European
13 Provencal desserts
CAMBRIDGE — Holidays are a time to celebrate tradition, but if your family is on another continent, you have to bring the traditions with you. This is what Fabien Fieschi, 39, consul general of France in Boston, has done. Originally from the coastal city of Marseille, Fieschi (pronounced Fee-es-key) arrived in this post in August …
Read moreIn Berlin, flavors of Turkey and Lebanon spice up the fast food
This article originally appeared in the Boston Globe in June 2003. I thought I would bring it back now, because we are spending 2 months in Berlin.
I have added old and new photos. And the currywurst at Curry36 is still delicious. Just had some tonight!
Mary Lindeblad’s Dutch Babies
Somewhere between a popover and a muffin, these puffs rise like magic in the oven. The airy texture and sweet taste make them a perfect breakfast treat. Mary Lindeblad’s Dutch Babies Ingredients: 4 teaspoons butter 4 eggs 1 cup milk 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon salt non-stick oil spray Directions: 1. Set oven to 475 …
Read moreA sweet Portuguese tradition
EAST CAMBRIDGE — You might walk right past Central Bakery without knowing there’s a behemoth workroom just beyond the glass cases in the front. There, year round, bakers churn out Portuguese sweet breads and rolls. At Easter, the round sweet breads are made with more sugar and more butter and baked with a hard-cooked egg …
Read moreBerry nirvana is in full swing, and the dessert Pavlova, a fluffy creation of meringue, will make you feel like you’re floating on a cloud
Some desserts don’t seem right without strawberries. Tarts would be missing their bright red color and glory, shortcakes their intensely aromatic topping, and cobblers their fruity filling. Pavlova, the famous round of crunchy meringue, wouldn’t be as splendid without a crown of ripe red berries. Pavlova is so popular in Australia, where some say it …
Read moreWhite Asparagus
Right about now the Germans are going gaga over white asparagus– it is “spargel” (asparagus) season. Actually it is white asparagus season in many European countries. Many of us only know the limp white spears we see in jars or cans; they are fine on a salad, but the fresh ones, while a bit expensive, …
Read moreFeeding on the many flavors of Stockholm
STOCKHOLM – Situated in an archipelago of thousands of islands, Stockholm is one of the most beautifully situated capitals in the world. After long winters, its frozen waterways are finally cleared of ice floes, and its tour boats ferry visitors in and out of its many harbors. By late March, it is warm enough to …
Read moreThe open-faced sandwich: a savory slice of Danish culture
Somewhere between the canape and the sandwich lies smorrebrod, an icon of Danish cuisine. Literally ”bread and butter,” the smorrebrod is crowned with all manner of fish, meats, cheese, vegetables, spreads, and edible garnishes. Open-faced sandwiches are popular all over Scandinavia, but the Danes have taken them to high art.Where the canape is eaten in …
Read moreAebleskiver, Denmark’s answer to the doughnut
COPENHAGEN — Ask any Dane or Danish-American about aebleskive, and you’ll be treated to broad smiles. Aebleskiver –literally ”apple slice” — is a pancake puffball that rarely contains the apple tidbit originally tucked into its center as a sweet surprise. But the name, pronounced ay-bla-skeever, has stuck. Gone in two bites, this traditional Danish dessert, …
Read moreClay pots irresistable in design, function
What do a Romertopf Schlemmertopf, tagine, and donabe(donabay) have in common? They are all earthenware pots with covers, from different parts ofthe world. The high-domed Romertopf and Schlemmertopf are fromGermany, the pyramid-shaped tajine (tagine) is from Morocco, andthe round donabe is from Japan. Using clay pots is an ancient method for cooking. You can now …
Read moreThese breads go with the grain
BERLIN – Early each morning, the smell of fresh bread beckons Berliners to the tiniest of backerei (bakeries), where locals line up for a slice, a bun, or a roll to munch on the way to school or work. Loaves are tucked into bags and eaten later with hard cheese, strong mustard, and ham. Bread …
Read moreFlickr Images
Bento:Build a Better Lunch
Debra Samuels, bestselling author, food writer and cooking instructor, wants to give the American lunchbox a makeover. In the chapter on “bento,” the traditional Japanese lunch box, in her upcoming book, My Japanese Table, Debra encourages the use of color, texture and taste to create healthier and more visually appealing meals.
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