.

I read cookbooks to relax. There is no better way for me to unwind than to read a recipe, imagine the finished dish, and consider when I might possibly try my hand at making it. I go in phases…

I started pondering solo dining a while back when Denise from Chez Danisse recommended I read Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant, a collection of short stories about cooking for one, dining alone, and preparing meals in less than ideal kitchens.  I followed her suggestion, and thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I suggest you read [...]

Sundried Tomato and Fennel Sausage
1/3 c. dry packed sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 – 1 T. olive oil
4 T. cold water
2 t. fennel seeds, freshly ground
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 T. fresh thyme, finely minced
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. white pepper
2 lbs pork shoulder, well chilled
Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl, and cover with boiling water.  Allow [...]

Homemade Gravlax (aka Lox)
2 good quality salmon filets that are roughly the same size, approx 1.5 lbs total (I used wild sockeye) *see note
3 T. sugar
2 T. non-iodized salt
1 bunch dill
Remove all of the pin bones from the two salmon filets using a pair of tweezers.  Trim the filets so they are the same size [...]

Homemade Turkey Stock
1 turkey carcass, plus any skin
8 large garlic cloves
4 stalks of celery, broken into 3-4 inch pieces
10 – 20 sprigs parsley
1 onion, cut into quarters or eighths
2 – 3 carrots, cut into 3-4 inch chunks (optional)
cold water
Remove as much meat as you can from the turkey carcass and set aside for another use.  [...]

10 days into my work trip here in Germany, and my first big culinary misinterpretation…
The menu read someting like ‘Gegrilltes Haxe mit Semmelknödel und Sauerkraut’
I thought I was getting grilled fish.
Instead I got an enormous (ENORMOUS) grilled pork shank.  Imagine my surprise when it came out of the kitchen…
Thankfully, it was delicious, even though unexpected. [...]

 
Flammkuchen photo courtesy of lejoe on Flickr
Flamekuche (Onion, Bacon, and Creme Fraiche Tart)
1 recipe of your favorite pizza dough
2 medium white onions, cut in half vertically then sliced very thin
1 c. creme fraiche
about 1/2 c. diced bacon
freshly ground black pepper
freshly ground nutmeg
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
On a sheet of parchment paper, roll the pizza [...]