Summer Hiatus

August 17, 2008 | Filed under: News & Notes

As many of my regular visitors have already realised by now, I have not posted here in weeks. I just popped in to let everyone know that I am still alive and well, just haven’t been cooking much lately. I’ve been a bit preoccupied with my off-line life and a couple of projects that have required the majority of my time and attention these days and I do not see things changing for several more weeks. That being the case, I’ve decided to extend my hiatus for the remainder of the summer. I’m not exactly sure when I will resume posting, but I’m guessing it will be some time around the end of September, perhaps the beginning of Oct. But fear not — I will be back. Mos def!

Thank you to all who have visited and supported me here on diva:flava. I look forward to posting again soon and catching up with many of you. Until then, have a great summer, everyone!


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Mostly Martha - The Genuine Article

July 15, 2008 | Filed under: Etcetera, My Favourite Things, Videos

I am a huge lover of quality movies, with a special interest in foodie movies. Sadly, very few of the mainstream movies produced in the US attract my interest, let alone hold it, which is why my collection of foreign films is ever expanding. While I will not bash the US movie industry, I will say that many films made in other countries are, in my opinion, simply superior with regard to writing, acting and direction.

For those who are not aware, No Reservations, the chef/restaurant-themed romantic comedy (starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart) which opened in US theaters in late 2007 and released on DVD in Feb 2008, is actually a remake of the 2001 original German film, Bella Martha (translated Mostly Martha in English, starring Sergio Castellitto and Martina Gedeck). I will not attempt to provide a review of this movie (there are others who are far better at that than I am), I simply want to express myself (albeit a bit late) on this Mostly Martha versus No Reservations issue, which has been on my mind for some time now.

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Sautéed Sweet Potatoes & Spring Onions

July 13, 2008 | Filed under: On the Side, Vegetarian

Sautéed Sweet Potatoes & Spring Onions

I’ve been experimenting again! Actually, I was cleaning the kitchen this afternoon and realised I needed to either use or lose some things in the fridge and veggie bend. I also wanted something light and tasty for lunch and this is what I ended up with. I love potatoes, all kinds, all ways, especially smothered with yellow onions and a bit of bacon (a dish that I make for breakfast occasionally), but sweet potatoes were the only ones I had on hand.

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Tabbouleh: A Uniquely Mediterranean Salad

July 12, 2008 | Filed under: Appetizers & Salads, On the Side, Vegetarian

Tabbouleh

My apologies to all of my readers for the abrupt pause in posting since June 29. I’ve been in St. Louis with my family and friends for the past week. Unfortunately, my 93-year-old, beloved grandmother passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 27. I did managed to make my last post a couple of days after receiving the news, but haven’t felt much like cooking or posting anything until now.

I don’t know about others, but I tend to develop what I call situational or activity-based cravings for certain foods. I’m not sure that I can explain this phenomenon in a manner that makes sense, but I’ll give it a try. For example, I watch a foreign film or read a book or see a magazine article about a certain culture and before I know it, I’m having this intense desire for foods of that particular culture. This happened to me this week when I ran across a recipe for tabbouleh in the July issue of Gourmet magazine. I had discussed making tabbouleh and hummus a couple of weeks ago with a coworker and seeing this recipe brought back the most wonderful taste memories. That was all I needed to prompt me to action. It’s been quite a while since I’ve enjoyed flavours of the Mediterranean and this recipe seemed the perfect way to kick things off.

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Broccoli-Carrot Salad - diva:flava-style

Broccoli-Carrot SlawEver have a taste for something familiar and want something different at once? Fully loaded with healthy, fresh veggies, this mix of broccoli, carrots, red bell pepper, onions, raisins, cheddar cheese, bacon* and sunflower seeds definitely delights my palate.[…]

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Egg Foo Yong - A Chinese Twist On the Omelette

Egg Foo YongNot an omelette in the traditional sense, this unique egg foo yong patty, a mixture of eggs, vegetables and meat, if desired, is the heart of what is known as the St. Paul sandwich. This delicious sandwich, which has nothing to do with Minnesota or the Catholic faith, is said to have originated in the […]

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Melon Ginger Cooler

Melon Ginger CoolersA blend of sweet, ripe honeydew melon, fresh ginger root, lime juice and honey, this quick and easy drink is utterly delicious. The relatively mild, but sweet flavour of the honeydew marries well with lime, which has a cooling affect, and the fresh ginger root provides a bit of a kick […]

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Thai Spring Salad & Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette

Thai Spring SaladI enjoy many kinds of salads, but I tend to become bored with the traditional lettuce-based varieties. Being an adventurous, international eater (as I was labeled by a coworker), I prefer experimenting with the unusual. There’s something about salads that showcase unique or nontraditional ingredients […]

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African Chickpea and Spinach Soup

…this healthy, brightly colored, creamy soup combines some of my favourites– chickpeas, spinach, onions and tomatoes. The chunky peanut butter thickens the soup, adds texture and its nutty flavor marries particularly well with the exotic flavor of […]

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Ms. Nyee Moses - A Rising Star

I finally received my copy of her self-titled, debut album, Nyee (pronounced “nigh-ee”) Moses. I’m not a professional critic, by any stretch, but I feel compelled to toss in my $.02 on this piece. Her vibrant talent is undeniable and the album is […]

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Appletini This!

While prepping for New Year’s dinner the other night and trying to figure out how to slip a couple of martinis into the office something different to serve for dessert, this idea came to me. Sour apple martinis were already on the menu, […]

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Strawberry Lassi Anyone?

I think yogurt (and to some degree, strawberries) might be one of those foods one either loves or hates. As it happens, I am a lover of both. And since I thoroughly enjoy most things smoothie, I welcomed this new variation with open arms. […]

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Mind Food

“Each ingredient does a different dance. Each dish does a different dance. A crème anglaise with ginger does a soft, dreamy waltz. When I think of a spicy pork stir-fry, I get an image of a big dance floor with lots of ingredients doing a real energetic dance, with the garlic and chiles spotting each other, and suddenly breaking out into their own riveting lambada!”

-Norman Van Aken


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