by Krista | Sep 7, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
I’ve been infatuated with Germany since I was a little girl listening wide-eyed to Dad reading us stories of courage and sacrifice from World War II. I was horrified by the Nazi’s but deeply impacted and inspired by those brave few who resisted their own government, risking their lives and fortunes to protect those the Nazi’s wished to destroy.
I became a German history buff, scouring library bookshelves for biographies, histories, and novels that would bring this country to life for me.
I shivered as I learned of the fearsome, wild Germanic tribes from the old days. One sight of those chaps would’ve terrified me! I looked with interest at the strange little helmets of Otto von Bismarck and his military leaders, and read with fascination the tales of escape and evasion from East Germany to West after the Berlin Wall was raised.
Although I read voraciously, it wasn’t until my first visit to Germany that I transitioned from fascination to love of this amazing country.
Its beauty is undeniable. Even on dark, cold, rainy days, the tidy villages, expansive fields and dense forests always delight me. I never tire of wandering the streets of Germany, whether it be the city pavements of Berlin and Munich, or the cobbled squares of small towns, there is much scope for the imagination.
Yet my favorite aspect of Germany is not the history, or the architecture, or even the food. It’s the people.
I had heard stories of the coldness, rudeness and arrogance of the Germans, and while I suppose there are some like that, I haven’t encountered many. The Germans I know are fantastic people, warm-hearted, hilarious, and some of the best cooks I have ever met.
Like my friend Rita. The two of us met while we were nannies in Portugal, and have been like sisters ever since. Her parents are my adopted parents and vice-versa. I got to be at her wedding and I can’t wait to visit her again so I can meet her scrumptious baby girl. 🙂 Their family history still grips my heart. Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself all I have to do is think of what they’ve gone through, what they’ve survived, and I am filled with gratitude and renewed courage to press on.
I learned to cook real German/Russian food from Rita and her Mom – boy can those girls cook!! – and I can’t wait to share some of those recipes with you in the months to come.
In the meantime here is an easy recipe that never fails to make me think of Germany.
Simply fill your crockpot with layers of sauerkraut, thinly sliced onions, sausages of your choice, celery seed and lavish amounts of pepper, cover and cook for 4-5 hours. Twenty minutes before you’re ready to serve, boil up some potatoes. Once drained, drizzle them with melted butter, sprinkle with parsley and serve alongside the sausages with a bit of grainy mustard.
This is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday at Wanderlust and Lipstick. Stop by for more great recipes from around the world.
Easy Crockpot Sausage and Sauerkraut
(Serves 4)
Ingredients:
1 pound pre-cooked sausage (Kielbasa, bratwurst, etc), cut in 3-inch pieces
1-2 cans sauerkraut
1 onion, sliced thinly
1 tsp celery seed
ground pepper
Directions:
- In bottom of crockpot spread half the sauerkraut and top with 1/2 onion slices, 1/2 pound sausage, 1/2 tsp celery seed, and pepper.
- Repeat.
- Cover crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Serve with simple boiled, buttered potatoes sprinkled with parsley.
by Krista | Sep 3, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Good morning, dear ones! 🙂 It’s Friday at last and the sun is shining gloriously!! I do love Autumn in Washington. 🙂
The other night I had to slip out of the house to capture this pearly glowing sky framed by thousands of cedar fronds. It felt fairytale-ish, like I was looking at a portal into another world. So beautiful. 🙂
Are you excited for your Labour Day Weekend? I sure am!! I get to drive down to Seattle to hang out with my brother, sis-in-law – hooray! We’re going to go hiking and shopping then will soak our weary selves in their hot tub. Can’t wait!! Tomorrow we get to meet up with dear friends at a fabulous Argentinian restaurant for great talks and all manner of delectable food. I don’t think I’ve ever had Argentinian food, have you? Do you have any recommendations or “you-simply-MUST-try-this” ideas?
As a hostess gift for my siblings I’m bringing a Nectarine Blackberry Galette. It’s baking as I type and ohhh, it smells so good! 🙂 I love galettes – a sort of free form pie. Simply roll out the dough into a circle, pile your choice of fruit in the middle, fold over the edges, bake and there you go!! Simple, easy, and so yummy. I made mine with a mix of whole grain, all-purpose, and semolina flours, and confess it has a bit of a blue tinge because I didn’t have sour cream or yogurt, just blackberry kefir. 🙂 I mixed the fruit with real maple syrup, dotted it with butter, then brushed the dough edges with water and sprinkled them with sugar to give them a nice glittery crust.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend, dear folks!! Talk with you soon! 🙂
Nectarine Blackberry Galette
(Serves 3)
Dough Ingredients:
1.5 Tbsp kefir (or sour cream, yogurt, buttermilk)
3 Tbsp ice water
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 Tbsp semolina flour (or cornmeal)
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup cold butter, grated
Dough Directions:
- In small bowl mix kefir and ice water.
- In large bowl stir together flours, sugar and salt.
- Add grated butter and work into flour. You want a mix of small and pea-sized pieces.
- Drizzle kefir/water over dough a bit at a time, tossing with a fork after each addition.
- With hands gather dough into mound and press together into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 2 hours.
Filling ingredients:
2 nectarines, washed, pitted and sliced
1 cup blackberries, washed
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
1 tsp sugar
Galette Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Roll dough out to about an 8-inch circle and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
- In small bowl gently toss fruit with maple syrup to coat.
- Pile fruit in center of dough, leaving a 1-2 inch border.
- Sprinkle with butter pieces.
- Fold dough border over filling, leaving center exposed. Brush pastry with water and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until pastry is golden and flaky.
