110 first recipes

Party pleaser meatballs: coconut-studded baked meatballs glazed in a sweet-savory sauce of grape jelly, chutney, red wine, and mustard. The retro cocktail-party appetizer that still disappears first from the buffet.

Cooking grains the foolproof way: two parts water to one part grain, rinse first, simmer covered, never stir. Works for quinoa, rice, millet, and farro. The basic ratio every home cook should know by heart.

Appetizers have long been a part of the culinary tradition in Europe, but they're relatively new to America. One of the first to appear in American cookbooks, at the turn of the century, was shrimp cocktail.

Easy kimchi for first-timers: salted napa cabbage fermented with green onion, garlic, ginger, and dried chile in a simple brine. No fish sauce, no special paste. Let it bubble on the counter, then chill the funky, sour, crunchy result.

This is a classic Japanese dish, first made famous by the chef Nobu Matsuhisa and served in all his Nobu restaurants. Serve with steamed spinach and brown /black rice or quinoa for a simple, but delicious dinner.

Korean roasted whole chicken (tongdak) steamed first for tender meat, then basted with a sesame-soy-ginger-garlic sauce as it grills or rotisserie roasts. Finished with a brush of sesame oil for golden color and nutty flavor.

Everyone loves this dish, even those who don't particularly like egg plant. The flavor virtually explodes with a lively combination of sweet, spicy, tart and savory followed by the refreshing crunch of fresh water chestnuts. Serve as a side dish or first course for Western menus.

Here are a couple of recipes for almond pudding. There are lots of variations of this dish some using dairy products, some using gelatin and some using agar agar and some combining them. It IS good! This first one is more "from scratch". The second uses almond extract.

If you never know how to cook artichokes,I suggest you try this way,after cooking,you will say:Oh,my god,is there really so nice artichokes exsiting in this world?hehe,after I first did it( my good friend told me), I screamed like this!Really thanks this nice recipe:)

This delicious bread is based on the Texas treat consisting of peeled cantaloupe segments bread cubes piled in the center and covered with creamsauce. This is a soft, sticky dough. If any of it clings to the sides ofthe pan at the end of the first kneading, you can push it down with a rubber spatula.

This is an old Ruthenian peasant dish, very popular in the Carpathian Alps, as well as here in Fair Oaks, CA. Great for warming the tummy on a cold winter day. This is easy to prepare, and good as a luncheon dish served with salad, or as a first course soup prior to a lighter entree.

If you cannot find fresh peaches, use frozen ones (they will further thicken the smoothie). Peaches were first cultivated in China where they are considered a symbol of immortality and friendship. Nutritionally, they are a good source of selenium and vitamins A and C. Chia seeds are not only a complete protein, but supply the much needed omega-3 fatty acids missing from so many modern diets.

Black rice, also known as forbidden rice, derives its name from when it was first cultivated for the sole consumption by the emperor in China. It is still cultivated in small quantities, and is not as popular as brown or white rice. However, studies have shown that the bran hull of black rice contains significantly more vitamin E than that of brown rice and more anthocyanin antioxidants than blueberries! It has a rich, nutty flavor and pairs beautifully in sweet dishes, such as this one where it is combined with coconut.

Bircher muesli was first developed by a Swiss physician, Maximilian Bircher-Benner as part of the therapy he prescribed for his patients. Often called simply ‘overnight oats’ Bircher muesli is an ideal breakfast food – it can be assembled the night before, left in the fridge overnight and enjoyed in the morning – there is no cooking required. It's also a perfect combination of plant-based protein, slow-release wholegrain carbohydrates, and essential fats. The version below calls for pears and coconut, but alternative combinations are provided in the notes.