This week’s guest post on how to make mint tea is by the infamous Garrett McCord of Vanilla Garlic. Besides being a dear friend of mine, Garrett is also one of the most creative cooks I’ve ever met. I’ve seen him pull some amazing recipes out of thin air, then whip then into reality in a matter of minutes. His approach to cooking is an inspiration.

Sometimes, though, life just sucks — and when that happens, you probably don’t have the energy to cook. When the four letter words hit the fan, you need something simple to take your worries away. At times like this, it pays to know how to make mint tea. And that’s exactly what Garrett is sharing with you today.

Know what’s stressful? Walking into your apartment and listening to the squish-squash-sqloosh of your feet as you cross the carpeted floor. Even more stressful? Entering your 105F bathroom that radiates heat from the floor like a dry sauna. Even more stressful than that? In order to assert dominance over the smelliest parts of the carpet where the mold is beginning to grow roots, your cats decide to suddenly start peeing on the floors. Something they’ve never done before.
 
So yes. I am stressed. ... Read the rest of How to Make Mint Tea on The Culinary Life.

Permalink | Posted in Beverages, Nutrition, People on Aug/Mon/2011
Post tags: beverages, drink recipes, garrett mccord, herb, herbal tea, mint, tea, vanilla garlic
© Stephanie Stiavetti for Wasabimon!, 2011.

A few days ago, I posted an interview with Hank Shaw, author of Hunt, Gather, Cook and blogger over at Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook. Hop over to the Huffington Post to catch part two of the interview. Here’s a sneak peak:

Cooking for me has always been paramount. Long before I worked as a line cook in Madison, WI, during graduate school, I pushed myself to become a better cook. I still do. I am a cook who hunts, fishes and forages — not the other way around. There is a difference, albeit subtle. My overarching goal is to convince more people who are interested in real, honest food into the outdoors, to forage, fish and hunt for themselves.

(Photo courtesy of Holly A. Heyser)

Permalink | Posted in People on Jul/Thu/2011
Post tags: hank shaw, huffington post, hunting, mushroom hunting
© Stephanie Stiavetti for Wasabimon!, 2011.

Thad Jones is back with his favorite easy banana bread recipe, another one of the lovely treats he’s cooked for me over the past few months (be sure to check out his cucumber salad and Bavarian torte with nectarines). I’m one spoiled girl, I tell ya! Having a boy in my life that cooks for me just leaves me breathless.

Thad quickly is becoming a weekly contributor here on The Culinary Life, and I’m very glad to have him (and his amazing dishes!).

Coffee. That magical bean that must be roasted to unlock it’s flavour, aroma and that specialness we call caffeine. All around the world at any given moment, you can walk into a cafe and see countless people frantically typing away on their computers, no doubt jazzed by any number of caffeine-related drinks. What interests me, though, are the quality of the snacks you can get at a cafe. Gone are the days when just a scone would suffice. Now there are macaroons, high end cupcakes, small torts, salads, and just about anything else you can think of. Along with those treats comes high prices, and I’m just not willing to shell out three dollars or more for one small little item. ... Read the rest of Easy Banana Bread Recipe on The Culinary Life.

Permalink | Posted in Baking, Breakfast, Desserts, People on Jul/Wed/2011
Post tags: almond extract, almonds, Baking, baking powder, baking soda, banana bread, bananas, breakfast, butter, cinnamon, dessert, eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla
© Stephanie Stiavetti for Wasabimon!, 2011.

They say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, and that’s very much the case with Hank Shaw, author of the new Hunt, Gather, Cook. He’s so much more than a guy with a shotgun and a basket full of mushrooms; not often will you find a man (or woman, for that matter) who plans meals by taking into account the lifestyle of his ingredients, long before they hit the table.

A passionate cook above all else, Hank’s food has a style that is uniquely his, melding his seasoned culinary savvy with an extraordinary understanding of the natural world. Here’s an intimate look into Hank’s cooking philosophy. I guarantee you’ll be intrigued. ... Read the rest of An Interview with Hank Shaw on The Culinary Life.

Permalink | Posted in People on Jul/Mon/2011
Post tags: cookbooks, cooking, fishing, food, food foraging, foraging, hank shaw, hunting, interviews, mushroom hunting, urban food forag
© Stephanie Stiavetti for Wasabimon!, 2011.

Today’s German cucumber salad recipe – also known as gurken salat in German – is compliments of Thad Jones, the sweet, sweet boy in my life who made me dinner for my birthday a few weeks ago. Last week he shared the recipe for his Bavarian torte with nectarines, the dessert for said dinner, and there were several requests for the cucumber salad that he mentioned making as a side to his roast chicken. Well, dear readers, you’re in luck! Thad’s been generous enough to share his gurken salat recipe with you all… so be sure to say thanks in the comments.

Another invite for a picnic? Hmmmmm. Well, it’s summertime after all, and social networking servers are doing their best to handle the demands for day parties, family get-togethers, and the all-encompassing invites from friends for nice BBQs that provide music but are BYOF(ood). This is perfect; free food all day, people from all over you haven’t seen in awhile, and more food, music, and MORE food. Just get down to the grocery store and pick up an obligatory fruit platter, possibly the vegetable medley, or be really cheap and buy a few beers.

Why does it have to be this way, though? You could spend less money and put together a cool, refreshing cucumber salad that would feed plenty, and probably impress a few people along the way. If this happens to be a picnic with your girlfriend’s family, then this would definitely put you ahead of the game. ... Read the rest of German Cucumber Salad, or Gurken Salat on The Culinary Life.

Permalink | Posted in European, People, Raw, Recipes, Salads, Vegan on Jul/Wed/2011
Post tags: cucumber salad, cucumbers, dill, german food, gurken salat, onion, recipes, salads, sugar, vinegar
© Stephanie Stiavetti for Wasabimon!, 2011.

Bavarian torte recipe is from someone entirely new to food blogging: Thad Jones, aka, the boy in my life. For my birthday he decided to make me a huge dinner, complete with dessert. And, it was all from scratch. Considering I’ve never had a guy cook a big meal for me before – at least guy that I was dating – the whole experience was a revelation. I could totally get used to being treated like this.

Here he is to share his adventures in torte making. You can also catch his old drum & bass DJ sets here.

I’m peering into the ditch that I somehow dug; on a whim I said I would make a birthday dinner for my girlfriend. I can cook and bake. Honestly! I can! Though this is special: it’s her birthday, and she happens to be the beautiful girl that writes this blog. So, back to that ditch…..

Cooking for your girlfriend is the best thing a guy could ever possibly do to make her swoon, gush, or feel like she is the only person in the world that you have ever cared about. It really is that powerful, and you can rest assured she will talk about it to all her friends who will also swoon over what you did and wonder why their boyfriends’ idea of cooking is fast food. It’s like winning the lottery, the Nobel Peace Prize, and being crowned Champion of the Earth all at once! First, however, you have to cook. ... Read the rest of He Cooks for Her: Bavarian Torte Recipe on The Culinary Life.

Permalink | Posted in Baking, Desserts, European, People on Jul/Mon/2011
Post tags: almonds, bavarian torte recipe, butter, cinnamon, cream cheese, egg, flour, german food, nectarines, pies, sugar, tarts, tortes, vanills
© Stephanie Stiavetti for Wasabimon!, 2011.