- Using the parchment paper, transfer galette to cooling rack and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Cut into wedges and serve at room temperature.
by Krista | Sep 2, 2010 | Plucky Thursday
With the arrival of September I’m delighting in all things autumnish. Yes, I’m still basking in gloriously hot sunshine during the day, but I confess I’m enjoying the cooler nights where I get to wear sweaters and tucked quilts around me while I read or watch movies.
I’m excited today because The Travel Belles are featuring an article I wrote on Bled Castle in Slovenia. 🙂 I’d love it if you’d pop over and take a look and leave a comment to let us know what you think. 🙂 Click here to visit this gorgeous castle.
This morning I got up bright and early so I could take my walk and still have time to pick some blackberries before work. I have grand plans for a Blackberry Nectarine Galette to feast on this weekend. 🙂
This cooler weather has really put me in a baking mood, and my favorite thing right now is Spiced Maple Shortbread. Tender, buttery, not-too-sweet with all sorts of lovely Christmasy smells wafting through the house as they bake, these simple little cookies are so divine with a cup of strong black tea or sweet orange tea.
What does Autumn put you in the mood for?
Spiced Maple Whole Grain Shortbread
Ingredients:
2 cups whole grain pastry or all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tsp maple extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Add maple extract to melted butter and stir.
- Mix dry ingredients and stir in butter.
- Press into a square 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut into squares and bake for 20 minutes.
by Krista | Sep 1, 2010 | Compatriot Wednesday
We could feel Autumn in the air this week as we bundled into sweaters and sweatshirts and gathered around the campfire for cooking group. It was warm and toasty there, and soon everyone was talking and laughing as we sipped beers and nibbled on Jon’s zesty crab dip he made from crabs he caught himself.
Our theme was anything that could be cooked on a stick and we had quite the splendid assortment of offerings.
Mike brought plump bratwursts that sizzled and popped as we cooked them.
Cameron and Robin made skewers of spicy potatoes, onions and zucchini.
Jon cooked up his freshly caught fish with citrus and spices and asparagus, but I didn’t get a picture before we devoured it.
I made Bannock from a recipe given to my parents by Cree Indian friends. Bannock is a soft, simple dough that you can cook in a cast iron skillet or wrap around roasting sticks and cook over a fire. We chose the stick route, holding the dough over the hot coals as it rose and browned beautifully. Then we broke them open and slathered them with butter and various jams. Mmm, mmm, good.
We ended our fireside feasting with Kat’s delectable roasted apples filled with brown sugar, dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg and orange zest, and finished off with a drizzle of Cointreau. Delish!
What is your favorite food to cook on a stick?
Krista’s Bannock (regular and gluten-free)
(Serves 8-10)
Ingredients:
4 c. flour (I used 3 cups whole grain, 1 cup all-purpose for one batch and all-purpose gluten-free flour for the other)
8 tsp.baking powder
2 tsp salt
1/3 to 1/2 c. chilled butter, grated (or lard or shortening)
1 c. milk or warm water, more if necessary.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 F or build campfire.
- Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
- Cut in butter (or lard or shortening).
- Stir in milk/water and knead into soft dough.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to use.
- Pat into greased cast iron pan and bake 15-20 minutes.
- OR wrap 1/2 cup dough around end of stick and bake over hot coals 20-30 minutes until done.
Kat’s Roasted Apples with Cointreau
(Serves 12)
Ingredients:
6 Granny Smith apples, washed, halved and cored
brown sugar
cinnamon
nutmeg
cloves
fresh orange zest
Cointreau
Directions:
- Build campfire and place grate on top.
- Fill apple cavities with brown sugar and sprinkle with spices and orange zest.
- Skewer apples and place on grill over fire. Roast about 20-30 minutes until apple juices are dripping into fire.
- Just before serving drizzle with Cointreau.
by Krista | Aug 31, 2010 | Gulliver Tuesday
I love breakfast in Paris, especially in the Autumn when leaves are skittering across the pavement and everyone is sporting elegant scarves and fabulous boots. I like sitting in a cafe or coffee shop by a large window, watching the world go by as I sip and nibble my way through breakfast.
Parisian food is justly famous for its quality, taste, diversity, and, alas, price. But there are ways to eat well in Paris without breaking the bank.
There is something comforting in a morning ritual of espresso and warm croissants, especially dark chocolate-filled ones. It’s even nicer when shared with a brother who happens to be living in Paris. Ryan had to work during the day, so we always made sure to get up early enough to have breakfast together before he dashed off to slave away and I meandered through the streets of Paris trying not to get too lost before meeting up with him for dinner.
Here are my top three favorite Paris breakfasts, all for about $5 US.
Breakfast #1 – two warm croissants and an espresso. I like to eat one croissant with my coffee and save the other to nibble on whilst sitting on a park bench in a pretty park somewhere. Cost: Approximately 4 Euro/$5 US.
Breakfast #2 – quiche and real hot chocolate. I found a shop right across the square from where my brother was living run by a grouchy fellow who grudgingly gave me a smile when I beamed at him each morning. 🙂 It had wooden stools pulled up next to the window where I could people watch to my hearts content, and the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. Cost: Approximately 4.5o Euro/$5.50 US.
Breakfast #3: crepe filled with Nutella. I love the little crepe stands sprinkled throughout Paris. A bustling chap heating up crepes, slathering them with lavish amounts of Nutella and folding them just so for you to eat as you walk through the city. Bliss. Cost: Approximately 4-5 Euro/$5-6 US.
Which one is your favorite?
This is my contribution to Wanderfood Wednesday. Click here to discover more foods from around the world.
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