My favorite world recipes of 2014

You may have noticed that I've been slowing down a little, especially in the last few months of 2014. This is in part due to this job I have, where I have to write between 7,000 and 9,000 words every week (if I could devote that many words a week to writing a novel, I'd be able to pump one out every 10 weeks), and in part due to my older kids not taking swimming lessons anymore. I know that doesn't seem like it should have anything to do with anything, but I used to spend poolside time working on my blog posts, so without that I haven't really got a regular slot carved out for blogging. I know, I ought to be able to make one, but I just haven't managed.

I could launch into a speech about New Year's resolutions and swear to do better this year, but I don't want to make any promises because I'm mostly bad at keeping them. But regardless of how many weeks pass between posts, I do believe I will eventually get to the end of the alphabet. Eventually.

Anyway, I want to start the new year by remembering last year. I made some great food last year, and here's a list of my favorite 10 recipes:

Emilia Romagna, Italy: Tagliatelle with Porcini Mushrooms

Simple dishes are sometimes the best tasting. This whole meal was brilliant, but my favorite part was the mushroom pasta. It had a simple, earthy flavor and was one of the best things I ate all year.

Honduras: Carneada

I had a hard time deciding which dish from Honduras was my favorite, because I loved all of them. So I chose the main course, because it was definitely the star of what was a really amazing show. It was juicy, full of flavor, and it went beautifully with the other items on the menu.

Hong Kong: Soy Sauce Chicken

It's rare that I make a dish that all six of us like, because my kids have very different tastes. But this soy sauce chicken was loved by all, so much so that I really wish I'd made a lot more of it. And it was really easy to make, too.

Israel: Bourekas

My Isreal meal was definitely one of the most time-consuming blog meals of the year, but it was worth it. I chose a lot of different dishes and these cheese-filled bourekas were one of my favorite things on a very full table. I ate way too many of them and almost couldn't make room for the rest of the food. Almost.

Jamaica: Coco Bread

I am pretty sure that coconut-flavored bread has made my list of favorites in past years, so this may be a bit of a repeat. It wouldn't be fair to leave it off the list, though, because my whole family adored this bread. In fact, it actually inspired tears in my older daughter, who could not believe I had the audacity to eat the leftovers while she was at school.

Kazakhstan: Kazakh Lemon Chicken

This chicken dish had very complex flavors and I thought it was really delicious. It's actually the only dish that made the top 10 list that wasn't loved by both me and my husband, though, because he really doesn't like olives. I didn't think his personal preferences should exclude an otherwise fabulous meal from the top 10, though, so here it is. Delicious, lemony and tender, mmmm.

South Korea: Korean fried chicken

My American fried chicken recipe is pretty yummy, but I don't make it very often because of that whole most-unhealthy-thing-ever problem. I don't think this fried chicken recipe was really much better in terms of health but oh my, it was delicious. In fact my chicken-on-the-bone hating husband declared that these were the best drumsticks he'd ever had. High praise!

Kurdistan: Xorsht Fesenjan (chicken with pomegranate molasses and walnut)

OK, so the photo really looks awful. Like, if you had to go by pictures you would probably put this chicken in the bottom 10 of the year. Flavor-wise, though, it was amazing. It had a really deep, rich flavor that was reminiscent of sun dried tomatoes, but only a little. Be prepared for big, bold flavors if you make this dish.

Kuwait: Kuwaiti Honey Cake

My eight year old liked this honey cake so much that she actually said she wants me to make it on her birthday instead of getting her a store-bought cake. What? She loves those sickly-sweet, butter cream frosted cakes so it was a shock to hear her say that. I loved this dessert too, it was very middle-eastern in flavor and had a great texture.

Lebanon: Djej w Batata Bil Sayniyyeh (Baked Garlic Chicken and Potatoes)

I love one-pot meals for their ease, but this one was really delicious, too. You really gotta love anything with a garlic sauce, and this was one well-executed garlic sauce. With the potatoes it made for a really delicious and complete meal.

Runners Up

Honduras: Corn Tortillas

OK I know it's just corn tortillas, and nothing could be simpler to make. But the difference between these tortillas and something you'd buy at the grocery store is like night and day. These tortillas have an amazing, smooth texture and they don't fall apart when you try to fold them up. Stuff them with whatever you want and they'll hold together, and they taste delicious, too.

Hong Kong: Soy Sauce Noodles

My whole Hong Kong meal was delicious and I thought these noodles deserved a mention for one very important reason: they were the first Asian noodles I've personally made that did not turn out sort of slimy. Because of this dish, I finally have conquered chow mien, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Kashmir, India: Saunf Aloo

These were beautiful, simple and creamy potatoes--an easy dish to throw together and serve with Indian curry. I love making curry on or off my blog, so this recipe is going into my book and will for sure be accompanying some of this year's Indian dishes.

That's my list! I hope you tried some of these dishes too, and if not that you will have a chance to do so in 2015. They're totally worth the effort (and some were hardly any effort at all!)

