China

China (#14) Pork Sparerib and Daikon Radish Soup

I used an ingredient in this soup that I have never used before - daikon radish.  The ingredients are pork spareribs, daikon radish, fresh ginger, garlic, scallions, cilantro, salt and white pepper.  The important step in making this is to rapidly boil the spareribs for about 10 minutes then rinse them well.  This will result in a clear broth.  Put the ribs in a clean pot with 6-8 cups of water.  Add sliced daikon radish, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper, and simmer for about an hour.  Top the bowl of soup with sliced scallions and cilantro.  This wonderful Chinese recipe is one of many more Asian recipes I'll be making in the coming weeks.

Italy

Italy (#13) Scampi

Scampi is the Italian culinary name for Norway lobster which is in fact a small, slim lobster.  Immigrant cooks adapted Italian techniques to American ingredients, and “shrimp” scampi was born.  I always thought scampi was French until I learned of this detail.  I always have a bag of shrimp in the freezer and all of the simple ingredients on hand so I make scampi pretty often.  I melt a couple of big heaping tablespoons of butter in a pan, add rough-chopped garlic, then add the shrimp and sprinkle with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.  Cook for two minutes then add wine and a splash of lemon juice.  Cook another minute and done!  The key with this and all shrimp dishes is to not overcook the shrimp.  I serve it over thin spaghetti noodles and topped with lots of fresh Italian parsley.  And of course torn pieces of baguette to soak up the sauce.  

China

China (#12) Cabbage and Egg Lo Mein

Lo Mein is a wonderful Chinese take-out dish that should never be ordered out. It's so easy to make and so much better made at home.  I bought egg noodles at my local Asian grocery "House of Rice".  I don't know what compelled me to Google the noodle maker "Nanka Seimen" but it turns out there's a fascinating story behind the noodles.  They've been made close by in Vernon, California since 1905.  Here's the website link: http://nankaseimen.com/
To make Lo Mein, the noodles are boiled and set aside.  The cabbage is stir-fried in a little oil, then an egg is added and quickly scrambled.  The noodles are added to the pan and tossed with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, ground ginger and siracha.  Toss with chopped scallions, and it's that simple.  Any fresh vegetables or meat can be used to make endless versions of Lo Mein.  Here's the link to the recipe for the super simple sauce, then get creative with all the different ways you can make it: http://damndelicious.net/2014/10/03/easy-lo-mein/

China

China (#11) Pai Gwut (Dim Sum Steamed Pork Spare Ribs)

This simple little Dim Sum dish is why I continue my food blog.  There are so many hidden food treasures to be discovered.  I came across this recipe by accident when I was researching shrimp curry recipes.  The definition of Dim Sum is "small bite-sized portions of food served in steamer baskets or small plates".  I used an ingredient I have never used before - fermented black beans.  I went to an Asian market and bought pork spare ribs that were cut into 1-inch pieces.  At $1.98 a pound, this was a bargain.  The ribs are marinated in a mixture of minced ginger and garlic, soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, sesame oil, white pepper, sugar and the black beans.  Marinate for a minimum of two hours to overnight.  Place the ribs on a small plate that will fit into your bamboo steamer, cover and steam for one hour.  The ribs can be garnished with scallions, finely chopped peppers or chiles and served with rice.  I love this recipe with it's subtle Asian flavors and will definitely be making it again soon.

Thailand

Thailand (#10) Gaeng Dang (Thai Shrimp Coconut Curry)

I love my local Thai restaurant (Cha Da Thai) and decided I should tackle a few things on the menu and make them at home.  This curry dish was so easy to make in less than 30 minutes.  I cooked the shrimp in butter for a few minutes and removed them from the pan.  I then sauteed chopped garlic, red peppers and onion until they softened a little.  Pour in a can of coconut milk and red curry paste and after a few minutes, add the shrimp back in and simmer for a few more minutes.  I added fresh basil right before serving and ladled it out top of a bed of jasmine rice.  The next thing I'm going to make from the menu is a traditional Thai street food, Kua Gai a rice noodle chicken dish.

Mexico

Mexico (#8) Taquitos de Pollo (Chicken Taquitos)

It's Cinco de Mayo and I made one of my Mexican favorites - Taquitos.  In Mexico, they are often referred to as Tacos Dorados (Golden Tacos).   I bought a roast chicken and shredded it, then added a spicy Monterey Jack shredded cheese.  The chicken mixture is rolled in a corn tortilla and lightly fried until crispy.  Taquitos can also be filled with beef or cheese and served with salsa, guacamole or crema.