Mango Smoothie from India for Republic Day (Mango Lassi)

Who knew there were smoothies as early as 1000 B.C.? They originated in the Punjab region of northern India (and Pakistan), where yoga was born.  It is perfect for hot weather (you didn't need me to tell you that), and is usually taken with lunch.The salty version includes cumin and yogurt, whereas the sweet version, sugar, fruit and maybe cardamom. Add turmeric, and you get a remedy for gastroenteritis, as well.

Republic Day, January 26th

In 1950, India's new constitution became official, thus turning the state into a republic. This day is celebrated with parades in the national and state capitals. In addition to the military displays, the different customs, dress and music of the diverse states in India are represented as well (you can find photos at http://www.firstpost.com/india/images-pomp-and-grandeur-at-indias-64th-republic-day-parade-602959.html).

Recipe
1 cup pureed mango
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup ice

Blend the mango, yogurt, milk, honey, and cardamom. Blend in the ice as well. Serve.

References
http://www.dahlicious.com/Lassi.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassi
http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4419716.cms
http://en-maktoob.screen.yahoo.com/republic-day-colourful-tableaux-display-075800448.html

Chinese Dim Sum Mango Mousse for Tea

The closest I've been to China is Chinatown, but I do often have a surplus of mangoes often.  And ever since I was introduced to a tea tasting tradition during my singing lessons, I keep many tea varieties at home--ginger, jasmine green, lavender, rooibos, chamomile, and others to honor my Irish roots (the Irish drink the most tea per capita in the world)... It thus seemed appropriate to place both together in a Chinese tea-tasting meal called "Dim Sum". 

Dim Sum stands for "touch the heart", and it means bite-sized portions of food that are served with Chinese tea. The tradition originated when people travelling back and forth from China to buy silk (a Chinese trade secret at the time) needed to rest during their journey. Teahouses appeared on the route to offer tea tasting (the very appropriately named "yum cha") opportunities for farmers as well. When the Chinese discovered that tea would help rather than hinder digestion, they began including small portions of food on the platters as well. In the Southern region, the Cantonese turned the tradition into a boisterous but fun experience, and Hong Kong chefs have declared it brunch, as they serve it from 6:30 a.m. to mid-afternoon. Nowadays, you can find frozen dim sum in the supermarket, or street dim sum on a skewer. 

As for the beverage part of this custom, it was discovered accidentally in 2737 B.C., when an emperor smelled the aroma created after a tea leaf blew into a pot of boiling water. Whereas the Chinese don't have as elaborate a ceremony as the Japanese do, they view it as a symbol of respect and follow some etiquette rules. When tea is served, it is customary to thank the waiter by gently tapping the cup with the index finger. If you want him/her to refill your pot with more boiling water, you can do so by lifting the lid and leaving it open.

Recipe from http://www.anyrecipe.net/asian/recipes/mango.html (the book "Dim Sum" by Ellen Leong)

3/4 cup boiling water

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons gelatin

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 cups pureed mango

1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced

1 cup whipping cream

Pour gelatin over 1/2 cup water. Add boiling water, then sugar. Mix in mango puree, then whipping cream. Place in ramekins or bowls and let set in the fridge. Decorate with mango slices. Cover the tops with saran wrap if you plan to leave them in the refrigerator for more than a day.

Coming up next:

Indian Mango Lassi for Republic Day, January 26th

Mauritian Banana Tart for February 1st

Chinese Fortune Cookies for the Chinese New Year in San Francisco, February 13th

References:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0609608878?ie=UTF8&tag=anyrecipe2-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0609608878

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dim_sum

http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?/topic/2991-dim-sum-a-little-bit-of-heart-beginners-guide/

http://www.crazyfortea.com/strangeteafacts.html

http://www.twoleavestea.com/n_Chinese-Tea-Traditions-50.html

Papaya Pie from the Virgin Islands

A slice of papaya pie

I was a bit frightened--we were lost on a hilly dirt road in our little Chevy Aveo and I could see the precipitous drop to the side of a cliff beside my window. "Please, let's go back," I begged...

We returned to the main road, which was somewhat flat, and stopped at the first business we spotted.

