Breakfast/Brunch

Rosienenschnecken
(no recipe)

Let’s talk about these Raisin Danishes for a few minutes, shall we? I know, we’re moved on from the “food from our childhood” topic, but I had to slay this dragon, as it were, so here we go.

These are Rosienenschnecken. Pain au Raisin in French. Raisin Danish or Swirls. It’s not a Cinnamon Bun, mainly because there isn’t much cinnamon in it. In Germany, there are lots of these Schnecken (fun fact: Schnecke also means “snail” — so this is like the swirl of the snail house). There Zimtschnecken, Nussschnecken, Mohnschnecken (cinnamon, nuts and poppy seeds respectively); they can also be called Schneckennudeln, which literally translates to snail-noodle, which is kind of funny. My Oma’s nickname for me was “Kleine Schneckennudel” or “Schneckle” or “Nudel”. Yep, my grandmother called me snail as a term of endearment. I don’t know if that or Noodle was cuter. Just like Gurken and Spätzle, these things were — and still are — one of my favorite foods.

The dilemma? They are really flippin’ hard to make. Continue Reading

Appetizers/Starters, Dinner, Lunch, Sides

Scandinavian-Inspired Potato Salad

I don’t actually know that I have ever had potato salad in Scandinavia before. I don’t think that I have, so I can’t really tell you if this is authentic or not, but the combination of sour cream, light vinegar and dill made me think of Scandinavia, so I went with the theme. It’s definitely not like my other potato salads, which lean toward the Southern German or French styles. Nevertheless, this was very yummy and light, not heavy on the mayo or greasy. And yes, even in a pandemic, you can splurge and have smoked salmon for lunch. On a Wednesday. Just because.
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Dinner, Lunch, Sides

Käsespätzle a la Katja

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.
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Cookies, Sweet Snacks

Cherry-Berry Jammy Bit Oatmeal Cookies

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.
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Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch

Deconstructed Technicolor Breakfast Burritos

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!
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