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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 17:36:30 GMT
Hi Peas. I decided to prepare two international meals each month of 2020. I thought it would be fun to learn about different countries. We will prepare the meals and then discuss the culture while dining. Should be a good time! So I spent a while googling different ideas and here is what I came up with. If you are from or familiar with these countries, would you please let me know if you feel I should make any changes? I decided on places from our heritage, places I'd like to visit and places that I've seen on tv and thought "what's that? that looks good!" (thanks, 90 Day Fiance  ) Here is my list, don't laugh at me too hard if I made a terrible mistake! And if I have something hurtful to a culture, it was definetly not intended, but please let me know!! Australia
Sweet potato and mixed seed damper Grilled Asparagus and Tomato Salad Sausage Rolls Meat Hand Pies Mash Lamington Canada
Poutine (I’ve wanted to try/make poutine for a while, do I serve anything with it? Like a veggie?) Butter Tarts China
Fried Soup Baozi scallion pancakes yu xiang rou si (shredded pork in hot garlic sauce) la zi ji (chicken with chillies) Sichuan Dry Fried Green Beans Three Fresh Delicacies (potato, eggplant, and green papers) Columbia
Bandeja Paisa (beans, white rice, chicharrón, carne en polvo, chorizo, fried egg, ripe plantain, avocado and arepa) France
Chilled Tomato Consommé Beef Bourguignon Chive Mashed Potatoes Savory Brussels sprouts Lemony Herbed Greens Crusty Baguette Pistachio Financiers Germany
Schnitzel Spätzle and gravy Green Salad Greece
Goat Cheese w/ Olives, Lemon & Thyme w/ Crisp Rosemary Flatbread Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta & Olives Pork Souvlaki - Grilled Pork Skewers & tzatziki Horta Vrasta - Boiled Leafy Greens Roasted Garbanzo Beans & Garlic with Swiss Chard Iceland
Langoustine soup Baked Fish with mashed potato Stuffed Peppers Icelandic Skyr Cake India
Naan Murg Makhani (butter chicken) Palak Paneer (Spinach and Cottage Cheese) Kaali Daal (Black Lentils) Gulab Jamun (like Indian doughnuts) Ireland
Irish Stew Soda Bread Millionaire Shortbread Israel
Baba ghanoush Israeli Salad (finely chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, lemon and olive oil) Kale Khachapuri (egg and cheese bread) Kebabs Chocolate-Covered Matzo Italy
Grilled vegetable antipasti Flatbread with pear, walnut and gorgonzola Grilled peaches with burrata Chicken with agrodolce sauce Italian baked meatballs Chocolate and hazelnut meringue semifreddo Jamaica
Jerk Chicken Peaches and Cucumber Chow (this is supposed to be made with mangoes but I have an anaphylaxis reaction to mangoes) Garlicky Plantains Sautéed Collard Greens Coconut Rice and Peas Japan
Gyoza Miso Soup Cucumber and Daikon Salad Teriyaki Chicken Yakisoba Baby Bok Choy with Warm Miso Ginger Dressing
Korea
Kimchi Kongnamulgook (Bean Sprout Soup) Galbi Jim (Braised Short Ribs) Sigumchi Namul (Seasoned Spinach) Spicy Korean Coleslaw Yakgwa (Korean Honey Cookies) Lebanon
Fattoush (Salad) Kibbeh Shish taouk (chicken kebab) Manakeesh Tabbouleh Baklava Mexico
Chicken Avocado Soup Tamalitos Pork Carnitas platter Churro Cheesecake Morocco
Chicken Tagine Couscous Roasted Vegetables Spiced Orange Nepal
Momo’s Alu Acchar (pickled potatoes) Grilled Chicken Masala Mustard Greens Bhutuwa Chatamari (rice crepe) Peru
Empanadas de Pollo (Chicken Empanadas) Ensalada de Choclo Lomo Saltado with Green Sauce Suspiro de Limeña Russia
Borscht Kotleti with wild mushroom sauce Creamy baked potatoes Russian Cucumber and Tomato Salad Russian Tea Cakes Spain
Pan con tomate (fresh bread rubbed with half of a tomato) Salmorejo (Chilled tomato soup) Tortilla de patatas (traditional Spanish omelet) Chorizo a la sidra Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp sauteed in olive oil and garlic) Tigres (Stuffed mussels) Espinacas con Garbanzos (spiced chickpeas with spinach) Thailand
Chicken Satay Sticks Tom Yum Talay: Thai Seafood Soup Classic Chicken Pad Thai Cucumber Salad Turkey
Pide (Turkish Pizza) İskender kabob Bulgur and Summer Vegetable Salad Şekerpare (almond based dough cakes) Thanks, I appreciate your help!!!! |
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Post by leannec on Jan 6, 2020 17:43:24 GMT
I'm Canadian and when we eat poutine we eat nothing else with it because it is so filling ... especially if you want butter tarts after ... great choices  Another dessert choice that is popular would be Nanaimo Bars ... just a thought  |
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Post by gar on Jan 6, 2020 17:43:26 GMT
You need to take a look at AussieMeg 's thread and combine forces  Here's a link for you
ETA, I'm offended because England doesn't even make your list!!  Just kidding  |
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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 17:51:23 GMT
You need to take a look at AussieMeg 's thread and combine forces Here's a link for you
ETA, I'm offended because England doesn't even make your list!! Just kidding Ha, if I read that thread I could have probably saved quite a few hours!! Off to read LOL sorry about Jolly Ol' England! |
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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 17:53:44 GMT
I'm Canadian and when we eat poutine we eat nothing else with it because it is so filling ... especially if you want butter tarts after ... great choices Another dessert choice that is popular would be Nanaimo Bars ... just a thought Thanks Leannec! I thought it looked pretty filling but wasn't 100% |
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Montannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,486 
Location: Big Sky Country
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Post by Montannie on Jan 6, 2020 18:01:03 GMT
Great idea to expand your repertoire and introduce your family to something new!
