I have trouble growing parsnips. Well, not so much growing them, because they’re one of the vegetables that mostly grow themselves. The problem is, I often forget to sow them. I think it has to do with the fact that…
Spiced parsnip soup
Auteur: vera@gtc
Cranberry sauce topped meringue
You know what the problem is with eggs? They consist of an egg yolk and an egg white and these two are often used separately. This leads to something of a vicious circle. You bake a birthday cake – it…
Horseradish coleslaw with pumpkin seeds
Oh, the challenges of parenthood! First you have to learn how to function with a fraction of the sleep you thought you needed. Then, after you think you have recovered, it starts all over again, because your daughter is twelve…
Cranberry walnut biscotti
Last time I told you about the wonderful Parmesan biscuits that I brought to a dinner as a hostess gift. And I brought these biscotti, too. Something to have with the wine, and something with your after-dinner coffee – everything…
Parmesan and poppy biscuits
When my sister was in second grade, the class was discussing manners and the teacher asked: “What do you bring the hostess when you go for a visit?” Now, at that time our parents led a busy social life and…
Chilli vodka
There are many ways to preserve the home grown bounty for the winter. I don’t like canning vegetables as I find that just reduces fresh vegetables into a less desirable version of themselves. Making jellies, chutney‘s and jams on the…
Chocolate cherry cinnamon rolls
I’ve never had the “retro classic” Black Forest gâteau. That, I decided last summer, had to change. I was going to make one and it was going to be totally authentic. I have a German cookbook, which dutifully provides a…
Eye-popping soup
Last week we went to England. It was spooky-misty, like a set for a Sherlock Homes mystery. We enjoyed it. The little figure in the sea is my son, who was not going to let the fact that it was…
Petrified cheese
There are many great things about having kids. Especially in the early stages of parenthood, it means you get to wake up/ be woken bright and early each and every day, early enough to greet the sun in summer or…
Real Mushroom Soup
I’ll always be grateful to my parents for teaching me to recognize different kinds of wild mushrooms. In an extreme case, it’s a survival skill – my daughter who is currently obsessed with the Hunger Games series, commented how strange…
Elderberry compote with Greek yogurt
Why is it that when the elderberry is flowering, everybody seems to be elbow deep in making elderflower cordial, but later, when the berries are ripe, they get much less attention? It happens here, too. Perhaps it is the overwhelming…
Hot tomatillo chutney
Tomatillos are the ideal plants for the “otherwise-ingaged” vegetable grower. Because I knew we would have to leave our allotment on 1st October, I did not look after my garden as well as I normally do. We mulched very little…
Spaghetti with marinated tofu and tomatoes
This dish is the culinary form of denial. I know it is cold and raining, and that probably means that the summer really is over. But I refuse to let go just yet. Soon enough it will be on to…
Double berry ricotta galette
So I baked a tart and was becoming slightly more optimistic about our new allotment and the survival chances of the trees and bushes that were moved to the new plot during the weekend. But then I had a chat…
Rustic rye dough
There are mornings when I very much wish I was a coffee-drinker. This month we have been sadly wrapping up at our allotment. We have gardened there for 9 years. I have planted 9 fruit trees, many soft fruit bushes…