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  • Cardamom Sweet Potatoes

    Cardamom Sweet Potato Stew

    When our neighbors give us fresh purple yams from their farm, this recipe is what instantly comes to mind. Served over rice, this is one of the easiest and fastest meals possible. (more…)

  • Lemon Craze

    This is my son’s favorite cake. It’s a simple lemon cake that I sometimes serve decorated with lemon frosting or garnished with streaks of sweet-tart lemon filling, though I always prefer it unadorned. I adapted it from the ever popular Crazy Cake (a.k.a. Wacky Cake, Oil and Vinegar Cake) that everyone grew up making and eating in the U.S. My brother, whose sixth grade teacher taught the class to cook, made this cake for me growing up. It’s he who inspired in me a lifelong love of baking.

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  • Almost-Fail-Proof Rice

    White rice is one of the easiest side dishes to prepare and it does not take much to get the hang of it. Here is a very quick and simple recipe that is somewhat forgiving and easy to master.

    Difficulty Level: easy
    Prep Time: none
    Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes

    Ingredients:

    • 2.5 cups water
    • 2 cups white rice

    Preparations:

    • Depending on the rice, rinse once or twice. Do not rinse if the package says it is pre-washed or says something like “washing not necessary.”

    Cooking:

    1. Combine water and rice into a small to medium sized stainless steel pot
    2. Bring to a boil (about 6 minutes)
    3. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 6 minutes
    4. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes
    5. fluff up the rice and serve

    Notes, hints, and substitutions:

    • This recipe can be doubled.
    • Different varieties of rice need more or less water to cook. We prefer Kokuho Rose variety of rice. It is a short to medium grain rice that makes sushi well.
    • Use more water for wetter rice and less water for more dry rice, depending on your preference. Either way, start with this recipe.
    • We generally use a 6 quart pot.
    • Do not use aluminum. Rice comes out best with pots made from stainless steel, carbon steel, or cast iron. Aluminum can leave an off-flavor, not to mention it has been tied to Alzheimer’s disease.
    • Feel free to substitute half chicken or other broth for half the water

    Source: unknown

  • Thyme Lime Chicken

    A family favorite, this no-salt-added dish is especially good for people who don’t have much time to cook, don’t want to hunt for unusual ingredients, must watch their salt intake, or all of the above. You basically put the chicken pieces in a pan, add three marinade ingredients on top, and put the whole thing in the oven. That’s it! (more…)