One Famous Indonesian Food Item Is Not Historically Indonesian

A general review of the History of the Exotic Spice Trade will eventually lead to Indonesia. 

"One Famous Indonesian Food Item Is Not Historically Indonesian

• During the years 1602 to 1942, what is now the Republic of Indonesia was a Dutch colony. ... The tradition of Indonesian food known today as Rijstafel, which means Rice Table, was started by the Dutch. ..."

Read more at: Indonesian Food History – Rijistafel

The concept of rijsttafel is a way to sample the many different spice-laced dishes from various regions of Indonesia.  The Dutch likely drew inspiration from a similar Indonesian multiple-dish meal known as nasi padang.

"Rijsttafel" by Jan Willem van Wessel from Rotterdam, Netherlands - Rijsttafel 13. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

References:

Brennan, Georgeanne. “Rijsttafel: The Dutch-Indonesian Rice Table.” The Cook’s Cook, 29 Sept. 2017, https://thecookscook.com/features/rijsttafel-dutch-indonesian-rice-table/. 

“Rijsttafel | Indonesian, Spice, Variety | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/rijsttafel.

“Indonesian Food History - Rijistafel” Daily Two Cents, 10 May 2015, web.archive.org/web/20170803143846/http://dailytwocents.com/indonesian-food-history-rijistafel/. 

Medallions of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan

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Related Links:

• A Brief History of Indonesia: Sultans, Spices, and Tsunamis: The Incredible Story of Southeast Asia's Largest Nation

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Enjoy Your Fruit By Season and in a Salad

Not sure how many of my blog readers have ever eaten an American Thanksgiving meal. If you have, then you know how heavy that meal is. Is it any wonder many people just want to go to sleep afterward? LOL. 

I have been preparing Thanksgiving dinner ever since I got married. That was over 40 years ago. My kids say they have good memories of our holiday meals, and I'm glad. There was one holiday in particular that one of my kids remembers because I made a fruit salad. Instead of a cake with icing or a pie, I wanted to make something sweet but not so heavy. When I went shopping that year, there was some great fruit in the produce department. So I decided to put fruit salad on the Turkey Day menu.

That memory got me thinking about fruit salads and whether or not there were specific recipes for every season of the year. I managed to find fruit salad recipes for winter, spring, summer, and fall. The Thanksgiving holiday occurs during the fall season, and it is no surprise that there are quite a few fall fruit salad recipes.

Image credit: 3pcs Heart Shaped Glass Bowls Golden Rim Edge Fruit Salad Bowl Home Dinnerware Set by GOODFEER 

If you like fruit (and who doesn't?), you'll probably love these fruit salad recipes. There is a delightful winter fruit salad, loaded with the best fruits of Autumn and Winter, and dressed with honey; a spring salad recipe is super sweet, hydrating, and nourishing; and a summer salad made with fresh summer fruits mixed together with crunchy peanuts and a dressing made of Thai herbs and fish sauce. Enjoy!

A delightful winter fruit salad, loaded with the best fruits of Autumn and Winter, and dressed with honey.

~ Winter Fruit Salad Recipe - Natasha's Kitchen https://t.co/VOJbsEvEHX @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/o0hs9ItGCY

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (aka My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) September 25, 2025

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795626728441757696/via-breakfast-fruit-salad-easy-recipe

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795626960861691904/fresh-summer-fruits-mixed-together-with-crunchy

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795627181010223104/via-15-incredible-summer-salad-recipes-you-need

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795627572965916672/autumn-fruit-salad-recipe-foodcom

Sweet & Spicy Fall Fruit Salad — Shauna Sever @shaunasever https://t.co/L6vbiEuTL6 pic.twitter.com/KRicVhYuJC

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

How to Find Out When Fruits Are in Season

Box Cake Mix or Cake From Scratch - Throw Down!

American TV personality Martha Stewart is the richest and most famous housekeeper/homemaker diva in the world.  Various reports put Ms. Stewart's occupation as “Businesswoman”.  It should say “Phenomenal Businesswoman par Excellence”.  In 2011, Forbes.com reported her net worth at $638 million; and in 2017, it was $970 million. 

Image found on Pixabay.

On her Martha Bakes TV series, Ms. Stewart teaches you how to make all sorts of wonderful culinary delights, especially cakes, from scratch.

Jill Nystul, not as well-known as Ms. Stewart, but a diva in her own right, shares her tips on how to enhance a basic cake mix and turn your efforts into Crave-Worthy Cakes.

Stewart versus Nystul?
I'm in Nystul's corner.  ♥

Others Who Agree With Nystul: Related Articles:

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Foodie Nuggets: Awful Things Americans Do With Pumpkins (Humor and Recipe-sharing)

I used to watch a cooking show called “Two Fat Ladies.” They were British. One day, they made dishes using pumpkin. One of them remarked, something to the effect: “The pumpkin is wonderful. But Americans do all sorts of horrible things with it like … make pumpkin pie.”

I'm an American. I got a chuckle out of the comment. Not only do we make pies with pumpkin, but we also make bread!

Marvelous recipes from an awesome food blog called The Cookie Rookie.

Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread with Apple Cider Sauce

Pumpkin Pie Monkey Bread Recipe

Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread with Apple Cider Sauce https://t.co/cHiKAVR42J via @cookierookiebec @EverydaySpices

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 14, 2021

Pumpkin Pie Monkey Bread Recipe https://t.co/l2ckKAhr3R via @cookierookiebec @EverydaySpices

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 14, 2021

Cooking with "Two Fat Ladies" https://t.co/4sr8xdDhCt via @amazon #homeaandkitchen #cookbooks #cookingshows #Britishchefs #Cooking pic.twitter.com/U7XN8fBOfG

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) September 14, 2021

Recipe Sharing: The Simple Joys of Italian Sausage

How did I come to know about the simple joys of Italian sausage?  The first time I ever used Italian sausage was when I made stuffing for Thanksgiving. I grew up with my mother using the turkey gizzards, so I thought that was “The Only Way”. When I made the stuffing with Italian sausage, it became the main side dish for our holiday meals. It was a memorable "first food experience".  From that time forward, I can leave out other side dishes for our turkey day meal.  But if I don't make stuffing … I will hear nothing but complaints! 

My second simple way to enjoy Italian sausages?  I was in a grocery store one day, and the chef was giving out free samples of a hearty soup he had made. Soup is such a comfort food. The soup was made with dark green veggies, legumes, chicken broth, and sausages.  It was delicious! That became my other simple way of using Italian sausage.

My 3^rd way is a simple sausage, onions, and peppers, over rice.

I never make my own Italian sausage because the store-bought brand is inexpensive and tasty. Although I did watch an Italian cooking show one time and the chef showed how to make your own.

How to Cook Italian Sausage {3 different ways!} - Spend With Pennies

~ What are the 3 ways: Stovetop, Oven, or Grill.

I usually do my sausages in the oven so I don't have to watch them on the stove. I would grill them. But I don't have a grill.

Who likes Italian sausage?  What's your favorite way to eat them?

My #foodie posts. “...looking for easy ideas for entertaining or tasty weeknight dinners, these top Italian sausage recipes will make any meal feel like a zesty #Italian feast....” 20+ Best Italian Sausage Recipes – How to Cook Italian Sausage www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking...

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2025-09-05T01:28:23.289Z

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/793810086276497408/italian-sausage-is-one-of-my-all-time-favorite

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/793810810380206080/here-at-delish-we-have-a-rule-of-thumb-on-how-to