Though this incredibly delicious, multi-faceted soup stems from Mexico, it’s been said that the actual name albondigas has Middle Eastern roots. The word “al” in Arabic translates to “the” in English, and “el” in Spanish. The name for the soup is likely some variation of “al-bunduq” which means “hazelnut” and could be meant to represent…
Tag: food
Pico de Gallo aka Salsa Fresca
In Mexican cuisine, pico de gallo literally means beak of rooster. Legend has it that fighting cocks are calmed by their handlers by placing the rooster’s head in their mouth. Yum! 😉 It is said that darkness causes birds to immediately begin the sleep cycle. Often as soon as the handler puts the bird’s head…
Fresh Peach & Plum Galette
We say au revoir to France with an elegant kiss of sweetness… Sweet & luscious summertime Galette pronounced Ga-let, is a French name for “tart.” An open-faced pie of sorts which offers the full experience of pie, but in delicate delicious bites filled with rich flavors. This tart is a favorite summertime dessert at our…
A Simple French Classic: Coq au Vin
Coq au Vin simply means; chicken with wine. The delectable delicate flavors of this classic French dish kisses your palate with essences of fresh herbs and subtle wine. Coq au Vin is really quite easy to put together, so there’s no need for any intimidation factors. I used Pinot noir in this recipe for the…
Croque Madame: The French Grilled Cheese
In France, Croque Madame is a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with the addition of a simple white cream sauce and fried egg. The Croque Monsieur is the same, but without the egg. This creamy, cheesy, slightly salty, flavorful French delight originated in French cafés and bars as a quick snack or lunch. Typically, Emmental…
Guest Chef Wednesday! Melissa’s Potato Bacon Pie: Tourte Auax Pommes de Terre: A Taste of France
This French tourte is a slice of heaven! Packed with potatoes, bacon (jambon) and cream—how could it not? Refrigerated pie dough may be used when you’re in a pinch, but this Pate Brisee style crust is well worth the extra time and little effort. Experience a little taste of France with each and every bite!…
It’s French Week! Pain de Mie–Sandwich Bread at its Finest! France Has it Covered!
Pain de Mie is a delicious, fine-grained loaf of flavorful, dense crumb bread–perfect for sandwiches and toast — including French toast! This is no wimpy bread! It can hold its own against any topping or filling—will not tear when you butter it or fall apart when you try to eat your sandwich! I make one…
Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Stout Buttercream
This is my very first blog post: Date: 2/28/14. While I haven’t changed a word I did add a few additional photos. How time flies… 🙂 One needn’t be a beer fan to become one of these luscious, spongy delights. These Chocolate stout or Guinness chocolate cupcakes are dense, flavorful and moist. The frosting, also…
Black & White Cupcakes & a little cookie history
Black & White Cookies aka Half moon cookies, half and half cookies and in Germany Amerikaners have always been an elusive, personal favorite of mine. Why elusive? Mostly because they are so difficult to find! However, when I do unearth them, I snatch up a dozen of the soft, hand-sized, yin and yang frosted shortbreads,…
Strawberry Creme Shortcake Cupcakes
Strawberry season is on the horizon and these charming, petite, portable shortcakes are an ideal treat for family get-togethers, parties, BBQs, bridal showers or even an afternoon tea. They are very easy to put together and the secret is to place fresh sliced berries in between the frosting—the sweetness from the frosting serves as…
Once Upon a Spice 