Tag: Sandwiches

Whole Lot of Whole Grains

IMG_4708Sure, there is a difference between cooking and baking and while I feel comfortable cooking up pretty much anything, I get a little more hesitant when it comes to baking. Not so with this amazing Seeded Whole Grain Soda Bread. I know it’s way past March 17th, but this version of a soda bread deserves to be baked more than just once a year. Come and cook with us!

Compared to the (gluten and gluten free) sourdough breads I experiment on a regular basis – and to varying success, this whole grain soda bread is really easy and quick to bake. It is packed with lots of whole grains including quinoa, millet, amaranth and oats and is inspired by a recipe I found on Bon Appetit. It’s amazingly moist and chewy and has become an instant favorite at my house. It’s great on its own, with butter and jam for breakfast, but also with scrambled eggs or hummus or smoked salmon. The options are endless.

The whole grains in the recipe are truly whole, with the exception of the oats, that are rolled. To soften their texture ahead of baking, soak the grains in buttermilk for 8-12 hours. Yes, this means that baking this bread needs a little planning on your side, but nothing too serious or time-intensive. We can absolutely do this! It bakes in squares in my favorite cast-iron pan so I usually freeze what we don’t eat on the first turn around to defrost and toast the rest on the following day or later in the week.

If you or someone in your family likes bread, give this Seeded Whole Grain Soda Bread a try and let us know what you think. Come and cook with us!

Seeded Whole Grain Soda Bread

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Garlic Butter

IMG_3552_2When I was in college, my sister met a Australian boy traveling through Europe on her train ride to Milan. In a sign of compassion, she invited him to spend a few nights on our couch. After all, he didn’t have a place to stay. Long story short, he ended up making us dinner – he was an aspiring chef and, apart from teaching him a thing or two on how to cook pasta properly, he left me with the gift of garlic butter. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Garlic Butter”

Add some Chives to your Lives

photoSince returning to California this past week, I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about our trip back to Italy. Whether enjoying time with family, hiking in my beloved mountains or catching up with friends, it feels a little like turning the clock back to my happy childhood. Of the many exciting things we did, our annual ritual visit to our “back-to-basics” hut high up at 7,000 feet was among the best. A wooden stove, a few pots and pans and the most majestic view are enough to turn every day into a unique and memorable experience. Apart from milk and butter provided by three cows who graze the steep hills surrounding the neighboring farmer’s hut, we have to carry up everything we need for nourishment. That is how we learn to make the most with what little we have. One of our most successful menu items, apart from crêpes and buckwheat riebel, are the impossibly simple but unbelievably delicious butter and chive sandwiches. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Add some Chives to your Lives”

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!”

The Joy of the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

There might be better ways than hiking to celebrate a major milestone birthday (I’m not telling which one), but this year my friend Helen and I decided that attempting to climb Mt. Whitney would be the right way to celebrate this event (with our devoted husbands cheering us on, and climbing as well). So, last Sunday night, in freezing weather, thunderstorms and snow, we set out to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain of the contiguous United States.  We didn’t make it to the top (the weather was NOT permitting), but we had a great time anyway. Breathtaking views, raging snow-storms, and a nice bottle of French red wine to celebrate all helped to make this a birthday to remember, but what capped the experience was finding the perfect grilled cheese sandwich waiting for us in Lone Pine.  That sandwich, and everything it represents, helped us feel welcomed by civilization again. In honor of my wonderful birthday hiking meal, this week’s post is dedicated to the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Continue reading “The Joy of the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich”