Tag Archives: cooking around the world

Around the World in 80 Days – South Korea

SOUTH KOREA  

Asia
Capital: Seoul
Languages: Korean, English

  • The idea of being an au pair is not common in South Korea.
  • Applicants from South Korea are motivated by the opportunity to experience American  culture and to improve their English.
  • Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
  • Young people in South Korea have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
  • Curfews are very common.
  • South Koreans are generous, warm, kind, and extremely hardworking.
  • Most young people in South Korea eat meat.
  • Vegetarianism is not common.
  • A typical South Korean diet includes rice and kimchi (seasoned cabbage) and lots of vegetables as a traditional meal, but many people like western food such as bread, steaks, pasta and pizza.
  • English is compulsory in South Korea.
  • English is taught beginning in elementary school through university. English education in South Korea used to focus on written English but this is changing to focus more on spoken English.

    Photos by: Tomscoffin {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – German Coffee

German Coffee (Rüdesheimer Kaffee) Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  • 3 sugar cubes 
  • 3 T (44 ml) Asbach Uralt brandy, very warm 
  • 5 oz (148 ml) coffee 

Garnish: 

  • Sweetened whipped cream 
  • Dark chocolate shavings  

Instructions: 

  1. Place sugar cubes in a coffee cup, pour brandy over the cube and light with a long match.
  2. Stir until all the sugar has melted.
  3. Allow to burn for 1 minute, then pour hot coffee into the cup and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.  

Photo by: Akiko Yanagawa {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Bobotie (South Africa)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked mince (ground beef – with onion in oil or butter, salt and pepper and one  tablespoon tomato paste for flavor – parsley)
  • 1 big onion
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 slice bread soaked in milk
  • 1 tablespoon curry (paste or powder – I use paste)
  • 1/4 cup coconut (not sweet) or almonds
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Apricot jam or 1 dessert spoon honey
  • 3 cups milk
  • 3 eggs

Instructions

  1. Fry the onions in butter and add curry – allow to become darker.
  2. Beat the eggs and milk together. Add lemon juice into curry then Apricot jam, coconut, bread & vinegar.
  3. Add mince beef and one third of milk & egg mixture. Bake for ten minutes in pyrex dish uncovered at 325 F.
  4. Then pour over the balance of milk & egg mixture and leave in oven until brown.

Photo by: James Thompson {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Kladdkaka (Sweden)

Swedish Kladdkaka (Sticky Chocolate Cake) Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour 
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
  • 1 pinch salt 
  • 2 eggs 
  • 1 ⅓ cups white sugar 
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 
  • ½ cup butter, melted 

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 300˚F (150˚C).
  2. Lightly grease an 8-inch pie plate.
  3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt; set aside.
  4. Stir the eggs into the sugar until smooth.
  5. Add the flour mixture, and stir just until combined.
  6. Pour in the vanilla extract and butter and stir until well combined.
  7. Pour into prepared pie plate. 
  8. Bake on the lower rack of the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the center has slightly set.
  9. Allow cake to cool for 1 hour in the pie plate.
  10. Serve warm, or refrigerate overnight and  serve cold. 

Read more about it – Kladdkaka

Photo by: Sebastian Dooris {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Chinese Coke Chicken

Chinese Coke Chicken Recipe 

Ingredients:  

  • 6 chicken wings 
  • 1 can of Coke 
  • 1 cup of soy sauce 
  • 1 cup of oil 
  • (Optional) Green onion for garnish 

Instructions: 

  1. Rinse and clean the chicken wings.
  2. Put chicken wings onto a large plate.
  3. Open coke and add half onto the plate. Let it soak with chicken wings for 40 minutes.
  4. Pour 1 cup of oil into pan. Wait until oil is heated.
  5. Add wings into pan.
  6. Fry wings on high heat until both sides are golden brown..
  7. Add the remaining half can of Coke and 1 cup of soy sauce into the pan and bring to a boil with wings. 
  8. Cook another 20 minutes over medium heat until sauce thickens. 
  9. Add green onion before serving for flavor and presentation.

 

 

 

Photo by: Stu_Spivack {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Bitterballen

A favorite snack in Holland, this beef and gravy croquette is very popular! Crisp on the outside, moist and gooey on the inside!

There are a few ways to prepare. Here are a couple of recipes from Taste of Home  and another one from Jo Cooks. 

