Sometimes in the middle of January, you have to go for some food that is particularly tropical, in hopes that it revives the senses (and wards off scurvy!) These Orange Almond Crumble Bars did just the trick!
fruits-and-berries
Blueberry Lemon Soufra
Something a little different today: a Blueberry Lemon Soufra. What is a soufra, you ask? It’s a Greek and Middle Eastern filo souffle pie. You fill the pie dish with buttered filo dough layers, folded or ruffled together, toast in the oven before pouring/ladling on custard. They can be savory (skip the sugar and vanilla in the custard) with spinach and feta or walnuts for example, or sweet as in this one with lemon and blueberries, or dates and walnuts, or any fruit or even chocolate chips. I made it for brunch (and truth be told, added some maple syrup over the top), but also would be a nice breakfast or lunch. Tastes best right out of the oven, and eaten the same day for sure.
Thought I’d start off my “cookie year” here in January with something at least semi-healthy with oatmeal cookies. Of course, there is lots of butter, toffee bits, jammie bits and chocolate chips, so that takes away most anything healthy about these, but they are delicious, so there is that. Thin, very crisp, with a bit of a crunch. If you like “thin and crispy” these are definitely for you.
As we get closer to Thanksgiving, I usually find myself wanted to make a variation on the “cranberry sauce” theme, and this is the 5th variation of a “sauce”, “preserve” or”chutney” that I have made. It’s not really like “the stuff from the can” but is very fresh, very flavorful and is a great combo of cranberries, apples and rhubarb. Yes, rhubarb. It’s nearly impossible to find right now and definitely not “in season” but I had stashed some in my freezer, for occasions just like this. It’s got a little bit of a kick with hot pepper flakes and a little bit of warmth from just a smidge of clove. Quite nice, actually. Will keep in the fridge probably through Christmas.