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,085
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Jan 6, 2020 18:04:07 GMT
You don't have a dessert for Germany! Might I suggest apple strudel or Kaiserschmarrn (chopped up pancakes with apple sauce) which is my favourite. Kaiserscharrn recipe |
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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 18:04:34 GMT
Thanks! I love cooking and trying new things |
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Post by wiipii2 on Jan 6, 2020 18:13:53 GMT
Chiming in here as a Canadian...
I wouldn't just serve poutine for dinner. I mean, I would happily eat it but if you are doing 1 meal there are other things that are a bit heartier then a plate of fries with cheese curds and gravy. Its freaking delicious and I will happily eat it for dinner but you get what I mean.
Tourtiere is a traditional French Canadian meat pie.
Canadian back bacon
Nanaimo bars are delicious
Don't forget to wear a tuque while you eat!
And also, I love your international meal idea and am plotting to copy you!
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
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Post by pancakes on Jan 6, 2020 18:22:18 GMT
I'm impressed with some of your menus!
But based on that, I feel like your Japan and Mexico menus are a little "basic" in comparison.
For example, for Mexico, maybe instead of the Chicken Avocado soup, you could opt for a posole. With the carnitas, I'd add a Guajillo sauce or something similar (but maybe you already planned this). Is a churro cheesecake authentic? I'd personally opt for a flan or tres leches situation.
For Japan, you really don't see teriyaki chicken much — yakitori would be a better fit. Yakisoba is usually more of a cheap, occasional eat. Bok choy is a Chinese vegetable. If you wanted something easier, a chicken/pork katsu with a soft boiled egg (onsen egg) and Japanese curry over steamed rice could be a good choice. They also eat a lot of tofu and grilled fish, like a salt-grilled mackerel (shioyaki). You could also try doing something like tsukemen, which is a (usually cold) dipping noodle. If you're doing this in colder months, sukiyaki (a slightly sweeter hot pot) could be super delicious and fun.
Regarding China (sorry, I just know more about Asian cuisine than any other countries, lol), if you want to take a shortcut, frozen scallion pancakes are going to be almost as good as ones you make...making them is totally not worth it, IMO. Is there a reason why you're doing fried soup dumplings? Making steamed soup dumplings is already a task in itself! Unless you're buying them frozen. But those are actually worth making by hand.
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 6, 2020 19:22:18 GMT
I think it is a fantastic idea and want to know where and when to show up!
