I included a good number of kookoos, or Persian omelets, on this blog and in my first cookbook. For the most part, they are very traditional kookoos. For my next cookbook, I decided to create a mash-up of one of our go-to dinners – roasted vegetables and eggs – as a kookoo. Oh wow! It…
Bread Baking Masterclass Loaf #2 – Rye
Today was the time for Apollonia Poilàne’s second loaf in her masterclass – sourdough rye. I have made rye breads that I have really liked before, but this is a French rye, not a Jewish or Russian rye. I also plan to try a dutch rye and a Finnish rye over the next few weeks, while…
Germez Polo (Tomato Rice) with Soy Crumbles and a Tater Tot Tahdig
I had been out on a cold, rainy day hike with a friend, and really wanted a down-home-cooking meal at the end of the day. Of course, in my house, down-home-cooking is a Persian polo; but to make it extra down-home I added a tater tot tahdig (a family favorite). Some version of this recipe…
Bread Baking Masterclass – Loaf #1
No matter how many loaves of bread I make, I feel like a beginner. With each loaf I realize I have so much more to learn. So I decided to take Apollonia Poilàne’s masterclass. I love watching her movements and listening to her descriptions. How nice it is to imagine I am turning down the…
Swedish Vanilla Bread and a Reason
I decided that this week’s challah should be a Swedish Vanilla Bread. Why? Oh there are a couple of good reasons: The wonderful vanilla beans I got from @JonathanBergman and @AvivaVanillaBeanCompany My oldest daughter and her husband are living in Sweden and about to have my first grandchild! I am quite excited as I connect…
Vanilla, Vanilla, Vanilla!
I love vanilla! I love the smell of vanilla, I love the flavor of vanilla, and I love playing with vanilla beans. So, my friend, @JonathanBergman, recently sent me some vanilla beans from his vanilla company, @AvivaVanillaBeanCompany. Then comes the quandary, what to do with these scrumptious vanilla beans? I decided to put 2 into…
Winter Squash Polo
It is the time of year when I start to use winter squash a lot. I used kabocha squash tonight, but you could use butternut or other easily peeled squash. Like many of my polos (rice dishes), this was made with what I had in the house. So, in addition to the kabocha squash, I…
Cranberry Sauce Challah
It’s time for another Thanksgiving Challah! I love these. I have made pumpkin challah, turkey-shaped challah, and more pumpkin challah! This year, I am stuffing my challah with my mom’s cranberry sauce. I have always loved my mom’s cranberry sauce. Since it was such a simple recipe, for years I searched for one that was…
Pesto and Mozzarella Challah
My husband was away, so it was just my son and I at home and I didn’t feel like fussing over dinner and he didn’t feel like eating a fancy dinner. So, I decided to make a double-duty challah that I would just serve with eggs. I had pesto in the fridge and always have…
Forest Therapy, Another Cookbook, and Tea
It has been a year of changes, endings, and new beginnings. Grab a cup of rose hip and fireweed tea and I will tell you all about it… After much contemplation, introspection, and counseling, I decided to totally switch careers and do what I love – spend time in the forest and share it with…
Andrea's Garden Cooking 