I found this mouthwatering recipe in an old copy of Cook's Illustrated. I couldn't  resist trying it. Anne Petito, the author behind this recipe, provides a detailed explanation of Spaghetti alla Nerano. It’s a fascinating read! In her recipe, she uses small zucchinis and doesn’t peel them. If you’re lucky enough to have a zucchini plant that produces, feel free to skip the peeling step. But, for the third year in a row, my zucchini plants have decided to take a break. Shame on them! I had to buy my zucchinis, and they were larger. The peel was tough, so I decided to peel them and remove most of the seeds. 

I’ve made this recipe twice, and it’s a hit! If you love creamy pasta, this dish is perfect for you. It’s rich yet light. Its creamy texture makes it a delicious meal, loved by people of all ages, including my husband, who doesn’t like zucchini. I plan to try it with small, unpeeled zucchinis. The author did extensive testing when developing this recipe. Other than peeling the zucchini, I followed the instructions exactly. 

This dish makes about 4 servings, depending on your appetite.
If you don’t peel the zucchinis, they should be less than 8 ounces. I bought my spaghetti at Eataly, and it was delicious. 

Ingredients:
12 ounces  spaghetti 
2 pounds zucchini, sliced 1/8 inch thick
1 tsp salt, more for the pasta water 
2 TPS extra-virgin olive oil
2 TBS butter
2 TBS chopped basil
1 tsp pepper
2 1/2 ounces mild provolone cheese, shredded ( ⅔ cups) 
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
​
Directions:
If using large zucchinis, peel, remove most seeds, and cut into 1/8-inch slices. A mandolin helps. Mix 1/4 cup water and salt in a bowl, cover, and microwave 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes of microwaving. Drain zucchini in a colander and let cool for 5 minutes.
Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add zucchini and spread into an even layer—sauté for 10-12 minutes, stirring every 4 minutes and flattening the zucchinis with a spatula. Pieces may fall apart; this can be done ahead.
Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and the pasta, cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 2 cups of cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Add 1 cup of the reserved water, zucchini, butter, basil, and pepper, cooking over low heat. Stir and toss pasta constantly, until the ingredients are evenly mixed and the butter melted, about 1 minute. Off heat, add provolone and Parmesan cheese, stirring vigorously until they soften and turn into a creamy sauce. Season with additional pepper and salt as needed. Serve immediately.

Guten Appetit!
Recipe by Annie Petito in Cook’s Illustrated 
Posted by Sunnycovechef 
​

Here is a recipe for  Zucchini  Cakes with feta cheese . Click here for the recipe

I’ve been making these stuffed tomatoes for over a decade now. They’re a great side dish for grilled lamb, and they’re also delicious for a vegetarian guest.
​Here is the recipe.

My dear blogger friends, it’s been a while since I last posted. My husband and I recently went on a wonderful cruise on the Queen Elizabeth. I plan to write about our experience later. I’ve been back home for two weeks and have been busy cooking. I experimented with an apricot cake made with spelt flour, but unfortunately, it was inedible, despite being from a well-known German chef. So, I decided to go back to the drawing board and find a new apricot cake recipe. I hope the next one will be blog-worthy! In the meantime, I have a collection of delicious apricot recipes that I’ve loved and tested over the years.

The 4th of July is just around the corner, and I thought I’d share a recipe for grilled chicken kebabs that I found in the July issue of Cook’s Illustrated. These tasty morsels are marinated to perfection and bursting with flavor. They’re the perfect way to celebrate summer and barbecuing.
I apologize, but I can only share one photo of the kebabs. I was having fun with my friends and forgot to take the more photos.. I’ll add more once I make them again. Annie Petito, the author, explains in detail why she prefers boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this dish. She believes they are more flavorful and can be cooked at higher temperatures without drying out. The marinade is well-balanced and elevates these kebabs. They are so tasty and juicy, making them an excellent alternative to a typical barbecue. They’ll be our summer staple as long as my husband continues to grill them. I served them with my delicious peach panzanella salad. I added lettuces to my orginal recipe. The author suggests serving these kebabs with rice and vegetables, or on flatbread or tortillas with lettuce, tomatoes, Greek yogurt, and hot sauce.

Ingredients:
Serves 6 
¼ cup tomato paste ( I used paste in a tube imported from Italy)
3 TBS vegetable oil
2 TBS fish sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ tsp. sugar
1 ¼ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
4 ( 12-inch metal skewers)

Directions:
Prepare the marinade by whisking together tomato paste, oil, fish sauce, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in a bowl until smooth. Cut the chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces, leaving the fat on as it adds flavor to the kebabs. It will burn off during the grilling. Mix the marinade with the chicken pieces until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, or up to 12 hours.
While the grill heats up, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers, folding them to form 1-inch pieces. 
My husband barbecued the kebabs on his gas grill. He said he set the grill to a low fire. Here are the instructions from Cook’s Illustrated:
1. Turn all burners to high.
2. Cover the grill.
3. Heat the grill until it’s hot, about 15 minutes.
4. Leave the primary burner on high and turn off the other burners.
5. Place the kebabs directly over the primary burner and cook them covered unyill the grilled side is well browned.
6. Turn the kebabs one-quarter turn and continue cooking until all sides are browned. 
7. The meat should register 175˚ F, which will take about 12 minutes.
8. Let the meat rest for 5 minutes

Guten Appetit!
Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated 
Author Annie Pepito
Posted by Sunnycovechef

I was fortunate enough to visit my family in Germany during Easter. It was a short but wonderful trip. I had not seen my German family in over a year and was happy to reconnect with them all. I spent a week with my niece and her family in Lüneburg. In my humble opinion, this is the most livable town I have ever been in. You can walk to almost everything. Downtown is a vibrant community with shops that cater to the residents and some tourist attractions for visitors. 

