Those of us who bake bread at home are constantly looking for ways to utilize the excess bread starter. I personally believe that there should be no “discarding” of the starter. If you are in a good baking rhythm and the starter is mature and vigorous, there is no need to feed your starter daily, only […]

[Sponsored post] With holiday season just around the corner, party food has been on my mind.  Holidays put pressure on a cook because in my mind the traditional menu is so limiting. Not that there is a shortage of good recipes out there, but some of the traditional dishes are not something one would cook the rest of the […]

If there is one item that puts Ukrainian cookery on the map of International Yum, that would be borscht.  I would love to tell you that there are poems and songs written about it, borscht cook-offs and Borschtfests are held around the world, but, sadly, I can’t report any of this; apparently the rest of […]

Here are just two wonderful renditions of the no-fail party snacks: one savory, one sweet.  Fillings are not set in stone, naturally. Feel free to offer your own. The main focus here is the versatile and delicious flaky cheese-based dough.  It’s so easy to make, it’s almost ridiculous.  Because the dough is not sweetened at […]

Bagels are one of my most favorite things to eat.  They are so versatile, so forgiving; they go with anything — from smoked white fish to jam — and never complain.  You can eat them by themselves just fine or slather with butter or cream cheese, and you’ve got yourself a meal. New York style […]

There is nothing to discuss here, really. I love asparagus. I love pesto. I love pasta. My initially intended dinner wasn’t ready in time, so here is a quickly whipped asparagus pesto to save the day. Served with spaghetti as an emergency dinner option, but that’s not the only use, as you may guess: chicken, […]

I don’t remember how this recipe came about, all I know is that ever since I was introduced to it at around age fifteen, it was a hit every time it was served at our parties.  The reason for this success is a powerful combination of rich yet refreshing flavor and moist, smooth and feathery physique. For my American friends […]