Frischkäsebällchen mit Kräutern und WalnüssenCream Cheese Balls with Herbs and Walnuts

Frischkäsebällchen mit Kräutern und Walnüssen
 
Einer der ersten Gedanken, nachdem wir wieder aus dem Urlaub zurück waren, war: „was bekommen die Nachbarn für 6-wöchiges Wohnung aufpassen und Blumen gießen“. Etwas Selbstgemachtes natürlich. Seit dem ich das tolle Buch von Nicole Stich Geschenkideen aus der Küche besitze ist die Frage glücklicherweise viel einfacher zu beantworten. Also kurz im Buch geschmökert und schon war die Sache klar: Kekse (allerdings die hochgepriesenen von der NY Times), Schoko-Müsli, selbstgebackenes Ciabatta und diese Frischkäsebällchen.
 
Frischkäsebällchen mit Kräutern und Walnüssen
 
Die Käsebällchen sind sehr lecker, besonders da ich sie noch mit verschiedenen (TK) Kräutern gemischt und sie in gehackten Walnüssen gewälzt habe. So sind es keine 0815 Käsebällchen mehr. Die Bällchen werden aus abgetropften 10%-igem griechischem oder türkischen Jogurt hergestellt. Alles sehr easy, man muss nur ein bisschen Zeit haben. Man kann den abgetropften Jogurt mit allem mischen was das Herz begehrt: Kräuter, Gewürze und sie dann in Samen oder gehackten Nüssen der Wahl und sogar gehackten Trockenfrüchten wälzen. So bekommt jeder seinen individuellen Käse, der ein schönes Geschenk abgibt oder auch beim nächsten Brunch mit Freunden Eindruck schindet.
 
Frischkäsebällchen mit Kräutern und Walnüssen
 
Frischkäsebällchen mit Kräutern und Walnüssen

 

Cream Cheese Balls with Herbs and Walnuts
 
One of the first thoughts I had, when we where back home after our vacation was: “ what is a good gift for our neighbours for sitting our apartment and caring for our plants for 6 weeks“. Something home made of course. Since I’m in possession of Nicole Stich’s fabulous book Geschenkideen aus der Küche (yet, only in German) this question is much more easy to answer. So after a brief look into the book it was clear: cookies (but the highly recommended ones from the NY Times), chocolate granola, home made ciabatta and these cream cheese balls.
 
Cream Cheese Balls with Herbs and Walnuts
 
These cream cheese balls are very delicate, especially after mixing in some (frozen) herbs and rolling them in chopped walnuts. Like this, they are a real delight. The cream cheese balls are made of Greek or Turkish yogurt containing 10 % fat, which is drained. The whole process takes some time, but is very easy. The drained yogurt can be mixed with everything you desire, such as herbs and spices and they can be rolled in seeds, chopped nuts or even chopped dried fruit. This way you get individual cream cheese balls, that are perfect as a gift or will impress your friends at your next brunch.
 
Cream Cheese Balls with Herbs and Walnuts
 
 
Cream Cheese Balls with Herbs and Walnuts

Orangen-Rotkohl mit GorgonzolaRed Cabbage with Orange & Gorgonzola

Dieses Gericht ist genau das Richtige für düstere Herbst- und Wintertage. Ich liebe es und deswegen ist es schon seit Jahren in meinem Standardrepertoire für diese Saison. Es ist immer schwierig neue leckere Rezepte für Kohl zu finden, egal ob Weiß-, Rot-, Spitzkohl oder Wirsing. Und wenn man saisonal kochen möchte, ist man eben auch auf Kohl angewiesen. Und schließlich kann der auch sehr sehr lecker sein, wie dieses Rezept zeigt.

Hier verbindet sich der Rotkohl mit der Fruchtigkeit der Orangen – in Saft und Fruchtstücken – mit der Cremigkeit und der Herzhaftigkeit des Gorgonzola. Versucht es mal, auch wenn ihr es euch erst mal gar nicht vorstellen könnt. Ein ganz tolles vegetarisches Hauptgericht.