After a wonderful week, my very pregnant niece, her three-year-old daughter, and I took the train to our village, where we celebrated Easter. Easter is my favorite holiday in the village. Here is a link of a previous Easter trip to Germany.

A day after Easter, a German holiday, I boarded a train with hundreds of other fellow travelers to watch a dear young friend perform at the opera in Bonn. My adoptive granddaughter, Tara, who had studied for four years in Berlin, was performing in the musical Hairspray. I was incredibly proud of her, and the production was wonderful. After spending a couple of days in Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, it was time to take the train to Frankfurt and fly home. 

Once home, I cooked up a storm as usual. For my book club, I made my seafood pasta, and it turned out very nicely. I didn’t entertain as much as I usually do; I cooked simple meals for my husband and myself. I love asparagus, and as long as it’s still in season, I’ve been cooking with it. I found this wonderful new recipe: a rich sauce made with asparagus and different cheeses. Omit the bacon, and you have a vegetarian dish. I enjoyed the bacon.

This pasta dish is the perfect comfort food, and even vegetable haters will eat some of the green stuff. I am thrilled to have found this recipe. The amount of pasta is flexible. If you want more sauce, cook fewer noodles. Thin out the sauce with pasta water if you prefer a thinner sauce.  Use any shape of pasta you like  or have in your pantry. This dish comfortably feeds 4 to 6 people, depending on individual appetites or what is served alongside it.

Ingredients:
¾ lb. tube pasta or other pasta 
1 lb. green asparagus
1 large burrata cheese piece
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
⅓ cup basil leaves, sliced 
4 strips of hickory-smoked bacon
3 TBS butter
2 TBS of olive oil and more 
1 cup of hot pasta water
Salt and pepper 

Direction:
​Put on some “Big Night” Italian music and heat the pasta water. Add 1 TBS of salt to the pasta water. Cut off the tips of the asparagus and set them aside. Break off the woody ends of the asparagus and discard them. Slice the asparagus stems into 1-inch pieces. Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan with a lid. Add the asparagus and sauté for a few minutes. Pour in 1 cup of pasta water and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Most of the liquid will evaporate after this time. While the asparagus cooks, grate the Parmesan cheese using a microplane. Place the bacon in a cold frying pan and sauté until crispy. Discard most of the bacon fat and sauté the asparagus tips in the pan. Break the bacon into small pieces and try not to eat too much. 
Put the asparagus pieces, the burrata and Parmesan cheese, the basil leaves, salt, and pepper into a Vitamix or blender. In the Vitamix, start with the lowest setting and then increase to a higher setting. Taste the sauce; add salt and pepper, some pasta water, and a shot of olive oil. You want a thick and smooth sauce. In the meantime, cook the pasta according to the instructions on the bag. Taste for doneness. Mix the drained pasta with the sauce. Add the asparagus tips and bacon. Taste for seasoning and add more pasta water if necessary.  

Buon Appetito!
Recipe by Luca Pontarosa
Cooked by the Sunnycovechef 

As you all know, asparagus is my favorite vegetable; my husband will even eat it. I enjoyed preparing my asparagus salmon quiche, and even though I have quite a few well-loved asparagus recipes, I'm always looking for new ones. As far as I'm concerned, you can never have enough recipes.  A recipe in the April issue of Food and Wine magazine caught my attention, and I had to try it: an asparagus salad. It was packed with flavor and included some interesting ingredients, like smoked almonds, which I had never used before. But boy, did they add flavor to the salad! I also liked the way the asparagus was cooked. It turned out crunchy and dark green, just as it should be in a salad

I’m writing this quickly because I’m leaving for Germany tomorrow to visit my German family. It’s been far too long since we last saw each other! It’s a short trip, only two weeks, but it’s better than nothing. As I get older, traveling has become more of a hassle. I can’t run up and down the stairs at those huge train stations anymore to catch a train with just one or two suitcases; those days are gone. I have a  German girlfriend, and she says that traveling is overrated. I’m not there yet, but there will come a time when I can’t travel anymore. I’m adjusting my itinerary accordingly, but there’s one train ride where I have to take three different trains, and I must admit that scares me a little bit. I’m hoping that someone young and energetic will help me with the suitcase. 

Let’s get back to the recipe for this incredible salad! The flavors are divine, and it can serve as a complete meal alongside some nice crusty bread. I mostly followed the recipe from Food and Wine magazine, but I did add some lettuce to the salad. Next time I make it, I’ll try using less mayonnaise and adding some yogurt instead. I increased the garlic to two cloves. I used an entire can of anchovies, mashed three into a paste for the dressing, and used the others on top of the salad. I had some leftover dressing, which I used for another salad. 

 Ingredients:
Four to five asparagus will make one serving. It will make 4 to 6 portions.  

2 pounds fresh asparagus
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 oz. pecorino cheese grated about 1/4 cup
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp water
1 tsp. Anchovy paste or 3 anchovy filets mashed into paste
½ tsp, grated lemon zest plus 3 Tbs. fresh lemon juice 
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. salt 
2 garlic cloves grated 
½ cup smoked almonds 
Romaine letters

Directions:
Cut or break off the woody part at the end of each asparagus stalk. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. While the water is heating up, fill a large bowl with ice water. Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook until it’s crisp-tender, about two minutes. Transfer the asparagus to the ice water and let it cool for about five minutes. Drain the asparagus and pat it dry with a towel. I kept my asparagus rolled in a towel in the refrigerator until I was ready to serve the salad.
For the dressing, whisk together the mayonnaise, pecorino, mustard, two teaspoons of water, anchovy paste, pepper, salt, and garlic until the ingredients are well combined. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. 
On a large platter, add some washed and torn Romaine lettuce. Top with asparagus and drizzle the dressing over everything. Sprinkle the salad with chopped smoked chopped almonds, additional pecorino, and pepper.

