Author: Kitchen Shaman

One Onion One Pan

There’s something comforting about the sizzle of the pan when ingredients splash into the hot oil.

Here, onions will be transformed into sweet caramelized goodness. But first, raw, they hit the sauté pan with that satisfying sound. sizzling and popping as they are stirred. Each slice of onion coated with a little oil to help in the process of cooking.

One note about the video. I mention that salt kills the caramelization process. This is not true. Add a pinch of salt at the beginning and it will help the onions brown faster. read more

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UPDATED: India Spiced Tofu Bites

Tofu Bites These Tofu Bites are a great make-a-head snack for the family. They last up to a week, and puts a smile on everyone’s face. They are delicious in salads, stir fry, and even Pasta sauce if you are willing to be that bold. Send the kids to school with them, they’ll ask for more because they shared with their friends.

Make the garam masala ahead of time. It has a long shelf life and it is a spice that can be used for many other dishes.

Remember, the spice mix is a suggestion. Experiment and come up with your own. You can also use different citrus juices. I haven’t tried it yet, but I bet pineapple juice would be excellent. read more

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All you need is a Spice Zine!

Spices ZinesThe long hiatus is over:

A chunk of time has passed since I posted anything here, but my life got busy in other ways than cooking. Recipe testing slowed down. I’ve been cooking just the staples to get both the Spouse and I through our day.

Last January I suffered a fractured toe. I couldn’t drive, or walk, or even stand for very long. But with all that time on my hands, I thought, “Why not create some new zines? No! Let’s create micro zines.” The first question I asked myself was “How do I take all this research I’ve done about food and put it into zine format?” The answer came, and I made several micro zines about individual spices. read more

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V is for Veganuary

Every year New Year's resolutions are broken, most often within the first six months. While there are support systems for no more drinking or smoking (fondly called the 12 Steps), there hasn’t been much support for no more eating meat. This has been proven to be one of the toughest resolutions to meet.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Soup for Winter

As the leaves fall and swirl to the ground, the produce shelves fill up with different varieties of winter squash. Acorn, butternut, Kabucha, Pumpkin, and Delectica all call to my inner chef to create and explore the richness of this winter bounty.

I picked up a butternut squash, hoping for a bit of inspiration. Soup was calling to me.

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6 Easy Steps to Cool Down Foods

As a professional chef I learned early the proper food safety handling techniques. I’ve gotten funny looks over the years from roommates and partners for my “crazy whacked out kitchen habits.” It was those whacked out habits that kept them from getting sick. As I work more and more with home cooks, I've discovered many do not know how to take care of their food properly. Keep Your Family Safe!

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Kitchen Klutzes Unite!

Are you a klutz in the kitchen? Don’t despair! June 13th is Kitchen Klutzes Day, a day to proudly celebrate ineptitude with knife skills and controlling the cooking fire.

We all have those moments. That instant when you know you’ve done something wrong, something that will injure you or others. The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous, accident-prone environments, ripe with opportunity to strike -- and for a klutz it holds many challenges.

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Cooking Vegan for Lent: Eggplant Stew

While cooking professionally I worked in plenty of kitchens where meatless Fridays were observed. Friday Fish Frys and tuna salad were items that were prepared in huge quantities. Not being Catholic, I never quite understood the ritual of not eating meat on Fridays, but as a cook, I made the food that I was directed to prepare.

At the Deli, vast quantities of Tuna Salad were consumed. We were located in a catholic neighborhood and owned by Catholics. When working at the Brewery we could count on the owner, glass of beer in hand, laying down battered fish in the fryer. He was also a staunch Catholic.

While I've remained confused and uneducated about the abstinence and fasting rules, I am now cooking for people who observe the Season of Lent. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce them to 100% vegan food, and learn more about this religious observance.

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Books by Chef Johnna

  • Delectable Vegan Soups -------------------------------------------------------
  • Things Vegans Fry: Crunchy Comfort Food for Vegans

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