A Winter Camp to Remember

Radical Cooks winter cooking camp was the perfect way to turn the first week of the year into something warm, creative, and delicious. This past week our campers spent their time learning new skills, exploring global flavors, and building confidence in the kitchen—all while having a lot of fun.

The first day we launched right into making classic crêpes. Measuring carefully, whisking smooth batter, and spreading it evenly across the crepe pan taught precision and focus. Campers enjoyed both sweet fillings, perfect for brunch. Recipe at: Crepes

One of the highlights of camp was making okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake often described as “whatever you like” cooking. Campers learned how to chop cabbage and green onions, mix a batter, and cook it safely on the griddle. They loved customizing their okonomiyaki with different add-ins and toppings, and it sparked great conversations about Japanese food culture and how savory breakfasts and snacks vary around the world. For many campers, this was their first time cooking and tasting a dish like this, and it quickly became a favorite. Recipe at: Okonomiyaki

We also traveled to Scandinavia with yellow split pea soup and Swedish pancakes, a thinner, lighter pancake using a vintage traditional “plette” pan. This activity reinforced the idea that sweet and savory can enjoyed in the same meal. Recipes at: Split Pea Soup and Pancakes

And that was just Monday. 

By Tuesday, campers were becoming more adept at their knife skills and we focused on the plant-based world, using soy in a variety of ways. We started off the morning Mexican making breakfast burritos with soy chorizo, traveled over to Vietnam making summer rolls with tofu, and wrapped with a carrot soup from France. Recipe at: Summer Rolls

Wednesday was the best day. In the morning we made a pavlova, with origins in either New Zealand or Australia, depending upon who you ask. While the pavlova was baking in one oven, in another we were roasting a chicken for our English savory pie ~  chicken pot pie. Recipe at: Pavlova

Earlier in the week I was gifted a bunch of key limes. So if one pie wasn’t enough, we traveled back to the United States to make mini key lime pies.  Wednesday was really the best day.  Recipe at: Key Lime Pie

Thursday we maximized our use of southern California’s in season citrus making an Italian pasta limone, lemon curd (England), and of course, a delicious lemonade. 

By Friday, it was back to Asia, with a course on Chinese dumplings and finally, back to where we started ~ France. To wrap up the session, we made French tart making our own pâte sucrée  (pâte sucrée is a sweet, tender, crumbly dessert crust enriched with sugar, eggs, and sometimes vanilla, resulting in a cookie-like texture for fruit tarts and cream pies) filled with custard and fresh fruit.  Recipe at: Chinese dumplings

Wow!! 

Exploring The World Via the Kitchen Door

why I teach Pots, Pans & Passports class  

Every year before Christmas my mom would ask, “Where should we go for Christmas this year?” “Greece? Or Italy?” I’d reply. For each year at Christmas we traveled to a different country. One year we went to Sweden. Another year it was Mexico, then Italy, and Greece. Even though I grew up in a small town (population 200!) I learned so much about the world from these holiday adventures.

Quick confession. Truth is, we never really went to Mexico, Greece, Sweden, or Italy. Rather, come November we would choose a country to “visit.” Pre-internet days, my mom would send me off to the local library to find cookbooks featuring that country’s traditional foods. Then we’d gather around the kitchen table pouring over cookbooks. We would design a menu from these countries to serve at Christmas. If we were going to Greece we’d call specialty grocery stores in nearby cities asking if they sold grape leaves or frozen octopus. If we were going to Italy we’d scour the back pages of fancy cooking magazines like Bon Appetit looking for squid which could be shipped to our little town. I learned to stuff grape leaves (Greece), make homemade tortillas (Mexico), and serve pickled herring (Sweden). On Christmas Eve we’d invite friends and family and set out a feast for all to enjoy.

Thus, at the beginning of each Pots, Pans & Passports class, I dedicate it to my mother, Louise DeRe Zippay. She taught me to always try the food on your plate and no matter where you live, there is always a world for you to explore. You simply need to step through the kitchen door.

Purple Cauliflower

Spring is the set up for the colors of summer. It’s a teaser ad, a sneak peak at what’s coming down the pipe. The red radishes, the orange carrots, and then this ~ the purple cauliflower.  The next time a kid taunts you with the challenge there are no purple foods, shove one of these in his face. Perhaps maybe it's best to gently present rather than shove. 

Paired with some oyster mushrooms from our favorite ‘shroom supplier LA Funghi, spiced with a little garlic and salt, top with some sour cream, vinegar, and dill and you have something amazing.  Even the kids will like it.  Maybe. I don't know your kids. 

Carrot Front and Center

In our previous post we lauded the carrot as we know and love it today, from its green leafy top to its colorful root. Naturally you can eat them a la "Bugs Bunny" style. You can also serve them in salads, as displayed so beautifully in purple glory below.

Purple carrot glory. 

Or try a savory soup. We made this carrot coconut soup the other day, chock full of anti-oxidants (ginger), anti-inflammatory ingredients (ginger, turmeric), and all around goodness. Imagine how well the sweetness of the carrots and coconut cream contrast with the pungency of the fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, garlic, onion, and leeks. Garlic, onion, and leeks, you ask? Why so many pungent flavors, you say? Traditional Chinese medicine practices of seasonal attunement recommend a focus in the spring on light pungent flavors such as garlic, leeks, and onion. We couldn’t choose just one. So we chose them all. The flavor of the soup speaks for itself, but if you think garlic, onion and leek is just too much to bear, leave one out. Radical recipes are guidelines, not mandates. 

 

A warm golden sun in a cup or bowl.  

Carrot Leek & Coconut Soup (Vegan)

3 tablespoons coconut oil

1 pound carrots, peeled, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

2 medium leeks, 1 chopped, 1 thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tablespoon finely grated ginger (peel it first!)

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh turmeric (peel it first!)

Sea salt and some freshly ground pepper

4 cups vegetable broth

1 13.5-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk

Directions

Heat oil in heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add carrots, onion, chopped leek, garlic, ginger, and turmeric and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables soften, 5–7 minutes. Add broth, coconut milk, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, 20–25 minutes; let cool slightly. Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. If you so desire, lightly fry up the sliced leeks, salt, and garnish the soup. 

Cook's note: they say the addition of pepper mixed with turmeric enhances the anti-inflammatory properties and more. So don't forget the pepper!