Guten Appetit!
Recipe from Food and Wine Magazine (April 2025)
Posted by sunnycovechef.com  

​Happy Easter to all of you! Here are some Easter Stories from previous posts, filled with recipes and travel stories! Enjoy.
​                Easter in Germany and deviled eggs
​                Celebrating Easter in Germany
​             Avacado Toast preserved lemons, and Easter in Germany

​

I always thought that making quiche was challenging and required a lot of time and effort. I was mistaken. This delicious dish can come together quickly with a store-bought crust. Add a nice green salad, and you have lunch or dinner. It tastes fantastic, whether served warm or cold and makes a great snack. You can prepare a fancy crab quiche or a simple leek quiche; the possibilities are endless

I began making quiches about a year ago and haven’t stopped since. Here's a recipe to celebrate the arrival of spring. Fresh green asparagus and smoked salmon make this quiche a delightful treat for a sunny spring day.

I enjoy making my own crust, but when I'm not in a hurry. I have been experimenting with various recipes. The basics remain the same: butter, flour, and water, and everything must be very cold. Some recipes include an egg, a teaspoon of vinegar, or even cream cheese. Those who follow me on social media know that I'm a big fan of Jacques Pépin, and that’s where I discovered this crust recipe, which I found to be excellent. It's simple and quick to prepare.

Some important things to consider:
All ingredients must be cold for the dough. I put my flour and ice water in the fridge and partially frozen my butter. I saw recipes where even the food processor was put in the fridge. 
Bake the quiche on a baking sheet to prevent filling from overflowing into the oven. 
Always leave a little extra dough to patch up the crust after it is baked to prevent the filling from leaking into the baking sheet (it has happened to me more than once).
Don't fill the quiche up to the rim. If you have a lot of filling left over, add more halfway through the baking process. 
Enjoy this delicious quiche, warm or at room temperature. 

Ingredients:
Quiche crust:
1 cup (113g) butter
1 ½ cups (200g) flour plus more for rolling out the dough
¼ tsp salt 
¼ tsp sugar
½ cup ice water
Parchment paper
Old beans or weights to blind bake the crust 
Directions:
Cube the butter into ½-inch pieces and place them in the freezer until they are partially frozen. Refrigerate the ice water and flour. I usually do this a couple of hours before processing the dough, or overnight. Add the flour, salt, and sugar to the food processor and pulse for a few seconds. Then, add the ice-cold cubed butter and pulse about 12 times. Next, add the ice water and pulse a few times. On a floured surface, knead the dough until it forms a ball. Roll out the dough on the floured surface, turning and flipping it to prevent sticking. It looked easy when Jacques Pépin did it, but I found it more challenging. I managed to roll it over my rolling pin and place it into the tart pan. Press the dough into the pan and patch any mistakes. Keep a small ball of dough aside to repair any holes after baking the tart. Place the tart in the freezer for twenty minutes and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover the tart with parchment paper and beans, and bake it on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and parchment paper, then bake the tart for an additional 10 minutes. Let the tart cool before adding the filling. The crust can be baked a day before.
The filling:
Ingredients:
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese 
12 spears of green Asparagus 
4 ounces smoked salmon
3 eggs
1 cup cream or half and half
¼ cup milk 
1tsp. salt 
1tsp. pepper
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ cup pine nuts.
Directions 
Preheat the oven to 320 ˚degrees Fahrenheit (160 Celsius)
A  9-inch tart form with removable bottom 
To roast the pine nuts, heat a frying pan over medium heat and keep a close eye on them. They can burn easily, so be careful!
Next, rinse the asparagus and snap off about an inch from the bottom. The woody part can be tough even after cooking, so it’s best to remove it. Then, use a sharp vegetable peeler to gently peel away the outer layer from the lower half of the spear. This will remove the fibrous skin and expose the tender, pale green flesh underneath. Leave the tops untouched.
Spread the cheese evenly on the bottom of the quiche. Arrange the asparagus spears in a circular pattern atop the quiche. To make them fit, trim the ends. (See  photo) Place pieces of salmon between the asparagus. Add the trimmed ends of asparagus wherever there’s space.
In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, cream, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until the mixture is smooth. Pour the egg mixture over the quiche. If you have extra egg filling, save it for later after the quiche has baked for at least 10 minutes, and then add it to the quiche. I had just enough filling, so I didn’t have any extra.
Sprinkle the pine nuts over the quiche and bake on a baking sheet in a preheated oven for an hour. Enjoy this delicious quiche! 
Guten Appetit!
Recipe from the many chefs before me, with a special thanks to Jaques Pèpin
The sunnycovechef.com
​ 

I made this soup a zillion times. It is made in  30 minutes and you have a delicious  wholesame meal. Click here for the recipe 

I am going to be in Germany next week and I hope that I will be sitting in a small pub with a beer and Flammenkuchen. Click here for the recipe

This asian inspired salad has been a friend of mine for decades. The recipe is from the Green's Restaurant In San Fransisco . Click here for the recipe.

This asparagus frittata is a no fuss easy to make centerpiece at any table for brunch. Click here for the recipe

I have been craving meat lately, and my husband is over the moon because it’s his favorite food group. He only needs potatoes and maybe a small side of veggies. I’m more of a veggie, potato, and gravy kind of person, with less meat. While searching for dinner ideas, I found some delicious pork loin chops at Whole Foods. I love their pork. When I was a kid, my grandpa raised pigs on our family farm in Germany. The pigs had huge stalls and spent their days outside foraging in the garden. Nowadays, they’d be called heritage pigs. I wish I could find that quality of pig meat here; it’s incredible.

Once I got home with my pork chops, I looked for a new recipe and found a good one on a German website. It had all my favorite ingredients, including a light, nicely flavored gravy. Let me tell you, it was a hit! The meat was moist and tender, and the sauce went perfectly. It was so good that I tried the same boneless chicken breast recipe. The chicken breasts turned my salad into a meal and were great on a sandwich. 

