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African Chicken in Peanut Sauce

African Chicken in Peanut Sauce by John Spottiswood

I first had this in graduate school when a classmate from Ghana cooked it for an International progressive dinner. I fell in love with the combination of sweet peanuts and pungent spices. This is not a flavor you will easily forget, and it will keep you coming back for more!

56 votes
119788 views
Red beans and rice

Red beans and rice by John Spottiswood

I've adapted this recipe from a number that I have used in the past. You can deviate from this and it is still delicious! Normally, I serve this with a jerk marinated chicken or pork, but it also goes well with grilled fish, steak and many other treats. If you serve it with something that isn't spicy, try adding some of the spices…

47 votes
77575 views
Budwig Diet Smoothie

Budwig Diet Smoothie by John Spottiswood

Someone turned me on to Dr. Johanna Budwig recently. I read a bit about her research and her diet online. While there isn't a lot of hard evidence behind it, she was definitely ahead of her time in recognizing the importance of good fats, and the harmful effects of bad fats, in our modern diets. She strongly encouraged the…

9 votes
23803 views
Halloween Finger Cookies

Halloween Finger Cookies by John Spottiswood

These taste like a rich biscotti. But the best thing about them is the spooky Halloween look! Try serving them at a Halloween party or bringing them to work. It feels creepy to eat them!

9 votes
13391 views
Swai with Lemon-Basil Pesto

Swai with Lemon-Basil Pesto by John Spottiswood

We made this dish with Swai, but it would work equally well with basa, tilapia, catfish, sole, or any other mild and flaky white fish. The pesto is bright and citrusy and contrasts well with the mild, garlicky flavor of the fish. Our kids loved it and all went back for seconds. We served it with fresh artichoke and rice.

3 votes
8232 views
Louisiana Cornbread Stuffing

Louisiana Cornbread Stuffing by John Spottiswood

This is a pretty spicy stuffing for those looking to add a little kick to their Thanksgiving dinner. It is delicious. I would recommend trying it out with Turkey sometime before Thanksgiving to decide if everyone in your family will like it. It's definitely not your grandmother's stuffing (unless you grew up in Baton Rouge)!

4 votes
11409 views
Creole Style Butter Beans

Creole Style Butter Beans by John Spottiswood

Butter beans (another name for Lima beans) are super healthy and flavorful. I've been looking for a simple and flavorful way to cook these, and after a lot of research I found and adapted this delicious recipe. This is flavorful and hearty enough to make a full meal out of, probably accompanied by a salad or green vegetable and some…

12 votes
10514 views
Grilled Asian Pork Loin

Grilled Asian Pork Loin by John Spottiswood

We had a BBQ party today and served pork loin with two different types of marinade. This one was universally loved. It has a wonderful sweet and salty flavor. The kids definitely preferred this one, though the adults were more evenly split. Easy to make and perfect for a large BBQ party! The picture didn't turn out very well, but…

8 votes
18379 views
Simple pan fried trout

Simple pan fried trout by John Spottiswood

We use this recipe for both pan fried trout and Kokanee salmon. We recently caught some Kokanee up at Lake Tahoe and made this dish. It is super simple and really delicious!

2 votes
20603 views
Fabulous Pork Tenderloin

Fabulous Pork Tenderloin by John Spottiswood

I know that's a bold title, but this Pork Tenderloin is truly phenomenal. The sauce has a mix of Thai and Middle Eastern flavors that is harmonious and unforgettable at the same time. It's also really easy to make but looks and tastes like what you would get in a 4 star restaurant. An all around winner!

11 votes
29924 views
Awesome Split Pea Soup

Awesome Split Pea Soup by John Spottiswood

We made this soup by combining the best of two recipes...one from America's Test Kitchen and one from Cook's Illustrated's the Best New Recipe. I think this is a split pea soup that can't be beat!

8 votes
11858 views
Alton Brown Lentil Soup

Alton Brown Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

I adapted this recipe from one by Alton Brown. I added spinach, potatoes, and scallions and removed grains of paradise. Our whole family really enjoyed this recipe. I made it alongside an Indian curried lentil soup recipe, and while both were good, this was the hands down winner. If you're looking for a tasty, hearty, and healthy…

10 votes
10069 views
Pork & Chickpea Stew

Pork & Chickpea Stew by John Spottiswood

Super easy to make. Toss all ingredients in the pot (or slow cooker) and forget about it until dinner time. Healthy...and is good vegetarian with vegetable broth and no pork.

4 votes
15799 views
Grilled Whole Salmon Indonesian Style

Grilled Whole Salmon Indonesian Style by John Spottiswood

This is an excellent and flavorful way to cook fish that I adapted from the Barbecue Bible. I had a large, whole salmon (not a smaller snapper or pompano as recommended), and was hoping the flavor would be strong enough to impact the Salmon. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! The fish came out delicious and my guests all asked me to…

5 votes
9187 views
Romaine Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing

Romaine Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing by John Spottiswood

The crisp inner leaves of romaine lettuce goes wonderfully with this light and creamy basil-infused dressing. We served the same dressing the following night with a more traditional mixed green salad with lettuce, avocado, tomato and cucumber, and that was delicious too. If you're looking for a tasty alternative to a caesar dressing,…

7 votes
12006 views