Carla Crudup

Creating a culinary legacy.

Pumpkin Soup Served in Staub Pumpkin Cocottes

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Pumpkin Soup Served in Gorgeous Staub Pumpkin Cocottes Pumpkins are a rite of passage for Fall, when we celebrate the seasons by decorating pumpkins and eating everything with pumpkin or pumpkin spice! But pumpkin products extend far through the winter. In fact, I’m still seeing delicious pumpkin-inspired dishes well into January! When I made this soup, I was so excited to serve it in these lovely Staub Pumpkin Cocottes.  I woke up at 5am to make the soup and I really had no idea how I was going to style and photograph the dish.  But I remember these gorgeous serving dishes and… Read More

Ingredient Showcase: Nira (Garlic Chives)

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Ingredient Showcase: Nira (or Garlic Chives) Nira, also known as garlic chives or  “the Chinese leek” is a flavor perennial herb plant that has a multitude of uses. Nira is used in Asian cuisine such as Japanese, Chinese and Korean. It has a lovely subtle garlic-scallion “like” flavor and is used in  soups, stews, stir frys and in  both of my the shumai and gyoza dumpling recipes . You can find nira in Asian markets and they are quite lovely. Long, dark green and often flawless leaves. Wash them and remove the white tips and use as desired. If you… Read More

How to Make Your Own Chili Oil

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How to Make Chili Oil Chili Oil is a commonly used condiment with Asian cuisine, particularly dim sum or dumplings. I love to infuse my own oils and chili oil is no exception because I can choose the level of heat,  herbs and spices.  It provides such a lovely spicy freshness and enhances the sauces I make for the dumplings. I actually make 2 batches where I toast my chili flakes and peppers to the point of being dark brown. The darker oil has a spiciness and nuttiness that is just wonderful. I use grapeseed oil because of the flavor… Read More

Can You Name This Dish? #1

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Name This Dish! From time to time, I’ll post a new mystery dish for readers to discover.  The only clue you’ll get is the image above. Submit your guesses for the name of the dish below in the comments! Then, I’ll reveal the name of the dish in the comments so you can see if you were right! So, can you name this dish?  Fill in the blank: _______________ To see the revealed dish check the recipe HERE

Carla’s Iconic American Meatloaf

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The meatloaf has European origins; minced meat loaves were cooked already in the 5th century, and were mentioned in the famous Roman cookery collection “Apicius”.  Meatloaf is a traditional German, Belgian and Dutch dish, and it is a cousin to the Italian meatball. American meatloaf has its origins in scrapple, a mixture of ground pork and cornmeal served by German-Americans in Pennsylvania since Colonial times.  However, meatloaf in the contemporary American sense did not appear in cookbooks until the late 19th century.  [Source: Wikepedia] This meatloaf recipe is absolutely delicious, with a bit of an Italian spin and a little… Read More

Carla’s Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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Carla’s Baked Macaroni and Cheese Macaroni and cheese is a true food icon.  This legendary dish made its public debut in the United States in the early 1800s as it graced the table of President Thomas Jefferson, who served it in the White House.  A star was born, and the rest is history!  Today, macaroni and cheese is considered one of the classic American comfort foods. This recipe exemplifies the true essence of this popular dish. The spices and cheese blend highlight the wonderful taste of this American food prodigy. Save Print Carla’s Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Author: Carla Crudup… Read More