I served my pork chops with mashed celeriac root and potatoes. I will share the recipe the next time I prepare them. The reason is that I did not measure the ingredients. I still have Swiss chard in my garden, and I prepared my Swiss chard with raisins; I did not add the pine nuts to the Swiss chard. The Swiss chard with raisins made this meal complete. 
The original recipe called for Caraway seeds. You will find them quite often in German dishes like sauerkraut and sauces. I left them out, but feel free to add them. Toast 1 TBS of caraway seeds in a dry pan until they change color. Then, grind them with a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder. Germans believe that caraway seeds help you digest your food. 

There are a few things to consider for this recipe. You'll need a meat thermometer to measure the temperature. The pork is done when it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven, cover it, and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The chicken breasts must reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit on the thermometer. Again, allow the meat to rest for 5 to 10 minutes, and cover it to keep it warm. This recipe can be easily doubled.

Ingredients:
Recipe for two
2 boneless pork loin chops 
or 2 boneless skin-on chicken breasts
1 large red onion 
2 TBS dried marjoram
4 TBS olive oil
2 TBS butter  
1 TBS tomato paste 
½ to 1 tsp. sugar 
½ tsp. sweet paprika 
2 bay leaves 
1 ½ cup vegetable broth
Directions:
Remove pork chops from the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting. Cut the onion into quarters and then into thin strips. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Heat an oven-proof dish in the oven.
Slightly slice the fat edges of the pork chops and season the meat with salt, pepper, and one teaspoon of dried marjoram. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the meat on all sides for 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the heated ovenproof dish. Add one teaspoon each of butter on top of the two pork chops and finish cooking in the hot oven on the middle rack for 10 minutes or until the meat reaches the internal temperature of 145 degrees. Cover the meat and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. 
I used two boneless skin-on chicken breasts and cooked them the same way I cooked the pork chops. I took them out of the oven when the internal temperature reached 165 degrees. I covered them and let them rest for another 10 minutes. These succulent chicken breasts will turn your favorite salad into a meal or make a great sandwich or snack.  I like eating them with my Romesco sauce.  
For the sauce, add 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tsp butter to the pan, add the onions, and sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add 1⁄2 tsp sugar and 1 tbsp tomato paste; roast briefly. Season with salt, pepper, and a little hot paprika. Deglaze with 1½ cup of vegetable stock, add 1⁄2 tsp dried marjoram and two bay leaves, and let it cook uncovered for 5 minutes., reducing the liquid. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add more broth. 
​
This is a recipe from Essen und Trinken
Adapted by Sonnycovechef.com

 If you prefer Schnitzel ( breaded pork chop) with or without a tasty mushroom sauce, this recipe is for you.  Click here!

I have been searching for easy yet delicious recipes. Since mussels and clams are in season and among my favorite shellfish, I couldn’t resist trying this recipe from Real Simple Magazine. The first time I made it with mussels and clams it turned out fantastic. The chorizo added a subtle smokiness and richness, while the leeks provided substance and extra flavor. The best part? It comes together quickly.

For my second attempt, I doubled the recipe and used only clams. I also used Mexican chorizo, which added some spice to the dish. My husband made his famous garlic bread, and we had a warm, spicy dish for six people on a rainy, cold night. A green salad with fennel and grapefruit completed the meal. For dessert, I made my marzipan cake with raspberry sauce. Everyone went home with a full belly.

​I never had any leftovers when I made this dish. Since I had to quickly snap a photo to share with you while dinner was already on the table, I apologize for the poor quality of the picture. I will switch the photo the next time I make it. If you prefer pasta instead of crusty bread, feel free to try it. It should be ok, but I haven't tried it. Adjust your seasoning according to your taste. I used whole canned peeled tomatoes and squeezed them with my hands into small pieces. The sauce can be prepared ahead of time. Just reheat it before adding the clams.
​ 
Ingredients:
4 servings 
3 to 4 lb.clams or mussels or both
½ TBS. olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
4 oz. Mexican  or Spanish style chorizo, depending on your taste 
1 ½ cup leeks from one large leek
1 ½ cup dry white wine
1 cup canned, chopped tomatoes
1 tsp. salt 
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp.sugar
2 TBS. butter
chopped fresh chives, or parsley  

Directions:
Put the clams or mussels in a large container of cold water and let them soak for about 30 minutes. When ready to take them out, rinse them in cold water and scrub them clean if necessary. Discard all calms that are not closed. 
Cut the leeks in half and thinly slice them. Rinse them in cold water until all the dirt is removed. Dry them in a colander. 
Remove the casing from the chorizo, half them, and then cut into ½ -inch pieces.
In a large pot, slowly heat the olive oil, add chorizo, and saute at medium heat, stirring often until the chorizo begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the leek and garlic, stirring often until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and reduce and cook it for a couple of minutes. Add the tomatoes and spices and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring often. Adjust the spices according to your taste. When you are ready to serve, add the clams and cook them over medium heat for about 7-9 minutes with the pot covered. When the clams have opened, remove them with a slotted spoon into warmed serving bowls. Discard all unopened clams.  Add the butter to the sauce and stir until dissolved. Pour the sauce over the clams and sprinkle with chives or parsley. Serve immediately. 

