In our house it’s often strudel time. My mother, my sister and even my nephew have always been very proficient in strudel making, an art that is well established in my home region, South Tyrol. With the apple season upon us, a few constantly hungry boys in the house and my strong conviction that strudel-making should be part of my skill-set, I thought it was time to dive into this very traditional dish and tell you more about apple strudels. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “A Strudel a Day…”
Tag: Fruit
Knock, Knock!
Orange you glad it’s us with an update on what’s hot and what’s not in our kitchen right now? After all this talk on food politics and policies, we are due for a few tips and tricks on what to cook and eat this season. We had such a nice and mild winter in Northern California, that we’re not ready to let go of it just yet. Which means that when we’re in search for something juicy, fresh and sweet, we grab an orange, or two or three. They are still in season and can be a great addition to any meal. Honestly, we can’t say enough good things about this fruit that is so ubiquitous this time of year that it’s almost overlooked. And that is wholly undeserved, as a freshly peeled orange will (almost) never disappoint when it comes to getting a little juicy freshness delivered to you in bite-sized form. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Knock, Knock!”
Mirabelle Jam Anyone?
I’ve lived in Northern California for 3 years now, and in my home in Tiburon for two, so I’ve seen the seasons and how they impact the foliage on my property more than once. Much to my surprise last week, I found two beautiful plum trees on my property, covered in fruit. I swear they were not here last summer, or maybe they simply didn’t have much harvest to show. This year it was hard to miss the branches reaching high into the sky, however, laden with yellow fruit, and I was immediately taken back to my childhood, as my mother grew many fruit trees on our property in Italy. So, when I spotted them my innter hunter-gatherer-jammes took over. In my family, fruit trees are there to be picked and jammed so that sweet fruit can brighten the morning in dark winter months. I established (by checking with my local nursery) that these were edible fruit, and then harvested them quickly, climbing high into the trees to gather the fruit. When I´d brought in as much crop as I could manage, I reaped the reward, cutting, cooking, canning and finally spreading the “fruits of labor” on delicious bread. Who knew an invisible tree could do so much? Come and Cook with us!
Continue reading “Mirabelle Jam Anyone?”
Razzle, Dazzle … Raspberries are Back in Town!
If you are lucky enough to have a garden full of raspberries right now you likely don’t need any advice about what to do with these fragile, yet delicious dark red fruits. In fact, you’re probably popping a few in your mouth right now, and wouldn’t I like to be your friend? If you are like me, however, and have to love raspberries from afar (or a very hefty price at the store) most of the year, this is your season. Raspberries are making their seasonal debut right now, prices for these fruits are reasonable, and the product is terrific. And, almost nothing compares to raspberries when it comes to welcoming the summer that is nearly here. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Razzle, Dazzle … Raspberries are Back in Town!”
Mango Hedgehogs Anyone?
Eating my first mango is a moment I will never forget. I was fifteen and we were on a vacation in the Indian Ocean, and the waiter put a bowl of fruit in front of me. It looked like melon, but the smell was so exotic I thought, ‘there’s something different here’. My first bite was surprising and delightful, and the memory is so powerful that seeing, smelling or tasting a fresh mango always brings it back; what a glorious way to think about this fantastic fruit. My children’s first mango experience was not nearly as rich – mangoes were a staple in their baby food, as I had developed a strong attachment them by then – but my boys benefit greatly from their year round availability. Lucky boys. Nevertheless, this is the time of year when super sweet mangoes are available at reasonable prices. So join me in my walk down memory lane and grab a few mangoes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Come and cook with us. Continue reading “Mango Hedgehogs Anyone?”
Come and Cook with Us 