Carla Crudup

Creating a culinary legacy.

Peace & Tranquility – Making Handmade Pasta

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Making Handmade Pasta Whether dried or fresh, pasta is a staple in many homes worldwide and can be cooked thousands of ways. From preparing the simplest of family meals to an opulent 5-star dinner extravaganza, pasta many times is the integral part of a wonderful dining experience. I have been making handmade pasta for many years. For me, it is relaxing, comforting and creates a soul rendering calmness. But you must have positive energy when making handmade pasta. The unison of water, eggs, semolina flour (most times) and the transfer of heat from your hands should create a synergy that… Read More

Homemade Pesto Sauce

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Homemade Pesto Sauce This pesto sauce is one of my most popular recipes. So delicious and versatile it requires no cooking. I usually make a double or triple batch and keep some in the refrigerator and/or freezer. Dinner is always ready with pasta and pesto available! Here’s a delicious recipe that you can try with your pesto.  It’s a simple, but delicious pesto pasta dish. Save Print Carla’s Pesto Pasta Serves: Serves 8 people   Ingredients 1 16-ounce box of linguine pasta 2 cups of fresh basil leaves, washed and dried 3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped ¼ cup toasted… Read More

Handmade Chicken and Shrimp Shumai Dumplings

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Handmade Shumai Dumplings Making dumplings has become a necessity in my household due their popularity among family and friends! Both the shumai (Chinese dumplings/dim sum) and the gyoza (Japanese dumplings) are traditionally made with pork. I purposely chose chicken (dark meat) for a lighter fare but with just as much flavor. I only use low-sodium soy sauce. Why? I just don’t think the extra sodium is needed. Enjoy! Related recipes: Homemade Chili Oil Recipe » Handmade Gyoza Dumplings Recipe » Save Print Shrimp and Chicken Shumai Author: Carla Crudup   Makes about 30 shumai dumplings. Ingredients Filling: ½ pound ground chicken… Read More

Handmade Chicken Gyoza Dumplings

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Handmade Chicken Gyoza Dumplings Recipe Gyoza are a type of asian dumplings filled with a mix of ground meat and vegetables, and wrapped in thin, circular discs of dough.  You might have noticed that gyoza are very similar to the savory and delicious potstickers served in Chinese restaurants across the country.  That’s because the Japanese gyoza actually originated in China.  Japanese soldiers were introduced to Chinese dumplings during the battles of World War II. Although similar, Japanese gyoza have a thinner dough than and are a bit smaller than potstickers.  They also have a more finely textured sausage and vegetable filling…. Read More

How to Make Vegan Chocolate Sauce

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Vegan Chocolate Sauce Vegan chocolate sauce is the perfect flavor profile for drizzling over a light desert.  I thought this chocolate sauce would be the perfect pairing with the Mango Orange Sorbet.  This chocolate sauce is smooth, rich and one would never know it is dairy free! Also try these great recipes: Mango Orange Sorbet Recipe » How to Make Homemade Almond Milk » Save Print Vegan Chocolate Sauce Author: Carla Crudup Recipe type: Sauces Cuisine: Vegan Serves: Makes 1 ¼ cup of sauce.   Ingredients 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (see recipe on website) ¼ cup dates, pitted 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder 1 teaspoon… Read More

Mango Orange Sorbet with Vegan Chocolate Sauce

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Mango Orange Sorbet with Vegan Chocolate Sauce I created this recipe one summer when it was so hot and I wanted to develop a cool dessert that was dairy free. The Mango Orange Sorbet is an easy frozen dessert and the vegan chocolate sauce is simple to make too! I use a high speed blender (my Vitamix) for all blended recipes. It is very important to place the ingredients in the order listed to ensure proper utilization of the Vitamix. The weight of each ingredient, plus the law of gravity pushes everything down into the blade for proper blending. In a matter of… Read More

Family Memories and a Gorgeous French Apple Tart

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Family Memories and a Gorgeous French Apple Tart A tart is a delectable European type of pie that has a rich sweet crust and is filled with fruit, pastry cream or nuts. It is typically topped with fruit and finished with a lovely fruit glaze. To create a sumptuous tart, you’ll need a tart pan rather than a pie pan.  The difference is that the sides of the tart pan are usually perpendicular to the bottom and removable.  The result – a breathtakingly beautiful pie with a delicate flavor profile and elegant appearance. I really enjoyed making this tart. Actually, this is the first… Read More

How to Make Homemade Almond Milk

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How to Make Homemade Almond Milk Keeping it dairy free? Homemade almond milk is not only rewarding, rich in taste and creamy, but very simple to make.  All you’ll need is a high speed blender, raw almonds and water! You can sweeten your milk with honey, agave, maple syrup or dates. Many times I will start with unsweetened milk as you can easily use it as the base for other delicious recipes. Also, check out these other great vegan recipes: Mango Orange Sorbet Recipe » How to Make Vegan Chocolate Sauce » Save Print Homemade Almond Milk Recipe Author: Carla Crudup Recipe… Read More