
If BBQ gurus
Pat and Gina Neely were to make a Mexican burrito, it would probably look a lot like this dish. The filling is a simple mixture of ground beef, onion, corn, and bottled barbecue sauce. Instead of a salsa or guacamole topping, a heaping spoonful of crunchy coleslaw is placed atop the meat.

In Mandarin, the number eight, or "ba," sounds similar to the word that means "prosper" or "wealth"; therefore, eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture. Today being 08.08.08 is an incredibly fortuitous day that has me in the mood for Chinese food. Since this Asian civilization has existed for thousands of years, its people are highly attuned to texture, flavor, color, and aroma.

I recently received a copy of
Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking and have been meaning to try some of the recipes. Author Harumi Kurihara, who is often called the Japanese Martha Stewart, specializes in easy, home-cooked dishes with simple but elegant flavors. While looking for dinner ideas, I was inspired by the ease of her recipe for Chicken With Soy and Balsamic Vinegar.

I was listening to a
recent episode of Good Food, when chef Mark Peel started talking about a delicious cabbage slaw. It all sounded amazing, but it was his addition of thinly sliced apples that sealed the deal for me. I couldn't find his exact recipe, but I did discover this delicious looking red cabbage, cranberry and apple slaw.