
Scrub the potatoes clean and place in a small saucepan with water and 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer the potatoes for about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the potatoes stand in the water for 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes and allow to cool slightly. Remember that potatoes come in various sizes, so the cooking time may vary – if they do not easily glide off of a fork when speared and lifted out of the water, they are not done yet. Fry bacon slices and transfer to a dish lined with paper towels. Peel the red onion and slice in thin rings. Transfer the flour to a bowl and toss the onions in the flour. Remove onions and shake off excess flour. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. You can test whether the oil is hot enough by adding a small piece of onion to the saucepan. If the oil bubbles around the onion, the oil is ready. Transfer as many onion rings to the saucepan as can fit in one layer. Do not add too many onion rings at once. Fry the onions for a couple of minutes until they are golden brown. Transfer onions to a dish lined with paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Repeat the process until all onions are fried. Butter a slice of dark rye bread and arrange round potato slices (or, if the potatoes are very small, halved potatoes) on top. Top your open potato sandwich with a good mayonnaise, crispy fried onions, fried bacon and sliced chives.

Make the filling: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until onion is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add pork and cook until completely browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes more. Drain fat from the skillet. Stir in raisins, olives, and hard-cooked eggs. Whisk water and cornstarch together in a small bowl; pour into the skillet and stir until liquid thickens. Remove from the heat and set aside. Make the dough: Whisk milk and melted shortening together in a bowl until evenly blended. Stir flour and salt together in a separate large bowl. Pour milk mixture into flour mixture; whisk until well combined and a dough forms. Let rest for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut into 12 circles with a round cookie cutter or glass. Spoon filling into the center of each circle. Fold each circle in half and press the edges with a fork to seal. Brush the tops with beaten egg. Place empanadas onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Step 1 Place pork chops in a 3-qt. glass baking dish. Using a fork, poke holes into pork all over; season all over with 1 tsp. salt. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Step 2 In a small bowl, combine orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, oregano, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and onion powder. Add half of marinade to pork and let rest 10 to 15 minutes. Step 3 Meanwhile, arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 425°. Add mustard and mayonnaise to remaining marinade and stir until smooth. Step 4 Transfer pork to oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 140°, 15 to 20 minutes. Step 5 To build sandwiches, cut loaf in half crosswise, then cut each piece in half lengthwise for 4 pieces total. Spread butter on outside of bread on the top and bottom. Spread mustard mixture on cut sides of bread. On 2 bread pieces, layer each with 2 oz. cheese, 4 oz. ham, half of roast pork, 4 pickle slices, and remaining 2 oz. cheese. Close with remaining bread pieces and wrap each sandwich in foil. Step 6 Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Place foil-wrapped sandwiches in skillet, then place another heavy skillet on top to create a homemade sandwich press. If you don’t have another heavy skillet, weigh the pan down with another lighter skillet or baking sheet, then top with couple of canned goods. Step 7 Grill sandwiches, turning halfway through, until toasted and cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cut each sandwich in half and serve.

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Combine the lard and milk in a saucepan, and heat until the milk is hot. Pour the hot milk into the flour mixture, and stir until a dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Cover, and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll the dough out on a floured surface 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 4-inch rounds. Brush the outer edges of each circle with beaten egg, and fill with a small mound of cheese. Fold each circle in half to form a half-moon; press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal. Place the empanadas onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with remaining egg. Bake in preheated oven until golden-brown, about 20 minutes. Alternatively, the empanadas may be deep fried in 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oil. If deep frying, do not brush the outsides of the empanadas with egg. Drain on paper towels.

Place chicken breast in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, add 1 tsp salt and simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Allow chicken to cool and then shred meat with two forks. Finely chop shallot/red onion. Stir mayonnaise, crème fraîche, Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar to combine. Season with salt, pepper and extra Dijon mustard to taste. Combine with onion and chicken. Fry bacon until crisp and transfer to plate lined with paper towels. Rinse mushrooms, slice and fry in the same pan as bacon until golden (approximately 5 minutes). Season with a bit of salt and pepper. Arrange your chicken salad in a serving dish, topped with crisp bacon, mushrooms and chopped parsley. Serve on a slice of light or dark bread.

Cut the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds. In a bowl combine 3.5 oz (100 grams) Feta cheese, 7 oz (200 grams) cottage cheese, 1 tbsp chopped chives (optional), 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional), 1/4 tsp salt (more or less to taste) and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Fill the peppers with the mixture. Top with chopped chives and parsley. Serve.

1. Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. 2. Add 4 cloves minced garlic and 2 finely chopped shallots to the skillet, stirring constantly until fragrant and lightly golden, 2-3 minutes. 3. Tip: Keep the heat medium to prevent burning—garlic can turn bitter if overcooked. 4. Add 1 lb ground pork to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until no pink remains, 5-7 minutes. 5. Stir in 3 tbsp prahok and cook for 1 minute to blend the flavors, mashing it slightly into the pork. 6. Pour in 1 cup coconut milk, stirring to combine, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. 7. Tip: Simmer gently to avoid curdling the coconut milk—a steady bubble is ideal. 8. Add 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp palm sugar, and 2 minced Thai chilies, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. 9. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp lime juice, mixing thoroughly. 10. Tip: Add lime juice off the heat to preserve its fresh, tangy flavor without cooking it out. 11. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and garnish with ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro. 12. Let the dip cool for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Heat up a pan over medium high heat, add olive oil and let it get hot. Add onions, peppers, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper, cook for 3 to 5 min until onion is translucent. Mix in the beans, stir and reduce heat to medium, add the Lizano sauce, stir and cook for 5 more minutes. Add the rice, stir and cooked for a few more minutes, to incorporate all the flavors in the rice. The time to cook it I will depend of how you like your gallo pinto, some people like it a little wet and some other like it a little toasted or dry. I prefer it not too dry, so I cook it for about 5 to 7 min.

1. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, about 1 minute. 2. Add 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs to the pot and cook until browned on all sides, approximately 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. 3. Pour 4 cups water into the pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. 4. Stir in 2 tbsp tamarind paste, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and 1 tsp sugar until fully dissolved, about 1 minute. 5. Add 1 stalk lemongrass and 2 kaffir lime leaves to the pot, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the broth with flavor. 6. Tip: Bruising the lemongrass before adding helps release its essential oils for a more aromatic stew. 7. Add 1 cup pineapple chunks, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, and 1 cup green beans to the pot, stirring gently to combine. 8. Simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, or until the green beans are tender but still crisp and the tomatoes start to soften. 9. Tip: Avoid overcooking the vegetables to maintain their vibrant color and texture in the final dish. 10. Stir in 1 Thai chili and simmer for an additional 2 minutes to incorporate the heat. 11. Tip: Taste the broth and adjust with extra tamarind paste or fish sauce if desired, but do so gradually to avoid overpowering the balance. 12. Remove the pot from heat and discard the lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves before serving. 13. Present the stew hot in bowls, optionally garnished with fresh herbs like cilantro.

step 1 Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rub 4 ramekins, about 175ml capacity, or dariole moulds liberally with the soft butter. Sprinkle with the caster sugar to coat. step 2 In a medium bowl, press the egg yolks through a wire sieve and mix with the coconut milk, sugar, coconut and vanilla. Pour into ramekins and place in a large roasting tin in the oven. step 3 Pour water into the roasting tin to three-quarters up the ramekins so it acts like a bain marie or water bath for the quindim. Bake for 30-35 mins until the tops are golden. Take the ramekins out of the water and leave to cool for 5 mins. step 4 Chill for 4 hrs and then run a knife around the edge. Place a plate on top and turn out the quindims to serve.

1) In a large bowl, combine the butter and caster sugar until creamy. Add the egg and a pinch of salt. 2) Stir into a buttery mixture. Add the sifted flour. 3) Whisk well. You should end up with a smooth dough. Cover it with a piece of plastic wrap and put the dough in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill and set. 4) In the meantime combine the cassonade (or brown sugar) and the cinnamon. 5) Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for a minute. Add extra flour if necessary. Roll the dough out gently into a nice rectangle. It should be about ⅕-inch (5 mm) thick. Sprinkle with the sugary cinnamon mixture. 6) Carefully start rolling the dough up. If it is too sticky, put it in the fridge again for a couple of minutes. Wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap. 7) Put it in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill and set. After that, remove the cling film and cut the dough roll into even slices. 8) Place the slices on a baking paper lined baking tray. Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 356°F (180°C) for 14 to 16 minutes. 9) Let the baked cinnamon roll cookies cool down fully before eating or wrapping them up.

Combine vegetables in a bowl and sprinkle salt on top. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Add the oil. Top with feta and parsley. Serve.

