So this is it, the dip I’ve dreamed of: Easy, quick and soooo delicious … a new weekday favorite. Béchamel with cheese This cheese dip is basically a béchamel sauce with the addition of sharp cheddar. I used orange-colored sharp cheddar in this recipe, but feel free to experiment with any other cheese. Sharp cheeses are best but I’ve even tried this dip with mozzarella, when I ran out of… continue reading »
As you may know, I am writing a cooking column about US food for an Austrian newspaper. Yes, Austrians are also allowed to do so ;-) I have been writing this column for almost two years now and the readers don’t seem to get tired so far – no, surprisingly they are getting more and more enthusiastic about American food. Yay! As next Sunday is time to watch Super Bowl… continue reading »
Don’t you love Paneer Tikka Masala, Palak Paneer or Paneer Butter Masala? Well, I do! Ever since I traveled to India a couple of years ago, cravings for the mentioned dishes seem to occur more often. The key ingredient in all these dishes is the cheese: Paneer. Paneer is a type of a no-salt-added Indian fresh cheese that requires no ageing or culturing, thus it is very easy to make… continue reading »
When I traveled to India a couple of years ago, I got in touch with masala chai. In India, “masala” is a mix of spices and “chai” means tea. Of course, I’ve known this kind of spiced milk tea before my trip to India, but I’ve never really been a fan of these intense smelling tea bags that are widely available in supermarkets and neither of their result. In India, I… continue reading »
When I saw these cookies for the first time, I knew immediately that I would have to make them. I noticed them on America’s Test Kitchen Instagram account and they looked sooo pretty, though simple to make. Two days later I could call a batch of these pretty babies mine. They taste gorgeous, with their rich chocolate flavor, almost Brownie-like, and their super moist center makes you reach for the next one in no time…. continue reading »
December 13th is a special day for people living in northern Europe: It is St. Lucia Day. Santa Lucia Day is most commonly celebrated in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, with their long, dark winters. The day once coincided with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year before calendar reforms. St. Lucia day is considered a festival of light. Sweden celebrates the day with special pastries, called Lussekatter or… continue reading »
These apple cider caramels are simply amazing! They are chewy and soft at the same time and boast intense apple flavor. I always sprinkle some coarse sea salt ontop – it pairs so well with the sweet caramel. Simply deeellllliiiiicccciioooouussss!!! You will find apple cider everywhere right now here in New England: at restaurants, farmers markets and of course at every supermarket. Btw, I am talking about soft apple cider… continue reading »
This typical Austrian dish reminds me so much of my granny. It was one of her quick and easy go-to dishes when my sisters and I were young. Compared with homemade apple strudel which was also one of her regulars but sure takes some time, this one is an apple recipe for the colder season that is ready in a couple of minutes. We got to eat apple rings at least… continue reading »
Tomato season is in its peak. Some of us are lucky and have a garden or some space to grow their own tomatoes. My parents for example. Lucky me to be in Austria right now to visit my parents and right in time to eat all their aromatic veggies. This summer was extremely hot in Austria and apparently tomatoes like this kind of climate. The harvest has never been better… continue reading »
This flavor bursting, sugar-free, creamy and vegan strawberry smoothie is ready in a few seconds and only needs two ingredients. Wait … 3 ingredients if you count the ice as an actual ingredient. I got crazy enthusiastic at the market again and bought some boxes of strawberries. As you may have noticed, strawberries spoil pretty quickly, so this smoothie is a good way to use up the berries in a… continue reading »
This cake is a breeze to throw together. It’s a very simple recipe for a berry cake and you can use whatever fruit you have on hand. Also, it comes with a very moist and at the same time fluffy texture … No wonder that this recipe fast became my go-to recipe when I get crazy at the market and buy way too many fruits. I would consider this a typical, no-fuss… continue reading »
If you are blessed with access to fresh herbs, you should use them. As often as you can. A tea brewed from freshly gathered herbs tastes so much better than from ready-made tea bags – and this is not only because you put some effort into it. Be prepared for a fresh, healthy and unfamiliar mix of bright garden flavors, packed with antioxidants. In Austria, I was spoiled with… continue reading »