As the world is hunkering down at home trying to figure out how to navigate through the coronavirus pandemic, I thought it might be of interest to research and share the recipe for a meal some Swiss resorted to during the Cholera pandemic almost 200 years ago. Cholera Tart or Cholera Cake (a hearty, savory […]
Aachener Printen
November 16, 2019 by 4 Comments
No trip to Aachen, Germany, a short train trip from Cologne, is complete without a visit to the beautiful cathedral and the impressive treasury. But, I was there to learn all I could about the history of the iconic Aachener Printen and to attempt to crack the recipe held closely by Aachen bakers who produce […]
Cookie Brittle
April 25, 2018 by 1 Comment
Cookie Brittle is the quickest and easiest way to get your chocolate chip cookie fix. It takes about ten minutes to put together and can eaten about fifteen minutes after baking. This treat, when properly baked, is similar in taste and texture to a very crisp cookie. I always have a batch baked and frozen […]
Grandma Landolt’s Kugelhopf (Gugelhupf)
April 20, 2018 by 15 Comments
In an earlier post, I told the story of my beloved Kugelhopf/Gugelhupf pan. It belonged to my Bavarian grandmother who brought the pan with her when she immigrated from Switzerland to Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Her precious recipe (a printable version is at the bottom of this post), was an important reminder of her youth and family […]
Pumpkin Coconut Curry Ginger Soup
October 25, 2017 by 6 Comments
I adore making and eating pumpkin soup but I hate peeling the large, ribbed beasts. Luckily, while living in Japan, I became familiar with lovely members of the winter squash family that look like small, smooth-skinned pumpkins. They have a familiar, traditional pumpkin flavor and edible skin. Hokkaido, Orange Knirps and Red Kuri ウチキクリare also […]
Granola
March 27, 2017 by 4 Comments
I have been making homemade granola since my college days at the University of Colorado when I would shop at one of the earliest, hole-in-the-wall whole grain, seed and nut shops. Places like Boulder had some of the first such stores, usually run by what my parents would have termed vegetarian hippies. Soon thereafter, whole […]
Custom-Made Swiss Wooden Cookie Molds
December 19, 2016 by 9 Comments
Don’t get me started on the topic of traditional cookie molds. I could wax on for hours about the beauty, history, tradition, importance (in times gone by), the craft of the carvers, the skill of the bakers and of the varieties of the cookies themselves. During my 6 years living in Switzerland, I was a […]
Grittibänz – Bake A Swiss St. Nicholas Day Treat
December 4, 2016 by 15 Comments
My family is Swiss and German so I grew up celebrating St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. Before going to bed on December 5th, my brothers and I would put one shoe outside our bedroom door for St. Nicholas to fill. The next morning our shoes overflowed with marzipan, chocolate and Lebkuchen. I still put […]
Marshmallows
March 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment
On a cold, rainy Sunday morning, we made plans to stay in and work by the fire that afternoon and evening taking breaks to eat homemade soup and drink hot chocolate. I got to thinking of the many fires my Dad used to build on bitterly cold weekends growing up in New Jersey and Illinois. We […]
Mole Poblano
October 16, 2015 by 2 Comments
To my mind and palate, one of the great cuisines of the world is Mexican. Not the cheese-laden standards topped with canned sauces and accompanied by runny, tasteless refried beans and white rice found at many “Mexican” restaurants outside the country. Rather, the incredible, regional dishes found throughout Mexico which incorporate local ingredients combined to produce […]
Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Oat Cookies
July 20, 2015 by 2 Comments
When I was a kid, we had a rather long walk to school. On cold, damp days, Mom would always be pulling freshly baked cookies out of the oven when we arrived home. I don’t think she ever purchased cookies from the grocery store. Nor have I. I kept this tradition going for our children […]
Making Paella At Home
June 21, 2015 by 1 Comment
Not long ago, I spent a glorious week at a friend’s house in Alicante, Spain. The area is beautiful. Limestone mountains, winding (and sometimes hair-raising) roads through hillside vineyards, ocean views and weekly local markets. Our days were spent lounging poolside reading, swimming in the Mediterranean, drinking cocktails at one of the may ocean-view bars […]
Salzburg Bauernsalat
June 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
On a recent, sizzling hot summer trip to Salzburg, Austria, the city was throbbing with tourists so we donned hiking shoes and day packs before heading out to catch an early morning train to Golling in search of solitude and the cooling spray of Golling Waterfall. En-route to the station, we stopped at the weekly […]
Sancocho
May 9, 2015 by 1 Comment
My introduction to the Latin American stew-like soup, Sancocho, began on a miserably cold day many winters ago when I worked in the kitchen of a gourmet shop and caterer. The assistant chef was from Columbia. As freezing rain pelted down outside, the chef, hankering for a taste of home, whipped up a batch of […]
Tirggel – Traditional Honey Cookies of Zürich (Story and Recipe)
May 5, 2015 by 17 Comments
Tirggel are very thin, very hard, lightly spiced honey biscuits with a slightly raised image on top typically associated with Canton Zürich in Switzerland. Production and sales ramp up when the cold weather arrives with sales peaking around Christmas and spiking again during the annual guild parade Sechseläuten (or Sächsilüüte). They have variously been called Tirggel, Türggeli and Dirggeli. […]
Mole Rojo (Red Oaxacan Sauce)
May 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Travels around Mexico over the years introduced us to the wonderful world of mole. Moles are typically slightly thick, dried chili-based sauces. The term is also used for different dishes featuring the sauce. Regional varieties abound, as do individual recipes. Almost 2 years ago, I shared a recipe for Mole Poblano (also known as Mole Negro). It is a […]
Oven-Roasted Ratatouille
March 12, 2015 by 12 Comments
I adore ratatouille but, more often than not, am sorely disappointed when ordering it at a restaurant. Undercooked, overcooked, under seasoned, watery – you name it, I have paid for it. I have much better luck in France but am only there a few times a year so have resorted to making my own. Key, […]
Korean Bibimbap
November 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Understanding the food of a culture is an essential ingredient to begin to understand the culture itself. Food reflects the history and geography of a region, group or nation. Our first stop on any trip is usually a local market or a grocery store. Wandering around the incredible markets in Morocco, Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, […]
Kale, Fuyu Persimmon, Pomegranate and Roasted Squash Salad
October 30, 2014 by 4 Comments
After living in Switzerland for almost six years, we decided it was time to phase out our time living abroad and settle someplace in the U.S. Criteria included living near a major airport, great medical facilities (yes, we are getting older so this is important), access to a good-sized city, mountains, nearby hiking trails, terrific […]
Cooking Chicken, Olive and Preserved Lemon Tagine in Marrakech
August 4, 2014 by 17 Comments
On a recent trip to Morocco, we stayed at the wonderful boutique hotel, Dar Les Cigognes in Marrakech. This lovely, traditional hotel was featured on the fabulous TV series, Ottolenghi’s Mediterranean Feast. The big draw of staying here was the opportunity afforded all guests of taking a private traditional Moroccan foods cooking class in the small […]