Guten Appetit!
Recipe from Real Simple Magazine
Adapted by ˚Sunnycovechef

Here is another seafood recipe that might tickle your fancy. It's halibut with  butternut squash, seasoned with ginger and cumin,and served with a shiitake, edamame bean,  mushroom sauce. The perfect Spa food. 
​Click  here for the recipe

How about a sheet pan dish with salmon and fennel? It's a super easy dish with a French twist.
Click here for the recipe

These eggless hazelnut cookies are super delicious  little treats and can be enjoiyed anytime of the day, but especially with a cup of  tea, coffee or any other beverage enjoy.
  Click here for the recipe 

I have been searching for a chocolate cake recipe for a long time. I wanted a rich, European-style cake with chocolate as the main flavor. Every bite should be a moment of pure bliss and joy. I was looking for a simple cake without frosting or glaze. Eventually, I chose a recipe from Lia Linster, a Michelin-starred chef from Luxembourg. I found the recipe in a German book that she co-wrote with a doctor and an evolutionary biologist who is a professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Heidelberg. I love the title of the book, "Carrots Love Butter" (Karotten Lieben Butter). This book discusses the importance of reviving good cuisine and learning to enjoy traditionally cooked dishes without guilt. This is right up my alley. I believe that eating should be a pleasurable experience, and that's excactly what this book is all about. Trust me when say that indulging in this cake is an absolute delight. 

This is not your typical chocolate cake with frosting, the ones my husband likes. He compared this cake to a brownie and wasn't crazy about it, but he managed to eat the last piece, which I had saved. Small pieces or even slivers of this cake will satisfy your sweet tooth. I baked this cake for my German friends, who I invited to our yearly feast of Königsberger Kloopse (meatballs in a tangy white sauce) We had a lot of fun drinking champagne and enjoying our meal. I served the cake with soft whipped cream, which I flavored with maple syrup . The next day I decided to serve it with whipped cream and raspberry sauce. Click here for the raspberry sauce recipe.

This cake serves small portions and will feed a crowd; you will have 12 regular pieces. My cake lasted a few days on my kitchen counter, during which time I satisfied all my sweet cravings with a little sliver here and there.

Remember to take the butter out the night before; it needs to be very soft. I also let the eggs sit out to reach room temperature. I splurged on good chocolate, buying Valrhona 70% dark chocolate, which I believe makes all the difference in this cake. I ground the almonds in a food processor. This is an easy cake to bake.
​

Ingredients:
7 ounces ( 200g) 70%dark chocolate
6 eggs at room temperature
9 ounces (250g) sugar
4.5 ounces (125g) ground almonds 
9 ounces (250g) soft butter
3.5 ounces (100) g flour sifted
A pinch of salt

Directions:
Grind the almonds in a food processor until they are very fine
Prepare a  9-11 inch cake pan with a removable buttom by buttering it, then add some flour. Shake off all excess flour. 
Melt the chocolate in a warm water bath. Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites with two ounces (50g) of sugar and a pinch of salt. I always beat the egg whites first because I use the same mixer (KitchenAid) for the cake. Place the beaten egg whites in a bowl to use later.
Beat the egg yolks with the remaining 7 ounces (200g) of sugar for about three minutes until all the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns pale. Then, stir in the melted chocolate, ground almonds, and softened butter. Once well mixed, gently fold in the sifted flour. Carefully fold in the egg whites with a spatula. 
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for about 40 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake to test for doneness. 
Place the baked cake on a rack to cool, then dust it with dark cocoa powder before serving. I served my cake with semi-stiff whipped cream flavored with maple syrup and raspberry sauce. 

Guten Appetit! 
Recipe from Lia Linster from the book Karotten Lieben Butter
Adapted and translated by the sunnycovechef.com

​

Here is a chcocolate tart I posted in 2014. It has a buttery crust with an orange flavored chocolate ganache.
​ Click here for the recipe.

Here is a recipe for a walnut pie, which is more like a German chocolate tart. I shared this recipe back in 2013. I made it for my mother's birthday in Germany and it received great revies.
​Click here for the recipe

If you are looking for a special meal to please your loved one on Valentine's Day or any other occasion , try this scallop dish. It will make you look like a gourmet cook.
Click for the reipe here.

It all started when my butcher shop in Santa Cruz sold delicious German hot dogs. They are almost as good as the ones I get at my favorite butcher in Germany. I needed a potato salad to go with these hot dogs. As you know, potato salad comes in many forms, and everyone has their favorite. I prefer a version without mayonnaise. As in the US, Germany has different potato salad recipes. There’s the heavy one with mayo and those made with vinegar and oil. This particular German potato salad is made with beef or other broth that is seasoned with vinegar and mustard. The potatoes are soaked in the broth and vinegar mixture, allowing them to absorb the flavor. You’ll find this salad in the southern part of Germany, in the states of Schwabia and Bavaria. I was born and raised in the northern part of Germany, and I don’t recall my family ever eating this kind of potato salad, but I learned to love it later in life. 

I’ve been obsessed with finding a recipe I like. It has taken me far too long to come up with this recipe. I had some help from a new cookbook I bought for myself and all my friends who like German cooking. The book is called Classic German Baking by Luisa Weiss. She published a German baking book a few years ago. I have also watched more than a few YouTube videos of German cooks making potato salad. I have my favorites, and they entertain me quite often.

Here are a few things I learned while making the salad. First, you’ll need waxy potatoes. I used Yukon Golds. Don’t worry if the sliced potatoes fall apart a bit. That adds more flavor! However, you don’t want mashed potatoes. I ordered some German pickles on Amazon and used them in this salad and my Herring recipe. They are sweeter and have more flavor.  As for the broth, I used beef broth, but you can also use vegetable or chicken broth. 
When combining the potatoes and broth, make sure they’re both hot. This helps the flavors meld together and the potatoes absorb the broth. Don’t worry if some of the potato slices break apart. The salad develops its flavor after sitting at room temperature for an hour or longer. It’s fine the next day, although you need to refrigerate leftovers. You can easily double this recipe. Some restaurants in Germany make huge amounts of this salad. 

