John Peppin is a physician with over 30 years of clinical experience. John has published over 90 articles and books in the medical field. He has also been a home cook for most of his adult life, taking a great interest in a variety of cuisines and cooking techniques. He is a voracious cookbook reader with an intense curiosity about cuisines around the world. Wrapping and the stuffing of foods has become an overwhelming focus for John, and he has researched recipes from around the world. A self-taught home cook who loves new ways of cooking. Food, good wine and friends, la dolce vita!

Cherry Vareniki

Vareniki are the Ukranian and Russian version of pierogi. Pierogi are the Polish dumplings that classically are stuffed with potatoes. Vareniki can also be stuffed with the potato and cheese mixture, however as with pierogi, they can be stuffed with meat, fish, other vegetables and cherries. Cherry vareniki are a wonderful dish that can be…

Caramelized Onions

Onions contain sugars and the slow long cooking process brings them to the forefront. This is the caramelizing process. Cooking slowly will cause a material to change both in color, becoming browned, and flavor, as the sugar oxidizes. This process is called pyrolysis. Caramelization occurs with ingredients such as onions, meat, vegetables, even fruit. Eastern…

Dou Sha Bao

The Adzuki bean has a long history. Originally domesticated in china approximately 3000 BC. They are called “anko” in Japan and probably arrived in Japan from China in the 1600s. The original filling was made out of meat and vegetables, however to fulfil Buddhist vegetarian requirements the red beans made in a paste was used.Adzuki…