A PASSION FOR COOKING
My passion for cooking really erupted when my mom began dating a man named Frank Williams while I was in junior high school. He was a professional artist with creative talents beyond the graphic arts in which he worked. He would make my sister and I these layered sandwiches for school that made all of our schoolmates jealous — I refused to trade. And on the weekends, he would make homemade blueberry pancakes and warm the maple syrup and plates in the oven prior to serving. So much love and pain-staking detail were put into serving a perfect meal for us. It wasn’t just the preparation, but also the acquisition of these products that Frank paid close attention to. I admired him so much and took it a step further by traveling the world for my ingredients. I’d always surprise my family after my travels by bringing home ingredients and preparing dishes that I had enjoyed during my time away. I hope you feel inspired to make some of these dishes from around the world for your families!
P.S. Rest in beautiful Peace, Frankie Boy
Paella
After living in Spain for a year from 2019-2020, I perfected my paella-making skills with the help of my friend and Valencia native, Javi. I tend to leave out the rabbit and the snails though… Oh boy… I even brought my mom and sister paella pans and authentic ingredients back to the U.S. to teach them. https://paellarecipes.top/paella-valenciana-recipe/
Tacos al Pastor
As many of you know, I began dating a lovely Mexican woman named Paulina in 2019. She was my muse and my inspiration to begin dabbling with Mexican cuisine. This recipe requires some ingenuity, but boyyy is it worth it! Although untraditional, I made this for our Christmas dinner 2020. https://tasty.co/recipe/mexican-style-pork-tacos-tacos-al-pastor
Albondigas
AKA Mexican Meatballs. Super delicious and bound to make anyone happy. Make it healthier with ground chicken or spoil yourself with a delicious beef and pork combination. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/3885-albondigas Also makes for a lovely soup: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/albondigas_soup/
Käsespätzle
(German Mac n’ Cheese)
Like mac n’ cheese, but BETTER! Super easy to make these homemade noodles and then just add a great rich cheese. Serve this alongside your Wiener Schnitzel and a great wheat beer, while listening to “Sweet Caroline” and you’ll have a true Bavarian experience. Trust me! I lived in Germany, had a real pair of Lederhosen, and went to the München Oktoberfest. Viel spaß! https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/55224/kaese-spaetzle/
Mustikkapiirakka
(Finnish Blueberry Pie)
I lived near Helsinki for a year while attending Aalto University to get my Master’s Degree. While Finnish food wasn’t my favorite, I did fancy this blueberry pie/tart dessert. I also just love the name 😉 https://www.sugarlovespices.com/mustikkapiirakka-finnish-blueberry-pie/
Salmorejo
Traditional Spanish soup from Andalusia (southern Spain). GOSH, this dish is a family favorite now becuase of me. All you need is oil, garlic, tomatoes, and bread. Purée it up and serve with some more toasty bread, and you’ll have everyone full before the main course. Every time I made this, my family would stand around the dish at the countertop and eat it before it got to the table. https://spanishsabores.com/antonias-salmorejo-recipe/
Hungarian Gulyás
Of course this has to be on the menu! I’m Hungarian with a strong taste for Paprika. If you want a crowd pleaser that’s one pot and perfect for a cold day, make some Hungarian beef stew. https://www.spendwithpennies.com/hungarian-goulash/
Patatas Bravas
My favorite dish from Spain! Super simple and delicious. Crowd pleaser EVERY TIME. Pretty much Spanish french fries with a delicious sauce. Unsure of what to order when you visit Spain? Start with this! https://spanishsabores.com/patatas-bravas-recipe-spanish-fried-potatoes-with-spicy-sauce/
Wiener Schnitzel
My brother-in-law, Roland, is Viennese so schnitzel became part of our annual Christmas tradition once he joined the family in 2015. We would get a large pork loin from our local butcher and Roland would make us all deaf by hammering the slices for hours. Fried in sunflower oil, they turned out so crispy and delicious. Pair alongside käsespätzle and some Hungarian Cucumber salad to experience a real Reisenbigler-Krikava Christmas meal. https://www.daringgourmet.com/traditional-german-pork-schnitzel/