Orangen-Rotkohl mit Gorgonzola

Dazu passen am besten Salzkartoffeln oder auch Kartoffelbrei. Aber auch mit langer Pasta, z.B. Tagliatelle kann man dieses Gericht gut kombinieren, auf Grund der langen schmalen Stücke des Rotkohls und des cremigen Gorgonzolas.

Ich mache davon immer eine größere Portion, die für etwa 4-6 Personen reicht als vegetarisches Hauptgericht. Das liegt einfach daran, dass ich immer einen ganzen kleinen bis mittleren Rotkohl (keinen großen!) verarbeite. Ich will einfach keinen halben Rotkohl im Kühlschrank rumliegen haben, mit dem ich dann nicht mehr weiß was ich in der gleichen Woche anfangen soll. Der Rest lässt sich dann super einfrieren.

Orangen-Rotkohl mit Gorgonzola
 
Vor einem Jahr: Flan Tarte

Orangen-Rotkohl mit Gorgonzola

This is a heart warming dish, that I like to make again every year. It’s not the traditional way to make red cabbage, but as the available seasonal food in autumn/winter is limited new recipes are welcome. I’m always looking for new recipes with cabbage, no matter if it’s with red, white, pointed or savoy cabbage.

Red Cabbage with Orange & Gorgonzola

This one surprises with the fruity flavour of the oranges – added in juice and flesh – and the creaminess and heartiness of the gorgonzola. Give it a try, even if you can’t imagine this combination. It’s a wonderful vegetarian dish.

As accompaniment boiled or mashed potatoes are perfect. But even with long pasta, like tagliatelle, it works great, because of the gorgonzola and the texture of the cabbage.

I always make a huge batch, that would last for 4-6 persons in a vegetarian main dish. That’s because, I use a whole red cabbage (just a small to medium one, not a huge one!). I don’t want to have a half red cabbage sneaking around in my fridge, which I don’t know what to do with. And the leftovers freeze very well.

Red Cabbage with Orange & Gorgonzola
 
 One year ago: Flan Tart
Red Cabbage with Orange & Gorgonzola

Flammkuchen mit BergkäseTart Flambée

Flammkuchen mit Bergkäse

Flammkuchen ist im wahrsten Sinne gerade in aller Munde. Überall gibt es ihn und jeder will ihn haben. Als ich meinen gemacht habe, hörte ich auch gleich: „oh, das möchte ich jetzt auch“. Und dabei spricht auch nichts dagegen, denn das Ganze ist mehr als simpel.

Wahrscheinlich dürfte ich meinen Flammkuchen keinen Flammkuchen mehr nennen, da ich auch noch Käse drauf getan habe. Das ist mehr als untraditionell. Aber was will man gegen Käse sagen? Denn alles wird mit Käse eigentlich nur besser (Dessert u.U. ausgenommen). Ist wie mit Sahne. Oder einem Schnitzel. Und deswegen gibt’s bei mir Flammkuchen klassisch mit Käse. Außerdem bin ich gegen Rock the Kitchen ganz harmlos. Wobei das wird als nächstes ausprobiert. Die Kürbis-Nachkoch-Liste ist lang. Nicht zu sprechen von der Kürbis-Nachback-Liste! Kürbis-Desserts in allen Variationen. Schwelg.

Flammkuchen mit Bergkäse

Wichtig ist mir bei einem Flammkuchen deshalb nur eins. Schön dünn und knusprig mit flachem Belag. Mich erinnert das an den Mittelalter-Weihnachtsmarkt in Esslingen. Auch wenn es da gar keinen Flammkuchen, sondern andere herrlich leckere Brotfladen mit allerlei Belag gibt (es gibt auch Flammkuchen, aber den kauf ich nicht).

Nun aber ran an den Speck!

