Olive Cornbread Recipe

I recently saw on my Facebook page that one of PhamFatale's readers made my jalapeno cornbread, which reminded me that I hadn't made any in a long time. I created a new version using oil-cured black olives and an exquisite extra virgin olive oil from Cloud 9 Orchard.

May Chevallier is a true expert on olive oil and is the owner of a 140-acre ranch in southern Monterey County, where she planted 10, 000 olive trees. She's passionate about her Cloud 9 Orchard EVOO, which has won many prestigious awards. I recently met with May and she educated me about how to discern the quality of olive oil. I learned that too often olive oil is artificially enhanced with chlorophyll for color and synthetic olive flavor. Cloud 9 Orchard is free from any of these adulterations. You can order May's extra virgin olive oil directly from her. You won't be disappointed.

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake Recipe

The secret of this moist raspberry cake recipe is buttermilk. It creates a light, fluffy texture that goes beautifully with a hot cup of tea. You could add any berries you like. This time I paired fresh raspberries with crunchy pistachios.

I baked the cakes in 6 mini molds and topped each dessert with fresh raspberries and crushed pistachios as a reminder of the flavors used in the cake batter. Heavenly!

Ga Kho Gung Recipe (Vietnamese Ginger Chicken)

Ginger chicken, called "gà kho gừng" in Vietnamese, is a very flavorful caramelized chicken dish. Like many Vietnamese dishes, ginger chicken is a quick and easy meat entree to make when I'm in a hurry. The caramel is formed with honey and coconut soda, the chicken is coated until slightly browned and finally the dish is flavored with shredded fresh ginger.

This time, in addition to the jasmine rice that we always have ready in the rice cooker, I served some greens alongside the chicken. The result is an almost effortless, delicious meal. I like that!

Spicy Peanut Mascarpone Chicken Curry Recipe

To make mascarpone chicken, I marinated chicken breast cubes that I tenderized overnight using buttermilk. For the thick gravy, I made a mixture of mascarpone and coarsely ground peanuts and turmeric.

Since the dish is a little heavy, I suggest serving it with leafy greens and steamed rice. It’s not the healthiest way to eat chicken, but it is quite delicious. Also, I’ve found that even finicky kids love it. That should be enough to get over any guilt you feel. It works for me!