Basque Burnt Cheesecake
Spanish style crustless cheesecake. I was never much for a graham cracker crust and with this recipe, you won’t even miss it. Fluffy and dense at the same time. Another simple Spanish delicacy. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/basque-burnt-cheesecake
Jambalaya
Unfortunately, I never had the chance to visit Louisiana, but that never stopped me from getting to know the world through food. I loved making this dish because it’s a delicious, hearty, one-dish meal full of spice and personality. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-chorizo-jambalaya
Ajvar
AKA Serbian Roasted Red Pepper Relish. Super tasty and healthy treat that can be served simply as a salad or alongside some bread, feta cheese, yogurt, and pickles. I would make this and put it into mason jars that I’d dip in whenever I needed a snack. https://mediterraneanlatinloveaffair.com/ajvar-balkan-red-pepper-dip/
Natillas
(Spanish Custard)
Okay guys, another Spanish favorite! Decadent in a cup with a hint of cinnamon. A great end to a Christmas meal. https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/natilla-creamy-custard
Hummus
I loved to use ingredients that I didn’t usually work with, hence, tahini! I recommend boiling the chickpeas prior to processing them to remove some of the bitter taste. https://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/
Hungarian Lescó (vegetarian)
I grew up on this dish! A super simple, healthy stew full of peppers and tomatoes and, of course, paprika! You could use sweet or spicy Paprika but I always prefer the spice 😉 You can add Hungarian kolbasz (kielbasa) for more depth. Serve with a delicious, thick slice of crusty, white bread. https://budapestcookingclass.com/hungarian-pepper-and-tomato-stew-recipe-lecso/
Spanish Tortilla (vegetarian)
Make it vegetarian or add some jamón. Takes some expertise to flip it in the pan and to get the right crunch, but once you do… you’ll never go back! It’s a Spanish layered potato pancake. Another tip: get a non-stick pan! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/8849-spanish-tortilla or this one if you don’t have a subscription… https://spanishsabores.com/best-spanish-omelet-recipe/
Chicken Empanadas
I had an obsession with making these for a while. It takes a bit more time than other dishes, but everyone loves a rich fried pocket of goodness. https://thefeedfeed.com/pilarwoloszyn/shredded-chicken-empanadas-with-cilantro
Fokhagymakrémleves
(Garlic Soup)
Another Hungarian dish for you all. My Aunt Kati would make this for my sister and I every summer that we’d visit her. For two picky kids, there were never any leftovers with this dish. If you have a lot of garlic to be used up, make this! Add some potatoes for thickness and be prepared to be “wow-ed”. Eat this while looking at photos of Budapest and you’ll understand why I’m so proud to be Hungarian 😉 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23153/roasted-garlic-potato-soup/
Cucumber salad
My favorite side dish! Adds the perfect amount of sweet and salty to a meal. Take out as much water from the cucumbers before adding the “dressing”. And be sure to combine the sugar with the liquid before combining with the cucumbers; kind of like making a simple syrup. https://www.food.com/recipe/grandma-vargas-hungarian-cucumber-salad-uborkasalata-87201
Paprikás Csirke
(Hungarian Chicken Stew)
My favorite stew full of bold paprika flavor and hearty made with homemade nokedli. Don’t be afraid to load up with even more sour cream at the table. Pair with some nice sweet, sour cucumber salad. https://www.daringgourmet.com/chicken-paprikash-paprikas-csirke/ or NYTimes (the best!) but requires subscription… https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018068-chicken-paprikash?ds_c=71700000052595478&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzfuNBhCGARIsAD1nu-_Pp7nJiKqNxkjyRCAxdC5dYnGAhshanxB9sDuFlysguaboppuyGdwaAnfBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Nokedli
(Homemade Noodles)
A go-to staple to pair with any German or Hungarian meal. Easy, but a little time-consuming and messy. Nonetheless, worth it and make sure you make two portions! This stuff goes FAST! And don’t be scared to add a pinch of nutmeg. https://www.daringgourmet.com/homemade-german-spaetzle/