My inspiration for this toast came from my month stay in Portugal. In the US, fancy toast on restaurants menus is often limited to the ubiquitous avocado toast. Not in Portugal! Many brunch restaurants and coffee shops had multiple fancy toasts on their menus: thick, flavorful bread piled high with veggies, spreads, and eggs with…
Category: Appetizers & Sides
Stovetop Grilled Pineapple Skewers
The weather is getting warmer! I was hoping today would be one of those sunny, warm spring days that makes you crave barbecues, or at least a day that hints that you might consider grilling soon. Instead, I got a dreary, gray, slightly chilly and damp rainy day. But no matter, because these grilled pineapple…
Cheddar & Gouda Beer Fondue
As I look outside watching large flakes of snow drop from the sky, nothing sounds better than curling up and dipping stuff in warm, gooey cheese with family and friends gathered around the pot. I’ve been making fondue for years. One of the first pieces of cookware I owned was a fondue set, gifted to…
Why You Should Pop Your Own Popcorn (And How to Do It)
When I was growing up, popcorn was something you either had at the movie theater where it was scooped out of a large popcorn machine, or came in a butter-drenched bag that you threw in the microwave and watched carefully to avoid burning. I had heard of hot-air popcorn poppers, but didn’t own one. That…
Creamy Herbed Mashed Potatoes
I’m a bit upset. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year, but this being 2020 and all, we have to deal with COVID. The rates are the worst they’ve ever been in the United States (though gratefully New York City has remained low in terms of infections compared to the rest of the country)….
Sweet Fried Plantains (Plátanos Maduros)
Have you ever had sweet fried plantains? The first time I had plátanos maduros was when I moved to Costa Rica where they became daily staple at the breakfast table, served alongside a heaping portion of gallo pinto and some instant coffee. They quickly became my favorite – sweet, slightly mushy, with a slight crisp…
Corn Bean Tomato Salsa
It’s finally May. The weather is warming, which usually brings with it a sense of anticipation for summer. This year, that feeling is certainly muted by the uncertainty of the future with the coronavirus. But still, folks are cautiously venturing outside and there’s a feeling of, dare I say, hope? With the weather warming, I’m…
Spicy Bean Party Sliders
Looking for shareable vegetarian or vegan recipes for your Super Bowl party? Impress meat eaters and vegetarians alike with these no-stress spicy bean party sliders! Perfect for any gathering, but especially great for ones that involves football, funny commercials (we hope), and bar snacks. Let’s be honest…veggie burgers have had a bad rap. In my…
Buttery Thanksgiving Stuffing
This stuffing is buttery and popping with herbs, mixing crunchy celery with soft chewy bread and sweet roasted squash. Since it’s vegetarian (or vegan!), it takes only 30 minutes to throw together. There have never been leftovers with this recipe, much to my dismay. A must-serve for your Thanksgiving table! My favorite holiday of the…
Savory Paraguayan Pancake (Mbejú)
Fall is officially here. Does the cooler weather have you craving comfort food? Perhaps something cheesy and carby, or a break from all that pumpkin? If you’re in the mood for a new favorite comfort food, mbejú will surely hit the spot. When I packed for two years of Peace Corps Paraguay, I didn’t think…
Marissa Makes Food 