Flammkuchen mit Bergkäse

Vor einem Jahr: Kürbis-Apfel-Suppe

Tart Flambée

Tarte flambée is on everyone’s lips these days. I see it everywhere and everyone longs for it. As I baked mine, the reactions were: “ Oh, I want this, too. Now.“ And there’s nothing to be said against it, because it’s more than simple.

Probably my tarte flambée shouldn’t be called tarte flambée anymore, because I topped it additionally with cheese. That’s more than uncommon. And has nothing to do with the tradition of tarte flambée. But what’s to say against cheese? Usually food gets even better, when cheese is added (desserts excluded). It’s the same as with cream. Or a schnitzel. And for that, I made tarte flambée classic with cheese. The people from Rock the Kitchen were much more creative than me. But theirs will be made next! My pumpkin-cooking-list is long. My pumpkin-baking-list is even longer. Pumpkin desserts in many many variations. Swoon.

Tart Flambée

There is just one thing, that is important to me about tarte flambée. It has to be thin and crispy with a thin topping. It reminds me of the Middle Age Christmas market in Esslingen. They sell something better there than tarte flambée (although they also sell tarte flambée): flat breads fresh from the oven with delicious toppings.

Let’s start the action!

Tart Flambée

One year ago: Squash-Apple-Soup

Quiche mit Erbsen, Speck & MozzarellaQuiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

Happy new year, dear readers, followers, bloggers and food lovers!

Thank you for all the support and kind comments last year! I’m looking forward to more of that.

 Everybody’s sharing his new year resolutions over the net. And I thought, if I have some, too… food related ones of course. But to be honest, there aren’t a lot. I have achieved a lot of food related things last year. This year will be all about finishing my university education and there’s a huge focus on that. Of course that doesn’t mean neglecting my blog life. So no resolutions, just some thoughts I want to put down: Making homemade pasta again, baking something new from scratch, like apple strudel or trying something new, like oysters (maybe with a little champagne… I would have no objections to that). 

Quiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

 I hope you all had wonderful Christmas and a relaxing time like we had. Our Christmas dinner was extraordinary and one of the best we ever cooked and ate. We celebrated in Nuremberg with my family. We had trout terrine for starter, venison marinated in port and maple syrup (as well as other ingredients) with hokkaido and bread dumplings for the main course and a strawberry-mascarpone-ice cream cake for dessert. I really thought about making some pictures, but most of the food didn’t survived that long. It was a really great atmosphere, as we had white Christmas with a lot of snow (over 20 cm) and again a Christmas tree with real candles.

Quiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

 My recipe of that quiche is just right for now. Although with its ingredients it would also fit in summer, when fresh peas are available. But frozen ones are just good now. This quiche is rich, but flat and it’s inspired by flammkuchen, and the taste of Italy in late spring. That’s just what I had in mind, when I raid the freezer. Don’t expect any logic! But it’s really tasty, easy and although rich, it won’t sit heavily in your stomach.

Quiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

Vor einem Jahr: Selbstgemachtes Müsli

Happy new year, dear readers, followers, bloggers and food lovers!

Thank you for all the support and kind comments last year! I’m looking forward to more of that.

 Everybody’s sharing his new year resolutions over the net. And I thought, if I have some, too… food related ones of course. But to be honest, there aren’t a lot. I have achieved a lot of food related things last year. This year will be all about finishing my university education and there’s a huge focus on that. Of course that doesn’t mean neglecting my blog life. So no resolutions, just some thoughts I want to put down: Making homemade pasta again, baking something new from scratch, like apple strudel or trying something new, like oysters (maybe with a little champagne… I would have no objections to that). 

Quiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

 I hope you all had wonderful Christmas and a relaxing time like we had. Our Christmas dinner was extraordinary and one of the best we ever cooked and ate. We celebrated in Nuremberg with my family. We had trout terrine for starter, venison marinated in port and maple syrup (as well as other ingredients) with hokkaido and bread dumplings for the main course and a strawberry-mascarpone-ice cream cake for dessert. I really thought about making some pictures, but most of the food didn’t survived that long. It was a really great atmosphere, as we had white Christmas with a lot of snow (over 20 cm) and again a Christmas tree with real candles.

Quiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

 My recipe of that quiche is just right for now. Although with its ingredients it would also fit in summer, when fresh peas are available. But frozen ones are just good now. This quiche is rich, but flat and it’s inspired by flammkuchen, and the taste of Italy in late spring. That’s just what I had in mind, when I raid the freezer. Don’t expect any logic! But it’s really tasty, easy and although rich, it won’t sit heavily in your stomach.

Quiche with Peas, Bacon & Mozzarella

One year ago: Homemade Granola

Thymian Haselnuss CrackerThyme Hazelnut Cracker

Update: Für das deutsche Rezept nach unten scrollen!

I never buy cookies. I told you. I have to make them by myself. But I can’t eat cookies always. Not even me! Sometimes I’m just longing for some crisps or crackers. Something salty, hearty. I’m getting hungry again…

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

So for satisfying those cravings I needed to bake cracker. I mean it would be nice to make crisps by myself, but to be honest: Who would do such a crazy thing?! I mean why cutting potatoes into thin thin slices and fry them, while buying them is so much easier. At this point I’m totally on the buyer site. That’s like making your own mascarpone. Time consuming and senseless. And yes I’ve tried that! Shame on me.

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

But crackers are not in that category. They are easier to make than cookies. Really. And you can add a whole bunch of things, you couldn’t do with the bought ones, which all come along with either salt, red pepper taste, cheese… uhm… did I forget something? Sounds like real diversity, isn’t it.

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

So this recipe is just a guideline. Add what you prefer. Cheese is totally welcome, whatever one you like. Parmesan just worked fine for me. The crackers are crisp and flaky. They are not on the light side of food. To make them lighter I suggest to substitute the hazelnuts with almonds or even no nuts. Or add some crushed pretzels. Mmmh I’m totally on the pretzel way today. Don’t know why. Want to eat cookies with pretzel pieces inside. Next project? Ok, back to the crackers. Add some fried bacon or fried bacon glazed with maple syrup. Use your favourite herbs. Add some dried tomatoes. It’s all your choice. So go ahead and make them! Now!

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

Vor einem Jahr: Wachteln, kalt und warm

I never buy cookies. I told you. I have to make them by myself. But I can’t eat cookies always. Not even me! Sometimes I’m just longing for some crisps or crackers. Something salty, hearty. I’m getting hungry again…

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

So for satisfying those cravings I needed to bake cracker. I mean it would be nice to make crisps by myself, but to be honest: Who would do such a crazy thing?! I mean why cutting potatoes into thin thin slices and fry them, while buying them is so much easier. At this point I’m totally on the buyer site. That’s like making your own mascarpone. Time consuming and senseless. And yes I’ve tried that! Shame on me.

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

But crackers are not in that category. They are easier to make than cookies. Really. And you can add a whole bunch of things, you couldn’t do with the bought ones, which all come along with either salt, red pepper taste, cheese… uhm… did I forget something? Sounds like real diversity, isn’t it.

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

So this recipe is just a guideline. Add what you prefer. Cheese is totally welcome, whatever one you like. Parmesan just worked fine for me. The crackers are crisp and flaky. They are not on the light side of food. To make them lighter I suggest to substitute the hazelnuts with almonds or even no nuts. Or add some crushed pretzels. Mmmh I’m totally on the pretzel way today. Don’t know why. Want to eat cookies with pretzel pieces inside. Next project? Ok, back to the crackers. Add some fried bacon or fried bacon glazed with maple syrup. Use your favourite herbs. Add some dried tomatoes. It’s all your choice. So go ahead and make them! Now!

Thyme Hazelnut Cracker

One year ago: Quails, cold and warm