Ingredients:
This recipe makes 4 servings.
2 pounds Yukon potatoes
1 medium yellow onion, minced ( 1cup)
1 1/8  cup beef  broth 
1 TBS sunflower oil
3 TBS  champagne vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp.  sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
⅓  cup diced diced pickles 
3 TBS chopped parsley 

Directions:
Start by giving the potatoes a good rinse and placing them in a big pot. Fill the pot with water and add a tablespoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once it’s boiling, turn down the heat and cover the pot partially. Let the potatoes simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes. Keep an eye on them and check if they’re done by poking them with a sharp knife. If they’re soft, they’re ready! Do not overcook them, or they will get mushy. Peel the potatoes while they are still hot. 
Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onions. Cook the onions over medium-low heat until glassy, but you do not want to brown the onions. This will take between 5 to 8 minutes. Whisk the mustard into the onions and continue to whisk for about a minute. Add broth, vinegar, salt, sugar, and pepper, and boil. Put the hot mixture over the hot potatoes. Gently combine them with a large spoon. Some of the potatoes will fall apart, and that’s OK. You will also have quite a bit of liquid left in the salad.  Add salt, pepper, and sugar if needed. Add the pickles and the parsley. Cover the bowl and let the salad sit for an hour or longer at room temperature. Most of the liquid will have been absorbed by the potatoes. Any leftovers can be refrigerated, and the salad is just as good the next day.
  
​Guten Appetit!
Recipe by Sunnycovechef and many German Cooks

This delicious breaded porkchop, or Schnitzel as we call it in Germany, goes perfectly with the potato salad. Here is the link to the recipe.

German burned almond or gebrannte Mandeln, are a cherished staple in German Christmas markets. They instantly transport me back to my childhood with their captivating aroma of caramel, almonds, and cinnamon. These irresistible treats make the chilly winter months more bearable. They are a favorite treat during the Advent season and are often served in paper bags.

After weeks of baking Christmas cookies, I tried new recipes but found none blog-worthy. These new recipes for cookies didn’t live up to the cookies that I had made for years. I would love to add a new recipe to my old loved ones. I’m still searching, and maybe next year I will find some that I really love. So, I went back to baking cookies I have made for years, some for decades. My gluten-free chocolate almond  Basler Brunsli cookies disappeared quickly. These Swiss cookies are a delicacy .

My chocolate-walnut bars, richer and sweeter than most of my cookies, are always a hit. They’re easy to make and are the first ones to disappear from my cookie plate.

My hazelnut meringue cookies are unlike ordinary meringue cookies. They are delicate, dense, frosty, and chewy, more like a macaroon. Quite a few of my friends declared them their favorite cookie .

Christmas is next week and my tins are filled and  ready to share with friends and family. 

This simple recipe for burnt almonds needs only four ingredients and a frying pan. Just be careful when cooking them, they can burn easily. Follow the recipe and use a wooden spoon to stir. The whole process takes about 20 minutes, from start to finish. The almonds cool down pretty quickly, and you can easily separate them with your hands. You’ll probably end up eating a lot while doing this (I did). They’re really tasty when they’re warm. It might take a few tries to get the hang of it.This could be a fun project for teenagers.

Ingredients:
1 ¾  cups raw almonds ( with skins)
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup water +2 Tsp.
1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 
1 tsp.vanilla extract or paste 
Directions:
Prepare a  baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper
Combine sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and water in a large non-stick pan and bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Stir in almonds and bring to a boil again over high heat. As you stir,the mixture will became thick,and the water will evaporate. The sugar will start to crystallize and adhere to the almonds, giving them a dry, sandy appearance. This will take about 6-8 minutes.
Continue stirring and the crystallized sugar will begin to melt and caramelize, coating the almonds with a shiny glaze. Be vigilant to prevent burning; adjust the heat if necessary.Once the almonds are evenly coated and have a shiny appearance, spread the roasted almonds on a parchment-lined baking sheet, separate them with two forks, and your hands and let them cool completely. Store in an airtight container for weeks
Guten Appetit !
Recipe adapted from several different recipes
by the©Sunnycovechef.com 

Dear blogging friends, I hope this holiday season finds you and your loved ones surrounded by love, laughter, and the comforting warmth of togetherness. I truly appreciate your presence on my blog and look forward to sharing more recipes and travel adventures with you in the coming New Year. Happy Holidays from my house to yours .

. Last year I posted a faux red currant jam recipe using cranberries and pomegranate juice. It became one of my favorite jams. I already have a recipe for Linzer Torte on my blog, but I decided to add an additional one. It is slightly different, but I am posting it because I can freeze the dough and make small tortes quickly. I have the jam and the dough available whenever I need a special treat, and can be creative with the recipe. Over the last two years, I  have made this Linzer Torte in many different variations. 

After reading the book, Lessons in Chemistry, ​(and watching the series on TV), I am not surprised that this recipe has some scientific components that allows the dough to be frozen without losing its taste. The recipe is from the same book as the cranberry jam, Baking at the 20th Century Cafe by Michelle Polzine.

Even though I am not a cake decorator, I enjoy playing with different tart sizes and cookie cutters. My husband loved the torte I made for him with a wine bottle cookie cutter and two different jams. Talking about jams, my apricot jam was delicious on the torte. If you decide to make this, try your favorite jam. 

 Ingredients:

I coarsely grind skinless toasted almonds in a food processor. (The original recipe uses almond flour). I often skip the egg wash and sugar coating. You can use different jams or marmalades if you don’t have red currant or cranberry jam. I used apricot jam for one torte and it was delicious.

1 ½ cup (248g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
1 cup ground almonds 
18 TBS (250g) soft unsalted butter 
½ cup (150g) plus 1 TBS sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon
2 large eggs, hard-boiled 
1 egg, beaten for egg wash
2 tsp. sugar for dusting
about 2 cups of jam for the filling

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325˚ degrees Fahrenheit. 
Generously butter or spray whatever tart pan you use. 

In a medium bowl, sift together, flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the ground almonds.

Using an electric mixer or a stand-up mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest for about 3 minutes on medium speed until fluffy. Remove yolks from the hard-boiled eggs and press through a fine-mesh sieve. Save the whites. Add yolks to the butter and mix on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add dry ingredients all at once and pulse until dough becomes  homogeneous. 