1 Prepare In a mixing bowl cream together the eggs, sugar and cooled melted butter then add the honey and soda. 2 Add half the flour and the walnuts (you can add the walnuts whole or ground them) and mix well. 3 Add the rest of the flour and using your hands kneed the mixture together until a firm dough is formed. 4 Coat a large baking tray (traditionally a circle tray is used about 30cm is best with a 2 - 3 inch height) with olive oil. Add the dough and press it down so that it fits the whole tray. Try and get the dough flat and equal in height all over. 5 Baking Place on the bottom shelf of a cold oven and turn the temperture up to 180 degrees. Bake for 35 minutes and the dough has turned dark brown and is firm to touch. 6 Remove from the oven and leave to cool while making the syrup. 7 Adding the Syrup Add the sugar and water to a saucepan and bring to the boil. Leave boiling for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally. Remove from the heat. 8 Cut the Shendetlie into squares of diamond shapes and pour over the hot syrup. Use enough of the syrup to cover the cake plus 1 cm overflowing, sitting on top. This will soak into the cake while you leave it to cool for at least 1 hour before serving.

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat until it shimmers, about 2 minutes. 2. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent burning. 3. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they turn opaque on all sides, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Pour in the 8 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat, which should take about 8 minutes. 5. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the fish sauce, salt, and sugar, and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes to develop the flavors. 6. While the broth simmers, cook the rice noodles according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. 7. Divide the cooked noodles evenly among four bowls. 8. Ladle the hot broth and chicken over the noodles in each bowl. 9. Top each bowl with bean sprouts, chopped mint leaves, and optional red chili slices. 10. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the soup.

Put the chicken, water and one garlic clove in a large saucepan. Place it over medium-high heat until boiling. Then turn the heat low, cover the pan and simmer the chicken for 10 minutes. Remove the chicken leg and breast. Keep the fresh chicken stock for later. Let the chicken cool. Then dice the chicken breast up. Pick the meat off the leg. Discard any bones and skin. Slice the leek, celery and carrot finely (julienne). Add the butter, rosemary and bay leaves to a large pan and place it over medium heat until melted. Then add the sliced vegetables. Season with pepper and salt. Stir and cook the vegetables for 3 minutes. Then add the shredded and diced chicken. Cover the pan and cook the chicken and vegetables for 5 minutes. Then add the cream and ½ cup (120 ml) of the fresh chicken stock. Look at this delicious waterzooi recipe! Do try out my chunky chicken stew with fresh leeks, celery, carrots and lots of cream... This is Belgian comfort food! Cover the pan and cook the stew for 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Add the egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of the warm cream from the pan to a cup. Whisk and add it back to the pan to thicken the sauce. Stir all the ingredients and then turn the heat very low. Check the seasoning and add extra pepper or salt to taste. Remove the rosemary and bay leaves. Divide the stew over deep plates and drizzle with the remaining cream sauce. Serve hot.

Place the flour in a large bowl and add the yeast and sugar. If the milk is cold make sure to heat it to lukewarm. Mix your flour mixture bit by bit with the milk until you have a smooth batter. Add the salt and mix with a wooden spoon till the batter is smooth and liquidy. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm spot for about an hour to rise. Heat your deep fryer or add the oil to a large pot. The oil should be a t 180˚C (350˚F) for best results. Before starting stir your batter through and scoop the batter with two spoons or with an ice cream scoop. Let it drop into the oil carefully. It is easiest to do this if you dip your spoons or scoop into the oil before dipping into the batter. That way it will slide of the spoons easily. Don't over crowd the fryer to prevent the oil cooling down too quickly and everything sticking together. Once one side is golden brown it usually turns around to the other side automatically. If not help it along with two forks. Take the balls out once golden brown and leave to drain on a piece of kitchen paper.

Cook beans until tender, add rice, coconut milk, onion, black pepper and salt, and add enough water to just cover the ingredients. Place Scotch Bonnet peppers on top, careful not to burst them. Simmer until rice is tender. Remove pepper before serving.

Place beans in a large pot and cover with cold water. Soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse, before you use in the soup. Chop one of the onions and leave the other one whole. Chop carrots. Heat oil on a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots. Cook for 2 minutes. Add beans, water, peppers, head of onion, salt, pepper, summer savory, mint, thyme, Vegeta and tomato puree. Stir, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 hours, or until the beans are tender. Remove the peppers and whole onion. Mash the onion. Peel peppers and chop. Return to the pot. Add more salt and pepper, if needed. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve.