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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 20:06:47 GMT
I'm impressed with some of your menus! But based on that, I feel like your Japan and Mexico menus are a little "basic" in comparison. For example, for Mexico, maybe instead of the Chicken Avocado soup, you could opt for a posole. With the carnitas, I'd add a Guajillo sauce or something similar (but maybe you already planned this). Is a churro cheesecake authentic? I'd personally opt for a flan or tres leches situation. For Japan, you really don't see teriyaki chicken much — yakitori would be a better fit. Yakisoba is usually more of a cheap, occasional eat. Bok choy is a Chinese vegetable. If you wanted something easier, a chicken/pork katsu with a soft boiled egg (onsen egg) and Japanese curry over steamed rice could be a good choice. They also eat a lot of tofu and grilled fish, like a salt-grilled mackerel (shioyaki). You could also try doing something like tsukemen, which is a (usually cold) dipping noodle. If you're doing this in colder months, sukiyaki (a slightly sweeter hot pot) could be super delicious and fun. Regarding China (sorry, I just know more about Asian cuisine than any other countries, lol), if you want to take a shortcut, frozen scallion pancakes are going to be almost as good as ones you make...making them is totally not worth it, IMO. Is there a reason why you're doing fried soup dumplings? Making steamed soup dumplings is already a task in itself! Unless you're buying them frozen. But those are actually worth making by hand. Thanks for this! Regarding my Mexican choices, being in San Diego, I’ve been to Mexico dozens of hundreds of times (worked in Tijuana a few years) so I definitely have my favorite sauces and dishes. I know posole is more authentic and traditional, but I personally don’t care for it. I also don’t like flan or tres leches ... I know I’m weird thanks for the tips and information on the Asian choices ... I have very limited cooking experience with Asian foods and I will definitely change my original a bit! |
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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 20:07:41 GMT
Chiming in here as a Canadian... I wouldn't just serve poutine for dinner. I mean, I would happily eat it but if you are doing 1 meal there are other things that are a bit heartier then a plate of fries with cheese curds and gravy. Its freaking delicious and I will happily eat it for dinner but you get what I mean. Tourtiere is a traditional French Canadian meat pie. Canadian back bacon Nanaimo bars are delicious Don't forget to wear a tuque while you eat! And also, I love your international meal idea and am plotting to copy you! Ok, I’ll rethink this. I just really have always wanted to try it thanks so much!! |
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Post by leannec on Jan 6, 2020 20:27:41 GMT
Chiming in here as a Canadian... I wouldn't just serve poutine for dinner. I mean, I would happily eat it but if you are doing 1 meal there are other things that are a bit heartier then a plate of fries with cheese curds and gravy. Its freaking delicious and I will happily eat it for dinner but you get what I mean. Tourtiere is a traditional French Canadian meat pie. Canadian back bacon Nanaimo bars are delicious Don't forget to wear a tuque while you eat! And also, I love your international meal idea and am plotting to copy you! Ok, I’ll rethink this. I just really have always wanted to try it  thanks so much!! I respectfully disagree ... my family actually goes out to a poutine shop for dinner just to gorge on poutine and nothing else and it is FUN!! There is nothing wrong with having no veggies for dinner once in awhile We even eat poutine for dinner at Costco when we shop there  I say stick with your poutine plan |
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peaname
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peaname on Jan 6, 2020 20:31:27 GMT
Sounds delicious! I’d love to know your favorites at the end.
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Post by maryland on Jan 6, 2020 20:32:30 GMT
What a great idea!
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Post by KB on Jan 6, 2020 20:39:42 GMT
Sounds delicious! I’d love to know your favorites at the end. I’m planning to put them all on my Instagram. Tonight will be Morocco MY INSTA
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Post by littlemama on Jan 6, 2020 20:53:36 GMT
Wow, that is very ambitious! That many new recipes would stress me out!
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Post by AussieMeg on Jan 6, 2020 21:52:54 GMT
Yes, we need to join forces! You've done a lot more research than I have, I have just about chosen all the countries but I haven't chosen all the dishes yet. You have some great foods on the list. Yum! If you want a dessert for Greece you could make baklava (one of my favourites), then for your Lebanon week change the dessert to mahalabia (another of my favourites). Awful name delicious dessert. Also, I will be doing lamb instead of pork for Greece, but from what I've read here, lamb isn't as readily available in all places in the US. A couple of things I have planned to make: Peru - Papa a la huancaina, Arroz con Pollo (the one with a ton of coriander/cilantro) Australia is a difficult one, because we don't really have very many national dishes. We're very multi cultural and have taken on a lot of mediterannean and Asian dishes. I like most of your choices. Damper is definitely Australian, not that I've made it since my grade 5 camp in 1978! Sausage rolls, meat pies and lamingtons are the perfect choice. Pavlova is another good one, although the Kiwis might get annoyed as they think it's their national dish. |
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Post by unknown pea on Jan 6, 2020 22:25:14 GMT
Ok, I’ll rethink this. I just really have always wanted to try it thanks so much!! I respectfully disagree ... my family actually goes out to a poutine shop for dinner just to gorge on poutine and nothing else and it is FUN!! There is nothing wrong with having no veggies for dinner once in awhile We even eat poutine for dinner at Costco when we shop there I say stick with your poutine plan I also respectfully disagree! Poutine is totally fine to have for dinner! |
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Post by HelenaJole on Jan 6, 2020 22:37:38 GMT
For Korea you could make Ddeok guk for the lunar new year. You have to eat it to get a year older. |
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snyder
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Posts: 3,994
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Jan 6, 2020 23:13:57 GMT
Sounds like quite an adventure. Have fun and do post pics!
