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Culinary ideas picked up from various places around the world, most very easily made with readily available ingredients and a bit of effort -- which will be rewarded when you sit and enjoy your labours.
Try these, and send in your recipes (and the story behind them). You'll get full credit. Let's share the chow-down Elsewhere experiences.
Louisiana Shrimp Etoufee
In my travel book Postcards from Elsewhere I write about being in cajun country in Louisiana where the bayou seems mysterious and the food is exceptional. That chapter about Breaux Bridge and the people we met is reproduced here for your amusement. As I say, one of the great things about that part of the world is the food, so here is a recipe which is alarmingly simple and utterly... more >>
Added: 9 Feb 10
James' "no worries" Curried Alaskan King Crab
My friend James has appeared at Recipes from Elsewhere with two excellent dishes, his authentically Thai chicken and his chilli lime Thai fish with coriander. But this one is especially special. First be warned, unless you live in the US -- or specifically Alaska - this could be pricey (in NZ the 1.5kg of Alaskan King Crab clocked in at about $90) but believe me it is worth it as a special... more >>
Added: 21 Dec 09
Jan and Mark's easy-as noodles
The simple recipes are the best and they don't come much more easy than this, but also satisfying. INGREDIENTS Thin yellow oil noodles (in the fridge and precooked from the Tofu shop) cucumber carrot red onions garlic(very finely sliced) fresh coriander hot chillies (fresh is best but favourite sauce ok) METHOD Finely slice the cucumber, carrots, red... more >>
Added: 18 Jul 09
David's Spanish lamb and red pepper stew
David says this is a deliciously simple recipe that can withstand a few variances in the amount of ingredients used, the only caution being that you use very good quality paprika. The Spanish brand La Chinata seems to be readily available in New Zealand, and the bittersweet smoked version suits the dish best. This will serve four. INGREDIENTS I kg, or a little more, of lean... more >>
Added: 1 Jul 09
Greg's Khabli Palau (Afghani spiced lamb pilaf)
Greg offers this colourful recipe for lamb which comes with a back-story: he had it in Chicken Street in Kabul in 1979, just before the Russians invaded. It's some kind of food lover who gets a recipe written down when the tanks are rumbling across the mountains! INGREDIENTS ¼ cup oil 2 medium sized onions – chopped 500g lamb ½ teaspoon Garam Masala... more >>
Added: 18 Jun 09
Greg's wife's Kotosoupa Avgolemono (chicken soup with egg and lemon sauce)
Given the climate in New Zealand right now this is the recipe we have been awaiting for. This is courtesy of Greg's Greek/Cypriot wife and we are assured is renown as a cure for colds. Even if it isn't, it is a winner. INGREDIENTS 1 chicken weighing around 1 kilo. Oven ready. 1 onion peeled and halved 1 carrot peeled and halved ... more >>
Added: 31 May 09
Angela's Low-fat Moist Cake which serves 12!
This is Angela's recipe under the very enticing (and somewhat healthy) title, and one which she says is a New Zealand adaption -- or is that "adaptation"? I've got into this discussion before! -- of a UK/US hybrid because it is based on a Delia Smith recipe for carrot cake. (Which is something I never got frankly. "Carrot" and "cake"? Hmmm.) Anyway, this makes... more >>
Added: 12 May 09
Keith's Christmas Tequila Cookies
Keith offers this marvellous recipe which I can unequivocally recommend. His injunction that you should use only the best tequila is very important however -- as you will see if you read on. If, for some strange reason, this doesn't work out you might want to have someone make the whisky-infused Wicked Chicken just in case. INGREDIENTS 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 cup (two... more >>
Added: 23 Dec 08
Elsewhere's Wish You Were Here cocktail for summer
There are few things more pleasant than gently frying your brain in the summer sun (with Factor 5 and a hat of course), so in the interests of public health Elsewhere offers this recipe for a snappy cocktail which might have you talkin' trash, but no matter. No one will remember anyway. This we like because it is simple. You will need some good quality tequila, limes and Kahlua. And good... more >>
Added: 9 Nov 08
Stir-fry noodles with chicken and macadamia nuts
To be honest I can't remember quite where this one came from but the hand written and much stained recipe reminds me how often we have used it. Dead simple. Sort of meal-in-a-minute stuff. INGREDIENTS noodles (hokkien seem to work best) 250g chicken breasts skinned and sliced into strips a few onions a red capsicum roasted macadamia nuts sesame oil a lime sweet... more >>