Divide  the dough into 4 rectangular pieces, cover tightly in plastic wrap and freeze until you are ready to use it. If you want to make one torte, use my other recipe. I have used different tart pans for the torte (or is it a torte pan for a tart?). I have a rectangular one that I like to use. Partially defrost the dough, then press the dough into the tart form and freeze for about 5 minutes. Spoon the jam into the tart and decorate the top with whatever decoration you choose (made out of dough). If you like, brush the top with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in a preheated oven until the filling in the center bubbles. The baking time depends on the size of the tortes (30 to 45 minutes).  Cool the torte on a rack and transfer to a serving plate. The dough tends to be a little crumbly. 
​
Guten Appetit!
Recipe  from Baking at the 20th Century Cafe by Michelle Polzine
Posted by ©Sunnycovechef.com
​

This is the original recipe for the Austrian Linzer Torte that  I posted in 2016
​ Click here for the recipe.

This is my version of one of my favorite German dishes. I made it for some of my friends a couple of weeks ago, and they seem to like it.
​​Click here for the recipe.

Cruising means going from port to port and getting off the boat to explore a given area for one or two days. The cruise line offers many excursions and I prefer booking through them because it guarantees that you will not miss the boat if your group is late. That is very important because the ship will not wait for you beyond their given departure time.  I have seen and heard some horror stories. This is especially important when you embark on the boat for your cruise. My husband and I arrive at least two days ahead of time just in case the flight is canceled or delayed. I have talked to several disappointed people who have had family members miss their cruise. Enough of this, let's go to the fun part.
We boarded the Queen Mary 2 in New York and spent the first day at sea. Read about it here. Our first stop was Rockland, Maine. We took a bus ride to Camden. The local library in Camden is worth a visit. The picturesque scenery of the Maine coastline always intrigues me. My husband and I had visited Bar Harbor several years ago and loved it. I hope to visit again and stay a little longer. We had a delicious lobster roll in Rockport.   

Our next port was Halifax, Nova Scotia, it was here that Samuel Cunard was born. He later moved to the United Kingdom where he set up a joint venture with several other businessman to bid on the right to run a transatlantic shipping company between the UK and North America. These days, Cunard is owned by the Carnival group.
​We visited Peggy’s Cove, a magnificent lighthouse built on the rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery was beautiful and the lobster delicious.

The Queen Mary 2 anchored in Sept-Îlles in Quebec. It was raining that day and there was little to see. We took the HopOnHopOff bus, but never got off and returned to our cozy ship for tea time. 
Our next stop was Saguenay, a nice town in the province of Quebec. The city can be described as an isolated oasis in the middle of the vast remote wilderness of Northern Quebec. It was here that my husband and I flew in a helicopter for the first time. It was a great experience. I enjoyed walking through this small town and buying some handmade gifts 

We finally arrived in Quebec, the second most populous province after Ontario.  Quebec City is the only fortified city north of Mexico and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985. Everybody in Quebec City speaks French and it feels a bit like Paris. Every cobblestone street, corner, and plaza tells a story. We visited the iconic Fairmont Hotel, Le Château Frontenac, and were able to enjoy the lobby. It is supposed to be the most photographed hotel in the world. The cobblestone streets have many restaurants, cafés, and stores. I was just glad I didn’t walk these steep streets during a rainstorm or in winter when it is icy. I asked myself, how do people do it? We found a little restaurant that served my husband‘s favorite dish, Foie Gras.

The following day, we visited Montmorency Falls, located 8 miles from Quebec City, this waterfall is 30 meters higher than Niagara Falls, but not as impressive because it is much smaller. My favorite stop that day was visiting a place where we learned the history of maple syrup and how it is harvested. I loved the samples.

After two days in Quebec City, we sailed away, which was quite an event. There is something about a ship leaving the harbor which always amazes me. Our last port before returning to New York was Sydney, Nova Scotia. There are many churches including St. Patrick's, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Cape Breton. We opted to hire a taxi driver for a couple of hours to show us the area. He drove us along the Atlantic Coast and showed us a lighthouse and a museum from World War 2 where the Canadian military was sinking German U-boats. When we returned to town, three other boats had pulled in and the town was filling up. I visited a local store that had items made by local artists. There was some astonishing yarn and weaving work that I hadn't seen for decades. The tapestry was amazing. I bought some hand-knit socks and gloves.  

And just like that, our 12-day cruise on the beautiful Queen Mary 2 was over. I would love to go on another trip with any of the Queens.

My husband and I celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary on the beautiful Queen Mary 2 on a 12-day cruise from New York to Quebec and back to New York. When we flew to New York, we spent three days before boarding the ship. New York did not disappoint, although I thought it had too many security guards standing in the hotels and stores. One evening, we enjoyed the musical Water for Elephants and another evening we ate at Bourbon Steak New York, one of Chef Micheal Mina's restaurants, located in the Essex House. We both loved our visit to the MOMA. Before we knew it, our three days were over and we boarded the beautiful Queen Mary 2.  

A few hours after boarding the ship, we sailed away under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with only 8 meters separating the top of the ship from the bridge.
There is a pilot who guides the ship in and out of the harbor. I always love watching the pilots jumping off and onto the ship. I am amazed how skillful they are when maneuvering these large ships. This was the first time I sailed out of New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty is quite a moving experience. It is a touching and special moment that makes you wonder about all the people who came to this country to build a new life for themselves and their families. 
We returned to New York 12 days later. It was early in the morning and New York offered a great light show as the sun rose. I am happy I didn't miss this; it was worth getting up early in the morning. 

Our first day on the Queen Mary was a sea day. I love these days. We explored the ship, from the incredible library (the largest library at sea), where my husband loved looking at old maps and atlases to the spectacular Queen's room. If you like ballroom dancing, you are on the right ship. For the young and young at heart, there is a late-night disco where you don't have to be a ballroom dancer. There was  plenty to do and I enjoyed being on the high seas. I never got bored and was able to relax and enjoy all the different activities.