"Welcome to the island" was the greeting we received from the head bartender at the Jolly Roger bar. He enjoyed a good laugh at our expense, after hearing about our misadventures upon arriving at the island. Quickly, he summoned one of the waitresses, who was going home, asking her to lead us to our hotel.

The following day, we would experience winding roads in daylight, a much more pleasant venture. The view of numerous islands out in the shining deep blue ocean improves the higher you climb. We also visited a centuries-old sugar mill, a sugarcane brewery, and pristine beaches in different locations.

Tufts of lavender shaped like pigs, whales, and other animals lie clumped on the blue porcelain bay. 

Lunar landscape within a papaya fruit

Recipe (adapted from http://www.grouprecipes.com/68108/caribbean-papaya-pie.html )
3 medium papayas (6 cups or 3 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
2 teaspoons lime juice
1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon orange extract or vanilla or 1 tablespoon Grand Marnier
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
4 egg whites
1 baked pie crust

Remove peel and seeds from papaya. Chop into one inch cubes. Add lime zest, lime juice, and cinnamon. Next, add flour and sugar.  

Whip egg whites and fold them in. Place filling in baked pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

 Let cool. Refrigerate before serving.

References

http://www.grouprecipes.com/68108/caribbean-papaya-pie.html

Charcoal Candy for Epiphany

History
In Spain, the Three Kings' Day, or January the 6th, is the day presents are exchanged. They also promise misbehaving kids that they will receive charcoal on this date. Later, a candy that resembled charcoal was developed, and given to both well-behaved and badly behaved children, in small bags marked "charcoal".


Recipe from
70 grams Royal Icing (Beat 200 grams powdered sugar with an egg white and a few drops of lemons juice)
Black food coloring
700 grams granulated sugar
230 ml water

Mix a batch of royal icing, then add black food coloring. Set it aside. Mix sugar and water together in a saucepan, and when it reaches 130 degrees Celsius, remove from heat. Add black royal icing, and mix until it grows, deflates, and grows again. In that moment, place liquid candy in a silicone baking pan. When it grows hard,

Swiss Walnut Cookies in Interlaken for Christmastime

I planned to ski for the first time in Switzerland in Grindelwald on a day trip, as soon as I discovered a late and unexpected snow had covered the small town. "If you buy this ticket, you can go where the professionals do, and even go to the highest point of Europe to boot," the attendant tried to entice me to purchase it. I imagined sliding down a steep mountainside, and performing slaloms around pine trees.
After renting not only equipment but an entire ski suit to avoid getting more icewater through my tennis shoes, I was headed for adventure! My rosy-cheeked competitors bravely slid down the slopes without any sticks, nor warm coat. I stood next to a lifesize sign of a monkey as I tried to ski a few meters, before I stumbled and lost balance. I had chosen a free ski park in the town, in hopes of starting at a safe beginners' level, and it turned out to be one for kids!

In addition to winter sports, you can also take a boat through the picturesque Thienzersee and Brinzersee lakes. After walking past a chocolate factory and statues of Heidi story characters, you can step on a boat that will take you on a sky blue lake past gingerbread houses and numerous miniature waterfalls generated by melting snow or ice. The best part of the trip, however, is the sight you receive when you first walk off the train: the Alps themselves.

Swiss Walnut Cookies
(adapted from Eat Little Bird and Betty Bossi's Original Recipe)
1 egg white
110 grams of granulated sugar
150 grams of finely ground and sifted walnuts
Whole walnuts to decorate

Beat the egg white until stiff. Stir in granulated sugar and walnut flour until it becomes dough. Roll out the dough and cut out pieces with a linzer cookie cutter (I used a round one). Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cool, then cover with glaze and set a walnut half in the center, on the top of the cookie to decorate.

