Kalua Pork

My dad went to college in Hawaii, and added some fantastic Hawaiian dishes to his food repertoire during his time there. This is one that is simple and great for a luau-themed party, as it makes enough food for a crowd, especially when supplemented with Hawaiian sides like rice, macaroni salad, fresh pineapple, and ramen…

A Traditional Yannukah Stew

This story begins with a holiday called Dirktoberfest – an annual celebration thrown around the time of Oktoberfest by my cousin Yan’s German roommate, Dirk. The highlight of Dirktoberfest was a contest to present Dirk with a beer he’d never had before, the winner of which would receive a specially reserved piece of Dirk’s homemade…

Mexican Casserole

This is my mom’s Mexican Casserole recipe. It has nacho cheese Doritos in it, so naturally I adored it when I was a kid. Actually, I still adore it now! It is cheesy, crispy, meaty goodness. You can dress it up with sides, but honestly it’s good enough to eat plain. Guessipe 20 oz cheddar…

Peach Ribs

My mom would make these peach ribs. I loved how they were sweet from the peaches and a little tangy. I never enjoyed drinking peach nectar as I found it too think for my liking, but it is great for cooking this dish. Guessipe 4 lbs pork spareribs, cut into individual ribs Salt to taste…

Curry Chicken Rice Salad

My mom makes this dish, and there’s something about it that’s so comforting. It’s also great because it’s a whole meal in one – grain, meat, and veg. So it’s great for scooping yourself a giant bowl and just going to town. Guessipe 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups…

Savory Sweet Ribs

When I was a kid and my mom asked what we wanted for dinner, I often requested these ribs. She was doing salty sweet before it became a thing. They’re her home version of Chinese BBQ ribs. She was a busy woman and cooked them at a higher temp for less time, but I’ve modified…

Joe’s Special

Who is Joe? I’ve no idea, nor does my mom who made this dish often throughout my childhood. I’ve occasionally seen it on restaurant menus, but usually as a breakfast scramble. My mom’s version is lighter on the eggs, heavier on the ground beef. We ate it for dinner. Guessipe 2 lbs ground beef 2…

Honey Spice Cornflake Crunch Chicken

I used to make this delicious spicy sweet chicken with skin-on bone-in chicken thighs, until one day I was in the mood to make them and happened to only have boneless skinless thighs on hand. One of the things I enjoyed about the dish was the crispness of the skin, so I decided to try…

Cambodian Kaw

My Cambodian friend introduced me to this dish of pork belly and eggs in a soy and caramelized sugar sauce, and it’s been a favorite of mine ever since. He gave me his mom’s recipe, but just like my family’s recipes (and I’m beginning to think all Asian families) it was more of a half-complete…

Parmesan Fried Eggs

Ever buy a nice chunk of Parmesan to grate over a pasta dish, and then wonder what you could do with the remainder? Use it to make this awesome Parmesan fried eggs breakfast, which will feel and sound fancy if you’re making brunch for someone, but is actually so easy to make that you could…

Creamy Feta Red Pepper Vodka Pasta

Did you know there’s such a thing as creamy feta? I didn’t. But I bought it accidentally once, and have been a fan ever since. I happened to have some creamy feta when I got in the mood for vodka pasta, and decided to see if I could use it instead of cream, which I…

Avocado Pasta

Did you know that Compton used to be a giant avocado grove? I didn’t. My friend lives there, and she has one of the remaining avocado trees. It is the most epic avocado tree I have ever seen. Huge, with giant incredibly delicious avocados to match. Every year around avocado season, I try to make…