step 1 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Oil and line the base of a 20cm springform cake tin. Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder together in a large bowl and set aside. Tip the oil, carrots and eggs in a blender and blitz until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring until smooth. step 2 Pour the batter into the cake tin and give it a shake to get rid of air bubbles. Bake for 45 mins to 1 hr, until a clean knife or skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If the middle is sticky, put back in the oven for a further 5 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. step 3 For the drizzle, heat the milk, cocoa and sugar in a saucepan over a low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves (about 5 mins), creating a thick, shiny drizzle. step 4 Remove the cake from the tin and level the top using a serrated knife, then flip so the bottom becomes the top. Pierce all over using a knife or toothpick and put on a wire rack with a tray or large bowl underneath. Pour the drizzle over the cake in batches until it’s all absorbed. You can reuse any drizzle caught in the tray or bowl. Most of the drizzle should be absorbed.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs and powdered sugar for3 minutes. Add vanilla extract and honey. Mix to combine, then add oil. Add the flour mixture in two increments and beat to incorporate. Let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes. Shape 2 tbsp balls, place on baking sheets and press flat. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden. Let the cookies cool down completely. Melt white and semi-sweet chocolate separately with 1 tbsp vegetable oil each. Dip cookies halfway into chocolate. Let it set. Keep in a air tight container or wrapped in cellophane bags for up to 2 weeks in room temperature or refrigerated.

step 1 In a medium heavy-based saucepan, heat the butter, condensed milk, a pinch of salt and the cocoa, to boiling, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to medium-low; cook for 10-15 mins, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and shiny and starts to pull away from the bottom. step 2 Stir in the vanilla and vigorously mix again. Pour the mixture onto a buttered plate. Chill for at least 2 hrs. step 3 Butter your hands and pinch off some of the dough to make 2.5cm balls. Place your toppings into small bowls and roll the balls of one of the decorations. Place in mini paper baking cups or on a tray lined with non-stick baking paper

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce and honey to create a marinade. 2. Add the chicken thigh strips to the marinade, ensuring each piece is fully coated, and let it sit for 20 minutes at room temperature. 3. While the chicken marinates, combine the julienned carrots, daikon radish, rice vinegar, and granulated sugar in a separate bowl, stirring until the sugar dissolves to pickle the vegetables. 4. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and sriracha sauce thoroughly to make a spicy aioli. 5. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until it shimmers, about 2 minutes. 6. Add the marinated chicken strips to the hot skillet in a single layer, cooking for 4-5 minutes per side until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F and develop a golden-brown crust. 7. While the chicken cooks, lightly toast the split baguettes in a toaster oven or under a broiler for 2-3 minutes until just crisp on the edges. 8. Spread a generous layer of the spicy aioli on the inside of each toasted baguette. 9. Drain the pickled carrots and daikon radish from their liquid, then layer them onto the bottom half of each baguette. 10. Place the cooked chicken strips evenly over the pickled vegetables in each sandwich. 11. Top the chicken with fresh cilantro leaves and thinly sliced cucumber. 12. Close the sandwiches by pressing the top half of each baguette down gently.

1. In a large bowl, combine the coconut milk, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, minced garlic, and black pepper to make the marinade. 2. Add the thinly sliced pork shoulder to the marinade, ensuring each piece is fully coated, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate. 3. While the pork marinates, rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch, which helps prevent clumping. 4. In a medium pot, combine the rinsed rice and 4 cups of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. 5. Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F) and lightly brush with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. 6. Remove the pork from the marinade, shaking off any excess, and place it on the hot grill, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until nicely charred and cooked through with an internal temperature of 145°F. 7. Tip: Avoid overcrowding the grill pan to ensure even browning and proper caramelization of the marinade. 8. Once the pork is grilled, let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing to retain its juices and tenderness. 9. Tip: If you prefer a saucier dish, simmer the leftover marinade in a small saucepan for 5 minutes until slightly thickened and drizzle it over the pork. 10. Fluff the cooked rice with a fork to separate the grains and serve it warm alongside the grilled pork slices. 11. Arrange the thinly sliced cucumber and fresh cilantro leaves on top as a refreshing garnish. 12. Tip: For an extra kick, serve with a side of pickled vegetables or a squeeze of lime juice to balance the rich, savory flavors.

Scrub the potatoes well but don't peel them. Cut them into bite-size pieces. Add them to a large pan water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a good boil. Cook the potatoes until tender and then remove them using a slotted spoon. Keep the potatoes at room temperature. Trim and clean the green beans. Add them to the pan of hot water you boiled the potatoes in. Cook the green beans until nearly tender (keep them crunchy). Strain and refresh them immediately under cold running tap water to stop the cooking process. Add the bacon to a large non-stick pan and place it over medium heat. Cook the bacon for a couple of minutes until cooked through. Then take the pan off the heat and let the bacon cool down a little. Combine the olive oil, vinegar and mustard. Transfer the cooked potatoes, green beans, bacon, chopped onion, parsley and vinaigrette. Season with pepper and salt. Stir well. Check the seasoning and add extra vinegar, pepper or salt to taste. Transfer the salad to a large serving bowl or 2 deep plates and garnish with the boiled eggs. Serve lukewarm.