So while I am on my red currant kick, and because we have soooooo many of them right now, I decided to make something else with currants …. an upside down cake. I also had found some smallish apricots at the farm last week, so it made the perfect combination.Super sweet apricots, wicked tart red currants. The perfect balance.
Today was (is?) my Dad’s birthday. It’s also summertime and the currants are ripening by the minute. So, for his birthday “party” (ok, it’s just a small group of friends) I made this chocolate torte with red and champagne currants, i.e. Chocolate Monterosa Cake. As I always say, I am not great with cake decoration, but the flavor was amazing!
Breads, Breakfast/Brunch
Very Berry Jam Trio: Black Current + Port Wine, Cran-Strawberry and Raspberry Rhubarb Jams
So, it’s summer and I have gone berry picking a number of times. This always means that I make jam, to carry on the intense summer flavors to the rest of the year. This year, I made a few more kinds than usual, so I am putting them all in one “Triple Berry Jam” post. Pick whichever one you like and make some yourself. The Cran-Strawberry is refreshing, the Black Current + Port Wine also works well as an accompaniment to wine and cheese and the Raspberry Rhubarb? Well, that one I managed to get most of the seeds out so no picking at your teeth after breakfast. Enjoy!
Have I ever told you about my complete and utter infatuation with the Dill Pickle? The Gherkin. The traditional accompaniment to the American burger. I have never met a combination of Vinegar, Dill and the standard ol’ cucumber that I didn’t love. Put them together and I am in heaven.
This infatuation has roots literally to the first years that I was on this plant (or any other planet, as far as I know). As my mum will tell you, I abhorred baby food. Anything mushing and unidentifiable, I wasn’t going to eat. No mushy carrots, no porridge, no yogurt. Blech. So there I was, one day at that age when one is just learning to speak and I was being a fussy little one, sitting in a high chair and pointing at the table. The family tried everything: does the want a piece of bread? Perhaps some of the soup that my sister was eating? Anything, anything? Finally, in my infant rage, I skipped the whole Mama and Papa as my first word and yelled “GURKE!” (the German word for pickle, think like gherkin). And yes indeed, I wanted a dill pickle. To this day, I have to pace myself from eating entire jars in one sitting. Yeah, I’m weird like that.
And while I have my favorite store bought ones, I also make my own. This is my basic recipe (though I make some spicier ones too). These Refrigerator Dill Pickles can be used for whole mini-cukes, spears, stackers and slices…. add a little bit of onion and it makes a great relish too. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a fridge full of deliciousness.
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine randomly mailed me pecans from her family farm in Tennessee. Wow, I don’t think that I have ever had pecans quite so fresh.
Well, after shelling all of them (more time consuming than I anticipated!), I didn’t quite know what to do with them. I contemplated just snacking on them until they weer all gone, but decided to make something after all. So, what to make? I ended up making this Salted Bourbon Pecan Brittle which is super yummy. Next time I might add in some maple syrup too, could be yummy too, right?