Savory and Sweet Chicken Pastilla

Lara's hours of cooking turns out a  beautiful chicken pastilla dressed in golden crispy phyllo.  The hidden chicken/spinach filling involves many ingredients such as brandy, white wine, sherry, dark chocolate, pink peppercorn, cinnamon stick, currents, pine nuts, and vegetables   

beet and nut spread 

spinach dip 

salad with cheese and dried strawberries

Chicken Pastilla 

spiced cauliflower

dessert with cheese filling

a sweet and savory treat 

• conversation links: 
• an examination of 7,000 years of agriculture. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1043789.pdf
• grain diversity and improving the British loaf. https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/oct/10/flour-power-meet-the-bread-heads-baking-a-better-loaf

a meal inspired by the spice wonderland

Lara cruises through middle eastern cuisine, inspired by a recent visit to Turkey                          

manoushe (lavash with zatar and cheese)black bean chipotle dip

 Beet and goat cheese salad with arugula and hazelnut 

moussaka

fried spiced cauliflower with tahini sauce

baklava with cardamom ice cream

sweet treats from Turkey

Herring dressed for the season under fur coat

Lara made an Russian dinner including the legendary herring salad and traditional beet beef soup 

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Candies from Moscow 

something magical in Tagine

Lara hosted a feast around the magical tagine,  with plenty fantastic flavors from dates, nuts, herbs, spices, vegetables, chicken and grains.