Next week the only holiday scheduled is United Nations Day. While not a red banner holiday, you can use this holiday as an excuse to try recipes from a new culture or country. Experimenting with new recipes not only provides you with the opportunity to make your dinner menu more exciting, but it also gives your family the opportunity to try new flavor combinations and expand their appreciation for the foods of lands that they may not be familiar with.
One of the challenges of cooking recipes from other countries is finding the right ingredients. If you are planning an international menu at the last minute, select recipes from countries that have a presence in your local community. This will usually mean that the ingredients will be represented in local markets and specialty shops. If you are planning ahead for an international menu you can special order in meats, spices and other ingredients.
Another challenge of cooking a recipe from another country is understanding their cooking techniques and instructions. Some cultures cook with modern appliances, while others will require the foods to be cooked in the ground or in an open fire. If you select one of these more authentic recipes, then you will need to modify the cooking instructions so that they make sense for your cooking appliances. For example, recipes that are traditionally cooked in a Dutch oven covered with hot coals can be cooked in your oven using a cast iron kettle with a lid. Just put all your ingredients into the kettle. Add the correct amount of liquid in the kettle, put the lid on and place in a preheated oven.
If you are interested in learning more about baking and cooking, or if you are looking for a few unique recipes, then visit Baking and Books Blog. This blog is a lot of fun.