Spicy Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Hot

On January 30, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes3 Comments

There are certain places that you travel to where the use of spices is quite abundant. Needless to say, with rare exceptions all food has some sort of spices in it, even if it is just salt and pepper. Some places, though, go way beyond a few common ingredients and use a wide variety of spices in them. We really enjoy eating foods that have a variety of spices and have a sense of being exotic. Clearly it isn’t for everyone and we also enjoy foods that are spicy in the sense of heat as well. Since we try to recreate dishes from places that we travel, here are a few of the spicy dishes that we have previously prepared, in no particular order.

Asian Roasted Duck – Not as complicated as it sounds and truly delicious.
Asian Duck
Spicy Chicken Curry – Definitional a traditional favorite.
Spicy Chicken Curry
Indian Butter Chicken – Cooking it in a slow-cooker makes it tender and flavorful.
Indian Butter Chicken
Tandoori Chicken – An exotic reminder of our trip to India.
Tandoori Chicken and Fried Eggplant
Spaghetti Arrabbiata – One of our favorite meals from, of all places, Frankfurt.
Our Version of Spaghetti Arrabbiata
Lamb Biryani – Well worth the effort and we decided to give it a little bit of heat.
Lamb Biryani over Basmati Rice
Moroccan Chicken – Cooked in a tajine, it is a one pot meal that is perfect for two.
Moroccan Chicken in a Tajine

Easy and Delicious Shrimp Frittata

On January 23, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes9 Comments

One of the things that you can find throughout your travels is some variety of a frittata. They are light, easy, and can be adapted for the cuisine of almost any country. We really enjoy fresh seafood when we travel, so we decided to do a shrimp frittata that was not only easy, but extremely delicious. The use of lemon and fresh parsley also helps to brighten up the dish and make it even more luscious. Frittatas, like a good quiche, can be a meal on its own, but we decided to pair it with some green beans and red peppers. This recipe serves two, but can easily be adjusted to serve a larger group. It also would work well with other shellfish such as lobster or crab instead of the shrimp or even a combination of all three.

INGREDIENTS

6 Large Eggs
1/4 cup Fresh Parsley – chopped
1/4 cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese – grated
Zest of 1 Medium Lemon
1 tsp of Fresh Lemon Juice
6 oz Shrimp – peeled, deveined, and fully cooked
1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes – more or less depending on your taste
Salt and Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Steam the shrimp until pink and fully cooked. Let them cool, peel and devein them, and then roughly chop the shrimp. Preheat an oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and then add the parsley, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, Parmesan cheese, shrimp, and the lemon zest and juice. Stir to mix all of the ingredients together. Heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat in a small, oven-proof, pan until it just begins to bubble (don’t let it start to brown). Add the egg mixture and lightly stir for about a minute and then place the pan in the oven. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the egg mixture sets up and begins to lightly brown. Remove from the oven and let it stand for just a minute or two before cutting into portions to serve.

‘Tis the Season for Food and Drink

On December 19, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Food, Recipes2 Comments

It is that time of year when holiday parties are in full swing and generally people allow themselves a little bit of indulgences. There are a few favorites that we enjoy almost every year, whether at home or on the road. If we are traveling, we will sometimes seek out places that serve some of our holiday favorites just so that we don’t miss out on our traditional meals. We may not be big sweet eaters, but this is a time where we will sometimes give in and have some pies, cookies, or even candy. Here are a few of our favorite meals and drinks for this time of year.

Prime Rib – If we’re at home, we will make a nice meal of prime rib and Yorkshire pudding. It is a simple meal that is elegant and is great for entertaining as it can feed a crowd. The leftovers are also great for cold sandwiches or even a hot French dip.
Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding
Snugglers – Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps is a perfect way to warm yourself from the inside out. Whether ending a day of skiing, coming in from playing in the snow, or just a perfect ending to a cold day, this is a very festive drink.
Snuggler with Peppermint Bark
Apple Pie – At this time of year, warm apple pie with some vanilla ice cream is a wonderful treat. It is also good as a cobbler or a crumble with traditional spices that will remind you of the holidays. We did miniature versions so that everyone got their own individual pie.
Apple Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream
Mulled Cider – Spiking some mulled cider with some brandy or whiskey is another great way to get a taste of the season. Although we usually have it during the fall, it is also great all of the way through winter as well. It has many of the tastes of an apple pie, but in a drink.
Enjoy the Spiked Cider in a Rocks Glass
Pumpkin Cookies – Although many people have pumpkin pie at this time of year, we opt for cookies. We can share them with friends or take them to a party. They are easy to make and are soft and almost cake-like.
Moist and Delicious
Fondue – Whether an oil fondue, which is our tradition, or a cheese fondue, like we had in Switzerland, it is a very communal way of sharing a meal. There is something really festive about eating small bites of food while talking with friends and having a glass of wine.
Our Fondue Table
Gluhwein – We always enjoy going to the Christmas markets this time of year, whether in Europe or even here in the United States. If we’re not at a market, we will make ourselves mulled wine, which certainly reminds us of the wonderful Gluhwein that we had during our time in Germany.
Gluhwein in Frankfurt

Regardless of your holiday traditions, food and drink is likely to be part of them. We have enjoyed learning about other traditions throughout the world, but that doesn’t keep us from gravitating back to the ones that have been part of our lives for years. Whatever your traditions, we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season.