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Malta is a group of islands in the Mediterranean between Sicily and North Africa. Its location means that it has been influenced by a variety of cultures, including the Roman, Moors, French, and British. When John and I visit a location for a week or more, we like to mix up our stays. While in Malta we stayed at a beach resort and also city location. The Corinthia Palace Hotel and Spa located in the capital city of Valetta was a wonderful choice.

While at the Corinthia we explored Valetta, in

Sarah Browne, nutritionist and chef from Roscommon, Ireland, strives to use all natural foods locally produced or found in Ireland.  Her carrageen pudding makes use of a species of red algae that is found along the rocky coast of the Atlantic in Europe and North America but it is also sold commercially. Carrageen is commonly used as a thickener but is has health benefits as it is rich in vitamins and minerals… so the pudding is not only delicious it is good for you.

Carrageen Moss Blanc Mange

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Yee Sang is one of those fun recipes that always turns out right.  It is popular during Chinese New Year with people in Malaysia and Singapore because the names mean “abundance” and “liveliness,” both of which are auspicious for the coming year.

Collect the following ingredients but, truthfully, one can pick the items that they best like. If you don’t have one of the ingredients, double up on what you have or substitute.

7 oz fresh salmon, tuna or any white fish of your choice

3 oz  shredded carro

A big part of our traveling is the food. How often do we find a delicious delicacy and wish we could have it at home?

Bouillabaisse in Nice; Schweinhocken in Munich; Leige waffles in Belgium; or even a gumbo from Lousiana. It may be hard to find that perfect ethnic restaurant in your neighborhood that makes it but you can always try to recreate it yourself.

That’s what we did after our recent trip to Ensenada in Baja California. We had the most perfect dish of chilaquiles con huevos at Restaurant

Here is an absolutely delicious recipe from Chef Bryan Dame of The Edge Restaurant at the The Inn at Ocean's Edge in Maine. While it is incredibly delicious it is also easy to make and can be served in your own home!

Lobster Fried Rice
Chef Bryan Dame
The Edge

3 eggs, scrambled
12 oz cooked lobster, chopped & tossed to coat with corn starch
6 cups cooked rice (cold)
½ cup thinly sliced celery, bit size pieces
½ cup thinly sliced leek, bit sized pieces
2 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons

http://www.examiner.com/culinary-travel-in-national/amazing-chocolate-cake

Amazing chocolate cake

Located on the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar, Amazing Ngapali Beach Resort is amazing in many ways – the beach, the accommodations, the service and their Amazing Chocolate Cake.

Amazing’s Amazing Chocolate Cake

6 eggs, separated – room temperature

1/2 cup orange juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups sugar, divided

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup baking cocoa

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

In a large bowl, b

http://www.examiner.com/culinary-travel-in-national/dazzle-your-friends-and-family-make-your-own-seafood-cioppino

If you can’t get to Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, New York then try this award winning Chef Joseph Fire’s recipe from La Cascata Italian restaurant.

Seafood Cioppino

16/20 Shrimp                                   

20/30 Scallops    

20 Clams, littleneck                                                      

20 Mussels, PEI

1 teaspoon minced garlic                                  

 
Photo: Pesto a la Mexicana © John Lamkin

Genoa is believed to be the birthplace of pesto. France has a similar sauce called pistou. Mexico is the birthplace of the avocado, one of the healthiest fruits known. Substituting the Mexican avocado for the Italian olive oil in this recipe makes healthy and tasty sense.

Recipe

2/3 cup packed coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (mix with Romano, if you wish)
1/3 cup avocado and garlic oil (I use Ahuacatlan brand)
2 or 3 t

Luxury spas and retreats are fun. After all, who doesn't like a great massage?

This type of travel is good for our physical well-being and also for our mental health - especially if we learn new behaviors that we can practice at home.

Over the years when I've visited spas, I've collected recipes that I can easily prepare in my own kitchen.

Here is one of my favorites:

Reduced Fat Carrot Peanut Butter

Ingredients:
peanut butter (smooth) 1/3 cup
carrot chunks, boiled    1 cup

Directions:
B

Red Velvet cupcakes seem to be popping up everywhere, so I just had to make a batch. And...I humbly confess, they're darn good!

Below is the recipe I used, however, I think I should have made fewer

cupcakes as mine did not rise to the top. Did I overbeat or was there

not enough batter for 30 cupcakes??? Who knows. I used the larger silver stand alone cupcake holders. 

I also used less food coloring, just because the entire bottle seemed like overkill.

Nonetheless, the resulting cupcakes tasted g

Growing up in Hawaii you develop an appreciation for cross cultural mingling, especially in cuisine. Kurt Winner, my husband a native New York to Hawaii transplant
and an avid chef, developed this favorite family recipe years ago. You
can use it to create kabobs along with fat quarters of red,green and
yellow bell peppers and onions or as a simple marinade for grilled
chicken. He favors it served Buffalo New York style with an Oregon
twist; alongside some Oregon Rogue bleu cheese dip and crudites.

Fou