Added: 11 Sep 08
Ayam Pongteh (Chicken and Potato Stew, Malaysian style)
In late 2007 I spent a couple of weeks travelling around Malaysia -- and notably went to Melaka, the food capital of the country where Baba Nyonya food is a local speciality. Baba Nyonya is the cuisine of the communities that emerged in the 15th century when migrant Chinese men married local Malay women. A feature of the food is the spicy quality using local herbs, calamansi (a local... more >>
Added: 16 Mar 08 
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Oyster Pie: A "firm favourite" as summer wanes
The Bluff oyster season usually opens in March in New Zealand so people might be looking for something more to do with those big, rich delights than just eating them raw or with a splash of balsamic. I can't remember where I got this recipe from, but it never fails -- well, it does if you dont get in quick. Someone else will wolf it down while you have gone off to get the serviettes.... more >>
Added: 31 Jan 08
Elvis' Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches
Nobody in their right mind would want to follow Elvis' eating regime, but every once in a while maybe you should live like a King. This was one of his favourite recipes and I got it off an oven mitt I bought at Graceland. Sharing the secret! INGREDIENTS Two large bananas Six slices of white bread Half a cup of butter A cup of peanut butter METHOD Peel and mash the... more >>
Added: 6 Jan 08
Hilary's pumpkin, feta and spinach salad (from Flip Grater)
Flip Grater is a Christchurch singer-songwriter who, in late 2006, took to the road to promote her album Cage For A Song. On the trip she picked up vegetarian recipes which she has now put into a book/tour diary. I'll let Flip tell you her story about this one . . . "About half an hour out of Raglan I spotted a man in an old-fashioned black suit walking with his thumb out. He... more >>
Added: 23 Aug 07
Crispy'n'chilli squid
Cannot tell a lie, this is a variation on something from Nigella Bites -- but with a twist. Real tasty starter, but it does involve gettin' squishy with it because you really do need fresh squid which you have to clean and take out all the yucky and hard bits -- like excrement and eyes. But really, it's worth it in the end. INGREDIENTS Three medium-sized whole squid (ie. tubes about... more >>
Added: 11 Jul 07
Sue and Horst's Famous Persimmon Cream Pie
When you've got in-laws who have a large persimmon orchard you tend to learn all kinds of things that can be done with the underrated persimmon. My father-in-law Horst slices ripe ones and sprinkles with a little salt, chilli flakes and a squeeze of lime. Delicious. But so is his persimmon paste which goes great with cheeses. This is a great dessert that Sue conjures up in the kitchen.... more >>
Added: 11 Jul 07
Milly's Peach & Blackberry (or any berry) Cake
Camilla -- aka Milly -- who supplied this Firm Family Favourite says it's her "never fail, loved everywhere" recipe. Having flicked through the recipes at Elsewhere she decided there was a yawning chasm in our offerings: not enough sweet stuff. So here for your pleasure . . . INGREDIENTS 185g butter 185g caster sugar 1 egg 1 egg yolk 335g plain... more >>
Added: 14 Mar 07
Asian Noodle Salad
David who offers this says it is "a terrific side dish with any barbecued meat or fish; it always catches people out with its depths of flavour". A man of the Elsewhere persuasion, he also notes "the amounts given are approximate, especially for the dressing; I suggest you fiddle around until you find the balance of flavours you like, and adjust quantities to suit. The basic... more >>
Added: 15 Feb 07
Hot Smoked Salmon Pasta
Cannot tell a lie, this one is lifted directly from the Salmonman flier that we picked up somewhere. Salmonman sells all kinds of salmon -- from smoked fillets to steaks and marinated kebabs -- as well as prawns and shrimps. And delivers to your door in New Zealand. Check out the website. This one was dead easy, as you may see. It is rich, but delicious. INGREDIENTS 200grams hot... more >>
Added: 11 Feb 07
Barbecued Duck Breasts
These days I, like most people, can toss together a very serviceable and reasonably impressive red curry with duck in just a matter of minutes. It helps when you have a shop selling cooked duck within a few minutes walk. But this recipe is something rather more challenging and I have to admit I stole it from a calendar that we were sent about two years ago. Goes great with raman... more >>
Added: 12 Jan 07
