Welcome back!  Today, we have a quick recipe to enhance something very simple: corn! This method of preparing corn is inspired by the viral dish, "corn ribs", but it's really not anything too complicated, consisting primarily of just a seasoning rub over the corn. The interesting component to this dish is how the corn sort of curls when cooked because of being quartered the way it is.  Oven-Baked Spiced Corn Ingredients: 2 ears corn 1 tablespoon melted butter/oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon salt Pinch of cayenne (optional) Directions: Cut the corn into quarters to create four long strips. This will be easier if you cut the corn in half first, giving you eight shorter strips. Mix the melted butter/oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and cayenne together in a bowl. Rub this mixture on the corn. Bake in the oven at 425°F for 10-12 minutes. For an oven like ours with an air-fry setting, you could air-fry it at 400°F for about 10 minutes. Honestly...

Welcome back!  Today, we have a recipe for a simple Italian dessert: Panna Cotta! This dish literally means "cooked cream", and really, that's all it is! It takes just a few ingredients but when put together, is elevated into something much more refined. What's even better is that you can garnish the panna cotta with a variety of different sauces or toppings; since it has such a simple flavor, a multitude of things will pair well with the dessert. Panna Cotta Ingredients: 1 cup milk 1 cup heavy cream 1 package (7 grams) gelatin 3 tablespoons water or milk 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Bloom the gelatin by pouring it into the water and letting it sit for a few minutes. In a pot, pour in the milk and cream. Set this on the stove on medium-low heat. Add in the sugar and stir to let it dissolve and mix. Once the mixture starts to form little bubbles, take it off the heat. Add in the bloomed gelatin and the vanilla extract and mix it in. As quickly a...

Welcome back!  Today, we have an interesting take on a unique Italian dish: Gnocchi! We used our Breville Smart Oven Air again to air-fry these gnocchi, getting them to a wonderful consistency - crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Mixed with a simple herb and spice blend, making this recipe allows you to really appreciate the gnocchi's innate qualities. Air-Fried Gnocchi Ingredients: 1 package (1 pound) gnocchi 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon thyme (you could also substitute with other herbs/spices that you like) Directions: Coat the gnocchi with the olive oil in order for the seasoning to stick. Season the gnocchi with salt, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme. Air-fry at 400°F for 12-15 minutes. There are many ways you can enjoy this air-fried gnocchi. We actually like to eat these plain or with a little dipping sauce, such as marinara, as shown above. Otherwise, you could toss it with some fresh greens, to...

Welcome back!  Today, we have a recipe for a special preparation of a fruit: Poached Pears! Poaching is a great way to enjoy your pears by imbuing them with interesting flavors that really enhance the pear's natural flavor. This is typically done with a base of wine, red or white, but then the other herbs and spices can vary, really just depending on what you like. Of course, we tried to pick flavors that would complement the wine selection. Poached Pears Ingredients: 4 pears For a red wine poach: 2 cups red wine 1/2 cup orange juice or water (if the wine is not enough to poach the pears) 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons honey 1 piece orange peel 1 stick cinnamon (or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon) Other spices, like cloves, star anise, or peppercorn For a white wine poach: 2 cups white wine 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons honey 2 slices ginger, thinly sliced 10 large leaves of mint Directions: In a pot, pour in the wine and any additional liquid, if necessary. Place the pears in...

Welcome back!  Today, we have a convenient version of a crunchy classic: Coconut Shrimp! These is a delicious dish that everyone enjoys because the combination of the crisp, fried shell and the fresh, juicy shrimp inside. In this recipe, we remove the hassle of having to fry these in a pot of oil by instead using the air-fry setting on our Breville Smart Oven Air, as we've done with chicken wings in the past. These coconut shrimp work great as an appetizer or with salads, just be sure to prepare your sauce! Air-Fried Coconut Shrimp Ingredients: 1 pound shrimp 1/4 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 eggs 1 cup shredded coconut 1/2 cup breadcrumbs Some oil spray Directions: Peel the shell from the shrimps, but leave the tails on. If using jumbo shrimp (like we did), butterfly cut the shrimp and flatten them out in order to get a more even coating/cooking area. Take three bowls. In the first, pour in the flour, salt, and pepper. In the second, crack in and whisk the egg...

Welcome back!  Today, we have a unique recipe that comes from Central China: Pearl Meatballs! The name is quite interesting but makes sense: they're meatballs, but the translucence of the sticky rice that coats the meatball mirrors the luster of a pearl. It's often served on special occasions, like Lunar New Year, where everyone gathers for a feast and can enjoy this delicious dish. Plus, it's not even that difficult to make! Pearl Meatballs Makes about 30 meatballs Ingredients: For the meatballs: 1/2 pound ground pork 1/4 pound shrimp 80 grams (about 1/2 can) water chestnuts, finely chopped 2 tablespoons green onion, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon ginger, minced 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon rice wine 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 1/2 egg white For the rice: 1 cup glutinous (sticky) rice Directions: Rinse the glutinous rice and soak in water for 2 hours. In a bowl, place all the ingredients for the meatballs and mix until even. The mixture...

Welcome back!  Today, we have a popular Vietnamese dish: the Banh Mi! This is a really great recipe that hits a lot of the aspects of Vietnamese cuisine , despite being directly influenced by French colonialism with the baguette, of course. This sandwich features a combination of ingredients that works so well together, forming a product that has a variety of flavors, textures, and colors. And most importantly, it's quite healthy too! Banh Mi Ingredients: For the pork: 1 1/2 pound pork butt or shoulder 2 tablespoons shallot, minced 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 4 tablespoons (about 2 stalks) lemongrass, minced 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon olive oil You could also use a mortar and pestle for a more intense lemongrass flavor. For the vegetables: 1-2 carrots About 6-inches of daikon (this can really vary) 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup water Pinch of salt 1 cucumber 1 teasp...