Breakfast Kasha

Buckwheat kasha is a staple in many parts of Eastern Europe, and was a breakfast favourite of mine when I was living in Russia and Ukraine. It's one of the many foods that was once a staple for me, but ceased to be after I moved to East Asia (although I was able to get buckwheat noodles there, so buckwheat was still in my life in one form or another!). Since it's only now making a comeback in my life I've based the following recipes on Natasha's lovely kasha recipe. The sweet version is easy and simple and thus my go-to on a weekday morning when I'm craving kasha. The flavour of buckwheat can be an adjustment for some people, but I find it a nice change from plainer porridges like cream of wheat or oatmeal, and is certainly worth a try given its health benefits. If you do give it a try, I hope you enjoy!

Gansu-style Veggie Noodles / 炒拉刀削麵

What follows is based on the Mala Market's lovely recipe for 炒拉條子 / chǎo lā tiáozi, featuring a style of handmade noodles popular in the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu. I am not big on making any sort of dough, so when I was adapting this recipe my big change was to substitute the knife-cut noodles we can buy at the local Chinese supermarket for the homemade noodles. If you have the time and desire to make the right noodles for this dish, then definitely check out the original recipe! If not, my recipe stays close to the original - albeit with the noodle swap and a reduction in sodium intake - and is a fair approximation. 

TVP Pad Kra Pao

Strangely enough, I've settled on a final version of my meat-free pad kra pao before figuring out the meaty one. Life's funny sometimes! In any case, this recipe - an adaptation of Hot Thai Kitchen's recipe - was a win on the first try. (My spouse didn't even realize there wasn't any meat in it!) If you don't like TVP, no worries, there'll be a meat version posted eventually, probably once my basil grows back.

Prik Nam Pla

Prik nam pla is a popular condiment served with many (most? all?) Thai dishes to give them a little lift when desired. It also goes beautifully over sliced cucumber or even just plain rice. My recipe is based on Hot Thai Kitchen's recipe, but with a couple of changes to brighten it somewhat.

Sour Cream 'n Sauerkraut Noodles

This is a go-to work lunch for me on days I'm working from home and have a little time to cook. I'm no doubt plagiarizing somebody's recipe, but I do so unknowingly if so! This recipe pulled together bit by bit over the years as I've experimented with favourite flavours and ingredients. These are nice warm, but I could also see it being quite nice if chilled a little before eating on a hot summer day!

Banana Pecan Muffins and Half Loaf

This recipe is based on my cardamom banana bread recipe, with minor modifications. If you're wanting to just make a loaf of banana pecan bread, then follow the baking instructions on the original recipe. 

Potato Omelette

This is a new breakfast favourite mostly based on this recipe, with a few modifications to better fit my family's tastes. I hope you like it as much as we do!

Easy Spaghetti

This dish is an old go to, so old I had to make it to remind myself of what usually goes in. (Being on autopilot can be a wonderful thing at times!) It's a delightfully easy way to make a meal fairly quickly, and has been a staple for me most of the places I've lived. It can be made vegetarian/vegan easily, or beefed up (literally) as fancy takes one.

Craisin Bread Pudding

This is an adaptation of my main bread pudding recipe to use up (and celebrate!) the craisin. (Also, to use up all those pesky heels from loaves of toast bread that so few people want to eat.) It makes for a lovely dessert or breakfast or midnight snack, and is a nice twist on a familiar classic. I hope you like it as much as we do!

Bean 'n Corn Chili

This is a nicely straightforward, easy lunch or dinner. Any leftovers freeze nicely, and a variety or simplicity of toppings work well when it's served. I've based my recipe on this somewhat more bare bones recipe, so if you're wanting to build up your own recipe that might be a better place to start.

Easy Rice Kollyva

This is a variation of the rice kollyva recipe I began developing while I was living in East Asia, with twists here and there inspired by the Venezuelan baking and desserts that my godmother might have enjoyed during her years living there after World War II. When I'm particularly short on time to prepare kollyva for an upcoming memorial this is my current go-to recipe, but it doesn't hurt that I love the taste as well. Give it a try whether it's for a service or not - memory eternal to all of our departed loved ones.

Classic(ish) Deviled Eggs

This is yet another one of those 'I've made this forever, but I don't want to forget my favorite way of doing this' recipes. Deviled eggs were a childhood favorite that I don't eat every day solely because I hate peeling hard-boiled eggs - if it weren't for that they'd probably feature at most of my meals! I love the flavor the vinegar, dill, and smoked paprika bring to the end result, but if you're tired of this general variety of deviled eggs, then definitely give my Asian(ish) version a try instead!

Thai Tamarind Shrimp

This is another lovely recipe from Hot Thai Kitchen, with minor modifications to better fit my family's tastes. Be absolutely sure you want a very sour dish if you decide to try this! I love tamarind - one of my favorite sweets in mainland China was a tamarind candy from the southwest - but even so this dish is at the upward end of how much sour I can handle in a dish! If you do give this a try, I hope you enjoy!

Easy Wonton Soup

A nice hot bowl of wonton soup makes for a lovely, easy, light breakfast (or dinner!) and as a result is a staple in my family. This recipe is our own and vaguely Chinese, but perhaps not classically so as it's just what suits our preferences and tastes. We're usually cooking for two, so adjust the amounts accordingly as needed, and enjoy!

Mashed Potatoes with Dill

This is an easy, delicious recipe that's relatively easy to get going while making whatever your main is on a given day. I love mashed potatoes with dill, but you can easily substitute your own favorite herbs. Whatever you do, enjoy!

Dill Chicken Salad

This recipe is a quick 'n easy, light meal for two - in my family anyways! - and a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. I've adapted Spend with Pennies' great recipe, so feel free to carry on to the source, especially if you like your chicken salad to have a bit of a crunch. (I do not like crunchy chicken or tuna salad, hence my modifications below.) Whatever you do, enjoy!

Easy Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is an old favorite and a great way to use up leftover or old bread. I make this particular recipe when my freezer's filling up with toast bread heels - it's so much nicer having that space taken up with bread pudding instead! This recipe is loosely based on Ellen Marie's original recipe, with tweaks to maximize my enjoyment of the end product. Feel free to give it a try or to follow the original recipe, to each their own!

Corn n' Egg Drop Soup

This is a variation on another old Cantonese favorite, in this incarnation an adaptation of Meet the Chows' straightforward recipe. It's great as part of a set of dishes, a starter, or even on its own when you're short on time and not too crazy hungry. (A scoop of rice would no doubt help in that last scenario!) It's simple yet very moreish at the same time. Enjoy!

Soy Sauce Fried Rice

This is another old staple that somehow fell off my menu during the early COVID years and kinda got forgotten. I've made other fried rices since, but I've been missing the simpler, more classic fried rice that made many a breakfast for me when I was still living in China. I've largely followed Red House Spice's recipe, with modifications to better fit my family's taste. Try hers, try mine, to each their own! Whatever you do though, enjoy!

Easy Oatmeal

This is mainly for my own reference if I go a while without making oatmeal for breakfast! I've got my two favorites here for now, but if I remember any others - or new ones arise! - I'll get them added to this post. I love old school oatmeal, but what's here is for a quick, hearty breakfast on a less than relaxing morning. The peanut butter oatmeal recipe is entirely my own, but the maple pecan one is based on Yumna Jawad's recipe.