Czech Foods Recipes

A storm was making it's way through the southern villages of Czech Republic last Tuesday night. Luckily, we had soup. Not just any soup, but Laksa: a softly spicy, fragrant, Malaysian noodle soup. I hadn't thought of this soup since I was last in New Zealand, where it's made with some frequency, and most kiwis will tell you it's Indonesia's most appreciated contribution to their islands. Sources cite Malaysia as the country of origin , but also Indonesia and Singapore. Whatever the case, the influences are clear on the palate - a bit South-East Asian, a bit Chinese, and appreciated by all. It reminds me of an incredibly tasty soup made last year, with shrimp and zucchini , but was much more involved due to the long infusion the spices had in the broth. This version, adapted from an 'express' cookbook makes a very tasty broth with less time by NOT chopping the lemongrass and straining it out, but simply giving it a few good whacks to bruise the stalks, and le...

Heart Healthy Foods   (from MedHelp ) Whole Grains Oatmeal Beans Fish Olive oil Cinnamon Pistachios Walnuts Flaxseed Tomatoes Avocados Oranges Blueberries Cherries Tea (3-6 cups of black/green) Coffee (2-4 cups) Red Wine (1-2 glasses) One can hate it, or embrace it, but it is near impossible to simply ignore Valentine's day . Living abroad, I find myself having to defend Valentine's day year after year. Not that I want to, or even that I feel as a good American expatriate that I necessarily have to. It just ends up that way. Comments on the holiday from my past Czech students were overwhelming focused on the forced emotional element . We'll see about the reactions tomorrow among my new Italian students. Differences? A large part of the negative image I believe stems from all the usual side effects of an exported holiday. Other cultures see the overpriced junk in the shops, and the nauseatingly clichéd displays of overdone emotion on the sitcoms. They are missing the pers...