Fermented bean curd is a wonderful seasoning you can buy jars of at the Asian market. It has a salty, almost meaty flavor, which is so good that in a pinch I’ve been known to just mash up a cube of fermented bean curd and eat it over rice. So if you mash it over…
Category: Guessipes
Roasted Radishes
Awhile ago, I had a roasted vegetable board at one of the many LA restaurants that serve locally sourced, seasonal produce. Most of the veggies were pretty standard for roasting – bell peppers, squash, broccolini. But there was one thing on the board that it took me a minute to figure out. Turns out it…
Chimichurri
One of the things I like best about eating at Argentinean restaurants has always been the chimichurri. Instead of butter or olive oil, chimichurri is usually served with the bread as you wait for your meal to arrive. And once the grilled meats appear (which is usually what you’d be eating at an Argentinean place),…
Tortilla Chips 3 Ways
I love Sundays during Fall, because they combine two of my favorite things – food and football. I had a package of corn tortillas that I needed to do something with. So for one football party, I decided to try my hand at homemade tortilla chips. I am normally the first person to say some…
Pineapple Cream Pie
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love pie. Not only is it one of my favorite desserts to eat (ok yes, one of my favorite breakfasts as well), but pie also tends to be one of the baked goods most forgiving of improvisation. That fits well with my Guessipe style of cooking. One…
Shortcut Kimchi Cucumbers
When I was little, I got on a kimchi-making kick with my mom. Kimchi takes days to ferment, and can be pretty stinky (we did it in the garage). I give credit to my mom for going along with this for several months – I think she thought of it as good mother-daughter bonding. But…
MoCh4 Cookies
These are the best cookies I’ve ever had. Bold statement, I know. But seriously, they’re awesome – a hit at every party I’ve brought them to. People are always asking me for the recipe. So here it is! I even gave them a clever name. What the heck is MoCh4? These cookies have Chocolate Chips,…
Eggs on Rice with Oyster Sauce
Weekend brunch in my family was a big deal. My dad was the brunch cook, and my mom, brother, and I would take turns getting to decide what was for brunch each weekend. When it was my turn, I almost always chose eggs on rice with oyster sauce. This may sound weird, but trust me…
Crab in Black Bean Sauce
Whenever my grandma made this dish, we called it Lobster Sauce. Which is something of a misnomer because it is actually a pork-based sauce that the seafood is cooked in. And the seafood she used was rarely lobster – usually shrimp or crab. I’m sure there was something lost in translation. Whatever you want to…
Swedish Chocolate Balls
One of my best friends is Swedish. She taught me how to make these awesome chocolate balls, which are a common Swedish dessert. They have a great texture from the oats, and a flavor from the dark cocoa that makes them rich but not overly sweet. I added a bit of strong coffee, which gives…
Chicken Adobo
One of my best friends when I was young was Filipino. There was always something good cooking in her kitchen. My dad used to joke that he knew when I’d been hanging out at her house because I’d come home smelling like food. That was totally ok with me. I was happy to partake in…
Rosemary Walnuts
I try not to buy chips, because I will sit and eat the whole bag in one sitting. So I like to make a batch of these Rosemary Walnuts, which are a healthier snack that satisfies my craving for salt and crunch. It’s also a good way to use up leftover walnuts when I make…