Käsespätzle to me are like a nice, warm security blanket. Sort of like Mac & Cheese to American kids, this is something that German kids grow up with. There are dozens or hundreds of recipes, each person probably has their own variation. It’s often on the “kids menu” in restaurants, and does double duty as the vegetarian dish. This is my version, with caramelized onions and Ementhaller cheese (you could also use Gruyer) — and of course, freshly made Spätzle.
Monthly Archives
May 2020
After the success of the Coconut Toffee Bit Florentines last week, I thought I would have a go at another kind: Cheery Berry Jammy Bits Oatmeal Cookies. What is a jammy bit? King Arthur makes these tiny (about 1/8 inch square) fruit flavored gummi-bits, that you can add to baked good, they melt and become these little pools of flavor. In this case, I chose cherry and raspberry. Turned out really nice with crispy bits of fruit flavors in an oatmeal florentine.
Second Monday in a row that I am splurging on breakfast: French Toast last week and the most technicolor breakfast that I have had in a long time with these Deconstructed Breakfast Burritos this week. I wanted to get in another “Spring Veggie” dish for the Bake/Cook-a-long (you have until midnight today, if you are playing along!), so I started with spinach pancakes, which are actually really really yummy, but are almost too vibrant! Fill it on up with other breakfast ingredients: rice, beans, tomatoes, avocado, spring onion and more spinach … and a fried egg for good measure. I had intended to roll the whole thing up or fold to a square, but I only managed to fold it like an omelette. A great breakfast and a technicolor feast for the eyes!
So what do you do if you don’t have 1. flour, 2. yeast or 3. baking powder/baking soda and still want to make a sweet treat for …. say, Mother’s Day? Here is an idea: this Torta Caprese, an Italian Flourless Spiced Chocolate Almond Cake. No flour, no leaveners! Now, you will need a few ingredients that you might not have in the pantry (almond flour/meal, bittersweet chocolate bars, cocoa powder), and some standards (butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and spices). This comes together quickly, but does take some time to cool (and what happens if you don’t let it cool long enough — the top cracks when you cut it, like what happened here.) Nevertheless, delicious, rich and gluten-free, if that is your thing. My recommendation: serve with a bit of Amaretto Whipped Cream!
Cookies, Sweet Snacks
Coconut Toffee Bit Florentine-Style Oatmeal Cookies, with Dark Chocolate Drizzle
I think that I might have mentioned this before, but I am very much a fan of “florentine-style” cookies — very thin, almost lace-like, crunchy and a little sticky. As most of you know, I am also a huge fan of coconut, so with these, I combined the best of both: a little coconutty, very thin and crispy, and just a touch of chocolate for good measure. Great afternoon pick-me-up; very addictive.