Zimtherzen

Technically, these cookies are supposed to be called Zimtsterne because they are supposed to be star-shaped, but I figured with Valentine's Day right around the corner, I'd put my own twist on them.

I can't lie--the dough was kinda b*tchy to deal with until I got the hang of it and I was hampered by no wax paper (had to make do with parchment).  But they are gluten free and taste even better the next day. Who knows--if Lulu proves to be a big fan, I may have to make some in shamrock shapes for St Patrick's Day?

Sweet Potato Pizza

Gropius and made an adventurous pizza earlier this week--with sweet potato! My inspiration was a recipe from the latest issue of Food and Wine magazine, but we did our own riff.  A nice green salad, a stiff drink, and some TV rounded out our meal.

Instead of mashing the sweet potato to replace the sauce, I thinly sliced the potato to layer on top instead and tossed it with some olive oil and fresh rosemary from the garden. We didn't have mozzarella cheese (which was a surprise) and ended up using cheddar. 

Rather than buying pizza dough at Whole Foods on the way to pick up Lulu, she helped me make pizza dough once we got home. Nothing says fun like using a food processor to make your own whole wheat pizza dough! She pulled up her step-stool and helped me measure flour and add yeast and water. I think she's got quite a future in the kitchen!

Picture-worthy meals.

Warning:  catch-up (ketchup?) post ahead.

Gropius and I have enjoyed a few good meals lately--last night's fondue with homemade bread was particularly tasty, but unfortunately, NO PICTURES FOR YOU! (insert Seinfeldian Soup Nazi voice here)

In the past couple of weeks though:
He roasted a tasty, small pork loin roast in the oven that we served with tiny, perfect, multi-colored potatoes, and shredded brussel sprouts (my preferred method).

And this past weekend, we enjoyed a spanish-inspired risotto with manchego and chorizo and a green salad.  Unfortunately, the close-up photo resulted in a not-so-tasty looking meal, but the first one I took isn't bad.

Backe, backe Kuchen!

the proud baker herself

pointing out the finer pts of her bread

Lulu baked her own cake today. Well, technically, she assisted, but she assisted quite a bit and was quite adamant that she could DO IT, Mama! So, I chopped up a couple of pears that were just this side of being tossed out and measured out the dry/wet ingredients which Lulu poured into the bowl and mixed together. Then, she spooned the batter out into the loaf pan I had prepared in the meantime and we popped our pear-walnut tea bread into the oven.

She was so excited to see the end product of her hard work--I think we might have a baker on our hands!

a close-up of the end product--very tasty!

Dido sez...

Merry Christmas, @#$#*!

Leftovers, part two.

We had frittatensuppe with our leftover broth tonight for dinner.  We made tafelspitz and frische kase spätzle for dinner last night and made soup with the leftovers because the broth was delicious!

I made crepes for the first time since my 4-H cooking days back in middle school and then we cut them into thin strips, put them in the broth and sprinkled chives over the top.  Overlooking the whole tafelspitz prep part, it was actually a quick end easy dinner, esp for a weeknight.

Lulu, however, was NOT thrilled at the prospect of frittatensuppe (even though she ate her weight of it in Europe this summer?).  Someone ended up giving herself a yogurt facial instead...

Breakfast

After an awful start to our weekend that involved the Golf not starting once I had Lulu loaded in at Merryhill and then having to sit there for an hour, waiting for Walter to arrive and then trying to figure out why it wouldn't start before finally loading all of the groceries from the trunk and Lulu + carseat into HIS tiny car for a ride home, I decided that Saturday morning HAD to be better, right?  Right?

So, we enjoyed some blueberry scones with some leftover Thanksgiving pecans with fresh coffee this morning.  Much better!

Lulu thought so, too: