As mentioned last week, we were supposed to be out of town for my birthday but it didn’t work out. That’s ok, but it left us with a big question: what to do? Normally it’s dinner at one of my favorite restaurants but I didn’t feel like that. Instead, I decided we’d get a really nice cut of beef and a good bottle of wine and just grill for Sunday/birthday dinner. (more…)
I’m Supposed to be Drinking Beer in Germany
Everyone is still sitting down so this must be early, only 1 or 2 litres in!
It’s really weird to be home when you’re supposed to be somewhere else. This week’s regular post was supposed to be interrupted by a trip to Germany to see my brother and his family…but…things didn’t quite work out that way. (more…)
Carcamusa – Spanish ‘Chili’
Labor Day has come and gone and just like it’s time to put away the whites, it’s also time to start thinking about fall recipes. To say I’ve been waiting all summer to make Carcamusa is a small understatement. Charctueria calls it ‘Spanish Chili’ and I thought this would be a great way to unofficially start my fall cooking. (more…)
Tomatoes a la Provençale – A Fine Way to Wrap Up Summer
We toned down our garden a little this year but the one thing I’ll always grow are tomatoes. There’s nothing like fresh tomatoes you’ve grown yourself. So sweet and flavorful. I am always reminded how wonderful it is to grow your own tomatoes with the first bite I take of one just picked off the plants. And since we’re at the end of August, our tomato plants are giving us a lot to work with. (more…)
Cold Fennel and Apple Summer Soup
I was having some trouble coming up with an idea for this week so I took a look at my mom’s recipe books. Always good ideas for summer vegetables in them. I was thinking about a quick cold soup for weeknight dinner and spied an ingredient which got my creative wheels turning: fennel. But what else to add to the mix? (more…)
Peach and Ricotta Tart
Yup, only half of the tart left.
Labor Day is approaching fast so it’s time to squeeze the most out of the summer fruit. You try to get them into everything while they last. I bought some really good looking peaches last week to add to sangria and had a couple left. Since my fresh ricotta tart is one of the few desserts I can actually do really well I thought I’d make one with the remaining peaches. (more…)
Smoky Black Pepper Botifarra and White Beans
If there is one food which brings back fond memories of our honeymoon it is botifarra amb mongetes. Catalan sausage and beans. The food counters in the back of the big market, Mercat de la Boqueria, in Barcelona is where I had my first plate of this specialty and it was delicious. Looking back now with 20/20 hindsight, I could say this was the possibly moment I really started to embrace and become intrigued with the art of the sausage. (more…)
