okra fries in a white bowl with an egg curry and naan bread in the background

I almost jumped for joy when I found the recipe for these okra fries!! These are not just ANY okra fries. These are Chai Pani okra fries. 🙂

In April 2018 we visited Ashville, North Carolina. We stayed in a fantastic VRBO rental, and the host left a booklet with recommendations on things to do and places to eat. One of the recommendations was to dine at Chai Pani, an Indian Street Food restaurant.

Chai Pani Asheville, NC

We didn't need much convincing to go there as we looove Indian food! The booklet not only recommended going to Chai Pani, but it also said that trying the okra fries was a must. So try them we did!

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Quick and Easy Za'atar Spiced Tilapia

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This page may contain affiliate links. So, I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious Za'atar Spiced Tilapia!

Tilapia With Za'atar garnished with parsley, pieces of pita bread, and hummus on a white plate with salad on a white plate behind the plate with the tilapia
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What is Za'atar?

Za'atar is both an herb, as well as a spice mix. As an herb, it is native to the Middle East and the scientific name is Origanum syriacum. It is also the same as the biblical hyssop.

As a spice mix, the mix can vary depending upon what country it is from, according to flavor preference. However, it generally contains thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, salt, and sometimes sumac.

Za'atar pronounced “zah-tar,” is a supremely aromatic and fragrant spice blend.  It's great mixed into hummus, as well as combined with a good quality olive oil to make a dipping sauce for pita bread. It's also perfect to season tilapia!

Bottle of McCormick Za'atar and some za'atar in a white dish
#26 Za'atar

I am very fond of the za'atar that I purchased from my local grocery store, by McCormick. This organic seasoning contains thyme and oregano, sesame seed, lemon peel, and salt. This is a great option or feel free to use your favorite za'atar for this recipe. But most importantly, try seasoning some tilapia with this awesome spice blend you'll love it!

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Easy and Delicious Greek Lamb Burgers

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about delicious Greek Lamb Burgers With Feta Cheese!

Greek lamb burger with onion cucumber spinach and feta
Scrumptious Greek Lamb Burger With Feta Cheese

My husband adores lamb. (I love it too.) We have it for dinner usually as a special treat, and recipes calling for minced lamb are a favorite.

My favorite minced lamb dishes are: Keema do Pyaza (Indian), Shepherd's Pie (English), and Greek Lamb Burgers with Feta Cheese.

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