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mvavw
Full Member
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Jun 25, 2014 20:21:43 GMT
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Post by mvavw on Jan 6, 2020 23:24:45 GMT
Love this idea and will enjoy following your adventure!
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 6, 2020 23:41:20 GMT
Canada
Poutine (I’ve wanted to try/make poutine for a while, do I serve anything with it? Like a veggie?) Butter Tarts I prefer Carne Asada fries to poutine. Authentic/original poutine would just be fries, gravy & cheese curds but these days you can get pretty much any topping (pulled pork, chicken, smoked meat, etc.). It isn't really paired with vegetables. Butter tarts are an EXCELLENT choice for a Canadian dessert that hasn't made it to the US. Greece
Goat Cheese w/ Olives, Lemon & Thyme w/ Crisp Rosemary Flatbread Chopped Vegetable Salad with Feta & Olives Pork Souvlaki - Grilled Pork Skewers & tzatziki Horta Vrasta - Boiled Leafy Greens Roasted Garbanzo Beans & Garlic with Swiss Chard I'd skip the horta even though it is something MIL and DH love, boiled greens hold no appeal to me and are not what I think of when someone says Greek food. The Swiss chard is a slight more interesting version of horta. As AussieMeg suggested, lamb is a much more Greek choice and readily available at Costco in San Diego. DH buys a rack of lamb, cuts them apart (keeping the long bone attached to each piece of meat) and marinates them in garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and oregano before grilling. These "lamb pops" are a huge favorite with everyone. If you are feeling really adventurous, you could make a goat stew. Spinach pies (spanakopita) and avgolemono soup are another couple Greek classic dishes. Enjoy your adventure! |
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Post by underwatermama on Jan 6, 2020 23:43:34 GMT
You don't have a dessert for Germany! Might I suggest apple strudel or Kaiserschmarrn (chopped up pancakes with apple sauce) which is my favourite. Kaiserscharrn recipeKaiserschmarm is a dessert? My Mom served it for dinner, with a whole lot of sugar on it. |
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Post by ~summer~ on Jan 6, 2020 23:51:19 GMT
Wonderful!
For Morocco I would serve everything together on a platter - or at least the cous cous with vegetables on top.
Do you make everything in one meal? If so France is very ambitious!
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Post by wiipii2 on Jan 7, 2020 0:30:57 GMT
Ok, I’ll rethink this. I just really have always wanted to try it thanks so much!! I respectfully disagree ... my family actually goes out to a poutine shop for dinner just to gorge on poutine and nothing else and it is FUN!! There is nothing wrong with having no veggies for dinner once in awhile We even eat poutine for dinner at Costco when we shop there I say stick with your poutine plan Oh me too! I love the stuff more then I should. Ha! Just saying there are other Canadian things that would make a healthier (sort of) meal. But ya, love poutine. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 7, 2020 0:35:27 GMT
Yes, we need to join forces! You've done a lot more research than I have, I have just about chosen all the countries but I haven't chosen all the dishes yet. You have some great foods on the list. Yum! If you want a dessert for Greece you could make baklava (one of my favourites), then for your Lebanon week change the dessert to mahalabia (another of my favourites). Awful name delicious dessert. Also, I will be doing lamb instead of pork for Greece, but from what I've read here, lamb isn't as readily available in all places in the US. A couple of things I have planned to make: Peru - Papa a la huancaina, Arroz con Pollo (the one with a ton of coriander/cilantro) Australia is a difficult one, because we don't really have very many national dishes. We're very multi cultural and have taken on a lot of mediterannean and Asian dishes. I like most of your choices. Damper is definitely Australian, not that I've made it since my grade 5 camp in 1978! Sausage rolls, meat pies and lamingtons are the perfect choice. Pavlova is another good one, although the Kiwis might get annoyed as they think it's their national dish. I would love to have a thread were you both share your dishes and experience! |
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Post by pierkiss on Jan 7, 2020 1:00:25 GMT
This idea is so cool!!!
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AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,059
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Post by AllieC on Jan 7, 2020 3:40:18 GMT
I think it's a wonderful idea to do this. I've put a few comments (take or leave them LOL) on the Aussie ones: Australia
Sweet potato and mixed seed damper - damper yes but I've never seen a sweet potato one nor one with seeds. Grilled Asparagus and Tomato Salad - not something I've ever made or even seen Sausage Rolls - yes, not sure how Aus they are but people do make them Meat Hand Pies - definite yes for this one. Mash - hmm, do we go back to the great debate of the Thanksgiving potatoes LOL. Not something I'd associate with Australia but goes well with pies Lamington - yes |
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thanks so much!!
