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1,000 Foods To Eat Project

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
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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!

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!

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!

Sliced green onions in a red pepper kimchi sauce placed in a white dish with silver chopsticks resting on the side.
Pa Kimchi (Wild Green Onion Kimchi)
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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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New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder - 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

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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 New England Clam Chowder, one of the foods in my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project!

New England Clam Chowder

October 2017 we had the privilege of visiting New England in the fall.  Wow!  The colors were AMAZING!  Our main destination was Maine, and we drove from Boston through New Hampshire into Maine and traveled along coastal Maine through crisp fall weather and gazing at beautiful fall foliage.

State of New Hampshire Welcome Center Sign with People

En route to Maine we stopped at the Hayseed Restaurant (accompanies the Smuttynose Brewing Company) in New Hampshire. The Hayseed is where I had my first ever New England Clam Chowder while in New England.

Prior to even leaving for Maine, I had been anticipating eating my first clam chowder in New England. As I have always loved clam chowder, I couldn't wait to have my first bowl! This chowder did not disappoint. 🙂

Here you'll find my recipe that tries to recreate this creamy clam chowder.  I hope you'll agree that this clam chowder provides a taste of New England!!

Celery Garlic Potato Onion and Green Onion
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1YywybFlyA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

1,000 Foods to Eat Project

New England Clam Chowder is one of the foods listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. It became #19 in my quest to try each and every one of the foods in the book.

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

Please follow along with me on this quest to try the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, from the book by Mimi Sheraton! Join me in this journey and discover new foods, experiences, and cuisines which I hope will add inspiration, fun, and joy to your life! For a list of the foods tried so far visit the 1,000 Foods to Eat Project page.

If you'd like to follow along and be a part of the 1,000 Foods Project, 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. 🙂

New England Clam Chowder

Other Great Soup Recipes!

If you love soup you may also love these soup recipes!

West African Soupe Gumbo

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings

I'd love your feedback! Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Cheers! Grace

New England Clam Chowder

New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder

Enjoy a taste of New England with this delicious clam chowder!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bacon cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 ribs celery diced
  • 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 4 6.5oz chopped clams
  • 1.5 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 ea green onions sliced for garnish
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 ts chicken bouillon seasoning I used Maggi
  • corn starch to thicken if desired

Instructions
 

  • Cut bacon into bite sized pieces and brown in a large saucepan or stockpot 
  • Drain cooked bacon on paper towels
  • Cook the onion and garlic in the bacon fat on med heat for 3 minutes stirring occasionally
  • Add the celery and cook another 2 minutes
  • Add potatoes, 1.5 cup chicken broth, ½ teaspoon of chicken bouillon granules and bring to the boil
  • Turn down heat to med low, and simmer for around 15 minutes (until potatoes are tender) 
  • Add 1 cup of heavy cream and all the clams (with all their juices) and stir to combine
  • If at this point the chowder is too thin for your liking, add some corn starch (follow directions on your corn starch container as to how to add the corn starch)
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.  (Go easy on the salt as the chowder will likely be salty due to the bacon and other ingredients)

Notes

Scoop your chowder into some bowls, add bacon bits and green onions on top, and enjoy the taste of New England!!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How To Make Navajo Taco with Indian Fry Bread!

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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 Amazing Navajo Taco With Indian Fry Bread!

Navajo Taco
Navajo Taco

Road 66 Road Trip

Many years ago, my husband and I took a road trip that mostly included traveling on the Historic Route 66 through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  We veered off the Route to get to Grand Canyon National Park, which was absolutely awe inspiring. 

We had an outstanding meal at a restaurant close to the park, which is one of my favorite memories. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but boy do I remember the meal!  It was a Navajo Taco, and it was enormous!! 

The Navajo Taco With Indian Fry Bread

An Arizona Republic newspaper poll in 1995 voted the Navajo Taco the State Dish of Arizona. The taco ingredients sit on top of an Indian Fry Bread, which has some very sad history behind it. 

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