Glaze
1 egg white
150 grams powdered sugar
1 tablespoon brandy (original recipe mentions Kirsch)
Beat the egg white and sugar. Add brandy, then pour over cookies. You can alternately try the following recipe, adapted from Eat Little Bird if you prefer not using egg whites:
2 cups of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of water
1 teaspoon of almond extract

References

http://eatlittlebird.com/2011/12/18/swiss-walnut-christmas-cookies/

Snowflake Quesadillas in El Salvador

The view between San Ignacio and El Pital, Chalatenango

A storm had been predicted for the day of our trek up the Pital mountain in Chalatenango, El Salvador. Our vehicle trudged up the steep cement road that was still dry. First we visited
La Palma, a town where a local artist trained many of the locals to paint his colorful and simple designs on wood to make souvenirs that are sold all over the country. Shortly up the hill, we found San Ignacio, which is known for wooden crafts as well, except the boxes they make are darker in color and usually have small flowers in their designs. A lot of vegetables are sold from farms nearby that tourists visit to pick their own.
And then we stopped to admire the view further up the road. "This makes the entire trip worth it, " I thought. We had successfully seen the incredible view, even though some days the bright green meadows and cornfields below  can be entirely covered with clouds, making you feel like a cherub playing on a harp in the sky.
But we hadn't even reached the mountain yet!
We began walking up a dusty road, past children emerging from side paths to sell us flowers. It didn't take long for almost everyone (except for four of us) to give up and be thankful for a pickup truck that rolled by to take us to the top of the mountain. There we arrived at the same time as our more flushed and athletic friends.  The giant ferns and other virgin forest plants covered the landscape, and pristine brooks flowed.

Wooden box above is from La Palma, Chalatenango

When we returned to the restaurant/hotel, we enjoyed a piece of quesadilla, a thin cake that contains grated cheese and is sprinkled with sesame seeds. It is somewhat like an onion cheese supper bread, except that it's sweet, doesn't have any onion, and therefore makes a tasty dessert.
The highest point of El Salvador is El Pital in Chalatenango, at 3200 m, equal to that of Bogota in Colombia, and it is usually cooler than the rest of the country.

Quesadillas are eaten year-round in El Salvador. Nonetheless, Christmas is all about keeping old traditions, but making your own new ones as well.... Who is to say that making snowflake quesadillas won't be the next holiday dessert to make again year after year?

Quesadilla Snowflakes

Recipe adapted from Vilma G. de Escobar's Comida Tipica

2 cups of flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
8 oz. of Parmesan cheese or Petacones or Queso Duro or Morolique
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 cup of margarine, melted
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of sugar

Preheat oven at 325 degrees F. Mix all ingredients together and pour into two greased and floured jelly roll pans. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Bake for 25 minutes.

To make shapes, use a metal cookie cutter, and cut the cake into the desired shapes. I used a comfort grip large cookie cutter.

References
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quesadilla_salvadore%C3%B1a
http://www.whats4eats.com/desserts/quesadilla-salvadorena-recipe
http://www.articuloz.com/recetas-articulos/quesadilla-de-harina-de-arroz-el-salvador-881607.html

Pepperkakor from Sweden, St. Lucia's Day

These cookies, that smell heavenly when they are baking, were originally Christmas cookies but are now eaten year-round. That explains why I first tasted one that a Swedish classmate gave me in the month of February.

On December 9th, December 13th, and on Christmas they are eaten the most. December 9th is Pepparkakor Day, whereas December 13th is St. Lucia's Day. 

The eve before St. Lucia's Day used to be Christmas, as well as the longest night of the year according to the Julian calendar. 

History

Gingerbread first arrived in Sweden from Germany in the 1400's. Originally, the dough contained pepper and was useful for curing many ailments. These biscuits used to be sold in pharmacies and were believed to cure indigestion and depression. 

Recipe from 

http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Food-drink/Swedish-culinary-classics/Saffransbullar-and-pepparkakor/

50 grams brown sugar

50 grams white sugar

50 grams molasses 

3 tablespoons water

2.5 ounces butter

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 tablespoon ginger

1/2 tablespoon ground cloves

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

9 ounces flour

Some of the traditional shapes to cut are gingerbread people, stars, and hearts. 

 Heat both sugars, molasses, and water. Add butter and melt it, then remove from the heat. Stir it, then add the spices, baking soda, and flour. Roll out thin and cut into shapes, such as hearts. Poke a hole off center with a lollipop stick or straw. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

 References
http://www.newsweden.org/luciahistory.htm
http://thougtforce.hubpages.com/hub/Scandinavian-style-Ginger-thins-tasty-accessories-to-gingerbread-cookies-gingerbread-cookies-recipe-and-history#

My gingerbread house for 2012