Happy new year and I really do hope to have more posts up in 2015!

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My favorite world recipes of 2013

Well here we are at the end of another year, and I'm posting my list of favorite recipes from 2013. Didn't I just do this a couple of weeks ago? Oh, it was a whole year ago. Imagine that.

I love doing these posts actually because they give me a chance to refresh my memory. I cook a lot of interesting food for my blog and sometimes I lose track of the stuff that was really outstanding. Which would be a shame, because the dishes I'm about to list are worth putting in anyone's permanent recipe rotation.

Ready? Here we go:

Ecuador: Llapingachos

These little potato patties are pretty stinking good, especially topped with a peanut sauce called salsa de mani and an onion curtido (both recipes included in that post). When I made these llapingachos they turned out perfectly, even though I'm hopeless at any sort of pan-fried patty thing. I served them as a side but I could see these done as appetizers, too.

El Salvador: Quesadilla Salvadorena

This is not your local Chevy’s Restaurant quesadilla, nor is it like any other quesadilla you are likely to get anywhere in the US, unless you visit an El Salvadorian restaurant. This quesadilla is more like a cake, and is in fact served as a dessert. It’s sweet but also cheesy, and that’s a heavenly combination. Who knew? Well sure, there’s cheesecake … but cream cheese is meant to be sweet. Parmesan, on the other hand—it was unexpectedly delicious in this lovely dessert.

Ethiopia: Doro Wat

I might have actually given Ethiopia a nod on this list even if this hadn’t been one of the big highlights of my culinary year. You see, for the past decade and a half I’ve been living a lie—the lie that said I don’t like Ethiopian food. Now, this was based entirely on one bad restaurant experience so even I know how unfair that is. Fortunately this recipe for Doro Wat changed my mind about Ethiopian food. It’s a delicious, rich, flavorful stew that you really have to try.

Europa Island: Massala Cabri (Goat Curry)

Now, you may be surprised to see this one on the list and I’ll admit that I chose it more for the experience of researching it and writing the post than for the dish itself. It was a very good recipe, but sadly my goat was a bit tough. Still, the great story that came along with this recipe made my Europa Island meal one of the most memorable of 2013.

Fiji: Coconut Bread

Wait just a second while I bask in the memory of this coconut bread. Mmmm, this was really good. You could have it for breakfast with a cup of coffee, or after lunch as a dessert, or, you know, instead of dinner. It was seriously that good.

Gascony and the Basque Country, France: Gâteau Basque

Yes, I know there are a lot of dessert recipes on this list. What can I say, I made a lot of yummy desserts this year, and this was one of the best. It was buttery and rich and filled with decadent black cherry preserves. I could probably eat a whole cake all by myself and never feel an ounce of guilt about all that butter.

Grenada: Roast Pork Calypso Style with Black Bean, Heart of Palm and Corn Salad

This pork and salad recipe was a meal all by itself, and not only did it look beautiful, it also tasted that way. I served it on the same platter we use for our Thanksgiving turkey and it felt like we were having a holiday feast. Between the six of us we devoured a whole roast in less than 10 minutes and I had enough salad left over for lunch the next day.

Guadeloupe: Bokit au Poulet

This was a really simple dish made with a roasted chicken and fresh baked bread rolls. I could have eaten a lot of these and I really wish I’d made more. The roast chicken recipe all by itself was a good one and you actually could stop there if you don’t want to go to the trouble of making the bread. But hey why give yourself only half of a good thing? Fresh baked rolls with roasted chicken, what’s not to love?

Guam: Chicken Kelaguen

There are a lot of reasons why I love chicken kelaguen, and it’s not just because it tastes good. It was also really easy to make—proving once and for all that not every blog night has to be a back-breaking, hours-long cooking fest. Kelaguen can be made with unseasoned chicken cooked pretty much any way you like—grilled, steamed in foil or even just one of those rotisserie chickens from Safeway. Most of the flavor of this dish comes from what you mix it with. And it’s awesome on the slightly sweet coconut rotis I made to go with it.

Guernsey: Guernsey Biscuits

Whenever I open up a can of refrigerator biscuits I scream and jump halfway across the kitchen. I hate when they pop, it scares the hell out of me. So I was happy to find this recipe, which makes a delicious biscuit (with yeast!), no fiddly rolling technique required and no terrifying explosion necessary.

Actually I really liked the dessert I did from Guernsey, too, but I’m not going to go there again. You should check it out, though.

Yes! That’s the best of this year with Travel by Stove. Merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year too!

PS Did you try any of these recipes? What did you think?

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My Favorite World Recipes of 2012

I was thinking that I would post a list of my favorite Travel by Stove recipes once I got to the 100 countries mark. But it's taking too long. Hey! I've got a better idea. I'm going to make it a New Year thing instead.

Since I started this project back in August 2011, I've made some really delicious food. I've made some real stinkers, too (maybe I should also post a list of the worst Travel by Stove recipes?) But for the most part, this little culinary adventure has produced a lot of keepers, and much of what I made actually earned a place in my family cookbook. Several of the recipes I've already repeated for special events and just for weekend family meals.

