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This is a simple beef recipe, used more as a sauce for boiled rice, the true main course. Ginger adds the exotic flavor to the meat.The Malgache name for stewed beef this way is hen'omby ritra.

Sopa borracha is not a soup at all. It is a deliciously sweet dessert from Panama with a little alcohol.

Make extra marinade and reserve part, before adding the chicken, then heat and serve on the side, for dipping.

For the truly adventurous, you can make your own gnocchi, which are after all just dumplings made from potato and not disimilar to quenelles. Gnocchi are a delicious starter with tomato sauce, cheese sauce, pesto, or just butter and cheese. They would also make a mouthwatering main course if gnocchi were not so much work to prepare in large quantities.

You can use fresh pasta - a must for the best dishes - or you can make it yourself. If you choose to make it, here's how...