Ingredients  

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 3/4 lb sirloin or flank steak cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup finely minced fresh parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cups dry bread crumbs, plain
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • Oil for deep-fat frying
  • Spicy mustard

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
  • Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add broth; bring to a boil.
  • Cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened.
  • Carefully add meat and parsley; cook and stir for 2-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink
  • Stir in the salt, pepper and nutmeg.
  • Transfer into a bowl; refrigerate for 2-12 hours or until chilled.
  • Place bread crumbs in a small shallow bowl. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and oil.
  • Drop the meat mixture by tablespoonfuls into bread crumbs; shape into balls. If you have a cookie scoop, you could use that.
  • Dip the shaped meat balls in egg mixture, then coat with crumbs. In a skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°.
  • Fry the meat balls, until golden brown on all sides, about 2-4 minutes. Do just a few at a time.
  • Drain on layered paper towels to remove excess oil.
  • Serve warm with a spicy mustard or other dips of your choice.

Make ahead and freeze for later!

 

 

 

Photo by: www.snack-nieuws.nl {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Swedish Krem

Swedish Krem is a refreshing and scrumptious dessert. 

Swedish Krem Recipe:

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream 
  • 1 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided 
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract 
  • 2 cups sour cream 
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries 

Instructions: 

  1. In a large saucepan, combine cream and 1 cup sugar. Cook and stir over low heat until a thermometer reads 160°F (do not allow to boil). Stir in gelatin until completely dissolved. 
  2. Remove from heat and stir in extracts. Let cool for 10 minutes. Whisk in sour cream. Pour into 8 dessert dishes. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. 
  3. Just before serving, lightly crush raspberries and gently stir in remaining sugar. Spoon over tops.

Photos by: Clemen v Vogelsang {flickr}; mroach {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Mung Bean Noodle Salad (China)

Mung Bean Salad – Asian

12 ounces thin Asian vermicelli noodles such as rice stick or mung bean

2 carrots shredded  

2 cucumbers seeded and shredded

4 green onion chopped

1 1/2 cups fresh bean sprouts

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup fish sauce

1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cloves garlic pressed or minced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Lime

Instructions

  1. Soften the vermicelli noodles in a large bowl by covering with boiling water and soaking for 3-4 minutes or until tender. Rinse under cold water, drain, and add to a large bowl. Add the shredded carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts and chopped cilantro to the noodles.
  2. In a glass jar fitted with a lid or a bowl, mix together the fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic and crushed red pepper. Pour 3/4 of the dressing over the noodles and toss to coat. Add more dressing if desired. Sprinkle with more cilantro and green onion and a squeeze of lime if desired. Salad can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight, however if making ahead, add the cilantro just before serving.

Around the World in 80 Days – Spanish Shrimp & Rice Recipe

Spanish Shrimp and Rice: 

Ingredients:  

  • 3 tablespoon olive oil 
  • 2 cloves garlic 
  • 1 small onion (chopped) 
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric 
  • 1 medium tomato (chopped) 
  • 1 small carrot (diced) 
  • ½ red pepper (diced) 
  • 1 lb. of shrimp 
  • 1 ½ cup converted rice 
  • 1 tablespoon parsley 
  • ½ cup peas 

Instructions: 

  1. Heat oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, turmeric and cook for about 3 minutes. 
  2. Add tomato, carrot, and bell pepper and cook until tender.
  3. Add ¾ teaspoon of salt and pepper and shrimp. Cook for about 1 minute.
  4. Add 2 cups of water, rice, ½ tablespoon of parsley and bring to a boil.
  5. Lower heat to medium low, and cover skillet for about 15-20 minutes.
  6. Add remaining parsley and ½ peas and cover skillet for 5 minutes.
  7. Fluff rice and serve. 

Photo by: www.bluewaikiki.com {flickr}

Around the World in 80 Days – Polish Chrusciki

Polish Chruściki (Angel Wings) Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups of flour 
  • 4 egg yolks 
  • Pinch of salt 
  • Small spoonful of vinegar 
  • 2 tablespoon of sour cream 
  • Oil for frying 

Instructions: 

  1. Mix flour, egg yolks, salt, vinegar and sour cream. 
  2. Beat the dough with a rolling pin once ingredients come together. 
  3. Roll the dough as thin as possible
  4. Fry pieces in deep oil.  

Photo by: Blazej Pieczynski {flickr}