So here it is, in case you're looking for a list of delicious and unusual international recipes but you're not willing to take on the insane task of one complete meal every week (and take it from me, it IS an insane task).

This list is alphabetical by country, rather than in order by preference. It was hard enough narrowing down the list to 10, let alone putting them in order according to which ones I liked best.

Azerbijan: Parcha Dosheme Plov (Rice Pilaf with Chicken)




Plov is Azerbijan's national dish. It is made with rice, and it has a very strange and scary cooking technique that requires you to place it in a covered pot for an hour and pray it doesn't burn. If you get it right, it will be the most perfect rice you've ever cooked—fluffy and flavorful. Plov is labor-intensive but worth it.

For the recipe: Parcha Dosheme Plov (Rice Pilaf with Chicken)

Benin: Boulets de Poulet avec Sauce Rough (Chicken Meatballs with Red Sauce)



These chicken meatballs are cooked in a delicious peanut sauce that is reminiscent of a pad Thai, but African in character. Serve this dish over plain white rice and you'll be happy.

For the recipe: Boulets de Poulet avec Sauce Rough (Chicken Meatballs with Red Sauce)

Bhutan: Ema Datshi (Chilies and Cheese)



Ema Datshi looks like a train wreck but is gobsmackingly delicious. The traditional version is made with yak's cheese, but Bhutanese living in America will substitute a mix of Danish blue and feta to roughly approximate the traditional flavor. Depending on what chilies you choose, this dish can be mild or spicy and tastes particularly yummy served over nutty Bhutanese red rice.

For the recipe: Ema Datshi (Chilies and Cheese)

Brittany: Hazelnut Gâteau Breton



The texture of this dessert is somewhere between a cake and a cookie. It has a lovely crispy crust and is the kind of thing that I like to eat with a cup of coffee, and maybe with a little fresh whipped cream on top. It's a nice change from those overwhelmingly sweet American cakes.

For the recipe: Hazelnut Gâteau Breton

Burma: Burmese Rolls



These rolls take a little bit of time, but they come out crispy and delicious and are great with a sour dipping sauce. If you don't mind the extra calories, you could probably deep fry them to get a more uniform texture but I thought they were delicious just pan fried.

For the recipe: Burmese Rolls

Burma: Beh Thar Aloo Sipyan (Duck and Potato Curry)



Yes, I love Burmese food. In fact all the recipes I made from Burma ended up in my family cookbook, though the rolls and this delicious duck curry were my two favorites. The sauce was a little too oily for my tastes, so I actually cut back on it quite a bit when I make it now, and I also dice the potatoes up a little smaller. However you choose to do it, though, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

For the recipe: Beh Thar Aloo Sipyan (Duck and Potato Curry)

Cambodia: Sach Moan Cari Ang Chomkak (Grilled Curry Chicken on a Stick)



Cambodian food is just as delicious as Burmese food, and once again everything I made that week ended up in the family cookbook. These yummy chicken skewers were easy to make and had a delicious, unusual flavor. For the complete experience, you have to do this with mango salsa.

For the recipe: Sach Moan Cari Ang Chomkak (Grilled Curry Chicken on a Stick)

Central Canada: Poutine



Yes I know, this is gooey, junky, heart-attack on a plate stuff. But I am a real sucker for French fries and also for cheese, and let's face it, for gravy, too. I could not make poutine more than once a year because my waistline would most definitely not thank me for it. But for an occasional indulgence it is most definitely worth keeping in the recipe book, right there next to my favorite fried chicken recipe.

For the recipe: Poutine

Christmas Island: Ayam Panggang (Lemon Chile Chicken)



I almost didn't include this recipe on my list because, if you remember, it didn't exactly come from an authentic source. It was based on a Cocos (Keeling) Islands recipe (Cocos is a Christmas Island neighbor) and tweaked a little in the hopes it would approximate a Christmas Island recipe served at Island Dreams Café in Sydney, Australia. The result was so amazingly tasty though I had to include it here. Next time I will do it with chicken pieces instead of bone-in chicken, just because it makes for simpler eating.

For the recipe: Ayam Panggang (Lemon Chile Chicken)

Costa Rica: Cajeta de Coco (Coconut Fudge)



Ah, yes, coconut fudge. This stuff was heavenly. It cooks up really soft, though (not like American fudge) and can't be easily sliced, even when refrigerated. So just put it in candy papers and then be prepared to gain five pounds. Coconut fudge is yum, yum, yum.

For the recipe: Cajeta de Coco (Coconut Fudge)

And just narrowly missing the top 10:

• Azerbaijan: Tendir Choreyi (Tandoori Bread)
• Bahamas: Johnny Cakes
• Balochistan: Chicken Sajji Masala
• Cuba: Larry's Mojito Cake

So there you have it, my favorite Travel by Stove recipes from 2012. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Year!

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