A producer friend wanted to do a TV show with me where he said guests could bring in any ingredients they wanted to and I’d have to cook up a whole meal with whatever they brought in….

He obviously has more faith in my cooking abilities than I do.

I like opening the fridge and looking for something…and creating something with that something….if there is no “something” available to complete the recipe I’d substitute it with something else…..

It may not be close to what I started off with – but it will be something good.

Nevena, who comes from Begrade, Serbia, is something like that.

I met Nevena (people call her Nena) only a few years ago – in Singapore. She hates using the word “dear” for a friend – but she IS a “dear, dear” friend!

She is one person I know who can walk into ANY gathering of people (on public transport too) and in minutes she will know everyone, their life stories, and will talk to them like she has known them all her life! And this she does in multiple languages….

It is a gift! You will see in the videos where she talks and talks and even sings a beautiful Sebian song (that her mother taught her).

Nevena is like a bee in the kitchen. And she rarely plans what she wants to cook. She starts off with one thing – and before you know it – she has three….

This is what happened on the day she decided to bake some simple Serbian bread. She added some chicken liver sautéed with onion and leek and baked what she calls a “Viagra” pie for its aphrodisiac qualities (warning: please observe eaters discretion)! And with the left over chicken liver mix she blended it into a delicious pate that we had with warm, freshly baked bread and passion fruit jam!

Three for the price of one – that’s Nevena for you!

Thank you Nena – the next one will be with your mother!
Enjoy!

 

Videos:

Nevena’s Intro

Serbian Bread(Pogacha)

Viagra Pie(Muska Crna Pita)

Pate

Nevena Singing