Do you ever get in the mood for certain dishes from different parts of the world? I go through spells where I love Mexican cuisine. I saw a post on a homesteading site where a man from Asia was curious why Americans chose to eat out more than cooking. He said Asian cuisine could be whipped up in a flash and it was healthy. Following this online conversation, I began to research different Asian dishes.

Kombu, a dried dark seaweed, is available in Asian specialty markets. This stew is good served over hot cooked rice. Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 cups onion, and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

A huge variety of Asian root vegetables are available on the market nowadays. How now to be lost in it? How to choose good vegetables? Are they good in taste and what can be cooked from them?

Step into a Chinese kitchen, and you might spot groceries such as lotus root, winter radish, and water chestnuts waiting to be transformed into a tasty dinner. China is home to a wealth of strange and delicious fruits and vegetables that are native to the region. You may be familiar with the beautiful lotus flower, but not with the long, edible stem of the plant, known as the lotus root. The plant has an appealingly crunchy texture with a delicately sweet taste.