The Queen Mary 2 is not a cruise ship, it is an ocean liner, built for trans-Atlantic crossings. It is a throw back to the 19th century ocean liners. It even has a kennel for 24 animals. It is one of my bucket list items . I hope I have the chance to do it. ​

I will write  about our excursions in my next blog post. 

I hope you all enjoyed my previous post about Wilder Ranch and maybe some of you who live nearby have visited this spectacular place. 

Years ago, some docents at Wilder Ranch State Park wrote a cookbook that is now for sale. We use the recipes from this book to cook in the old fashioned stove in the Victorian Kitchen. The visitors are amazed when they see this antique beauty. We tell them how we light the fire and how long it takes to heat the oven (when the water on top of the stove starts boiling). There is no temperature gauge and more than once, the cookies got burned. My friend and fellow docent, Georgia, does it the best. I love being in the kitchen with her. My favorite recipe is the one for gingersnap cookies. They disappear very fast when visitors come through the kitchen, and I always save some for my husband who likes them too. ​

Here is a little history about molasses. Molasses is a thick, dark syrup produced during the refining process of sugar cane and sugar beets. Molasses was the primary sweetener used in America (and in Europe) until the 1880s, as it was more affordable than sugar. It contains vitamins and minerals and is nutritionally better than refined sugar. Molasses was a staple in the Victorian kitchen.

Ingredients:
This recipe makes about 34 cookies. 
Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit
¼ cup butter 
1 cup sugar
1 egg
¼ cup molasses
2 cups white flour
2 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp.salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ground gloves 
1tsp. ground ginger

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and molasses and beat well. Sift flour and mix with baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt. Sift again and then add it to the creamed mixture. Shape the dough into one-inch balls and roll them in a bowl of sugar. Set them two inches apart on an uncreased cookie . Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until just set and surface cracks. Cool on wire racks.  


Guten Appetit!
Recipe from the Wilder Ranch State Park Cookbook
Posted by Sunnycovechef.com

Wilder Ranch State Park is located on the Pacific Ocean coast north of Santa Cruz, California on scenic Highway 1. It has about 7000 acres with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The 17 different trails range from easy to moderate, with a classic grassland, oak and redwood riparian landscape. For breathtaking scenery of surf crushing against the rugged cliffs, take the Old Cove Landing Trail along the bluffs. Hugging the coast, it has windswept beaches and is stunningly beautiful, with birds and other wildlife. You might catch a glimpse of migrating whales or watch a flock of pelicans flying just above the horizon. When visiting this park, you will experience the California coastline at its best. It is one of my favorite walks and I take it when I volunteer at the old ranch that is also part of Wilder State Park, and where the park gets its name.

For over five years, I have been a docent at this beautiful place. Wilder Ranch is a state historical park and cultural preserve. Step back in time and visit a late 19th century dairy farm with living animals, a restored Victorian house, a Gothic Revival farmhouse, a barn, a dairy, a working blacksmith shop, and a tool shed powered by a Pelton water wheel. The historical buildings are often open to the public and cater to school groups. My favorite holiday celebrations are the 4th of July and Christmas. As a docent, you can find me in the Victorian kitchen baking cookies on a 100-year old wooden stove that is very temperamental.

I love being out there on foggy mornings and sunny afternoons. Its ideal for children and leisurely picnics under the trees. During the school year, I volunteer when schoolchildren come to learn about life in the late 1800s. We milk fake cows (the children love it). We play old-fashioned games and feed the real cows that live on the farm. All the volunteers dress in clothing of the time period.

 Come visit—and bring your family and friends. Check the website for events and tours.  

We are surrounded by Mexican food where I live, which I have come to appreciate over the years. So, when I was given Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy, Lean, & Fit book, I was immediately drawn to the recipe for a Mexican shrimp cocktail. I have made this recipe several times and it is a winner on my table. It is made with a tangy tomato-based sauce. 

My husband and I enjoyed this dish with a white Burgundy and some crusty bread (or tortilla chips). It is perfect for a warm summer evening or lunch on the balcony. Life is good when you can enjoy a meal like this. If you are ambitious, you can cook the shrimp yourself. I didn’t, as I am at a certain age where I get tired after awhile. To simplify, I buy already cooked shrimp. 

I made some changes to the recipe, using cherry tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes. I substituted a Meyer lemon for the lime because I have a lemon tree. I peeled the cucumber.  

This recipe is a dinner for two and an appetizer for four. 

Ingredients:
1½ TBS ketchup
Juice of ½ orange
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Juice of 1 lime 
¼ cup cilantro, roughly chopped  
4 medium-sized tomatoes 
1 small white onion, finely diced
1 cucumber, finely diced 
14 ounces cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 ripe avocado, diced
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Lime pieces to garnish

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix the ketchup, orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. Add the cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the shrimp and coat with the sauce. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. 
Serve the shrimp cocktail in a pretty glass or bowl with the avocado slices over it, topped with a slice of lime. If you want to add some hot sauce, go ahead (but I didn’t). 
​
Guten Appetit!
Recipe by Gordon Ramsey
Posted by © sunnycovechef.com
​ 

Here are some of my other shrimp recipes.  

This easy to make avocado salad with tiny bay shrimp has been a crowd pleaser in my house for years. It's a light meal for either lunch or dinner. You can prepare this in no time at all.
click here for the recipe

This baked shrimp with Quinoa, feta, and peas makes a scrumptious meal. 
​click here for the recipe

This salad is made with a celeriac root and could be a distant cousin of a Waldorf or a Caesar salad. It's a delicious combination.
​click here for the recipe

This apricot jicama salad is flavored with ginger . A perfect summer salad for a hot day. 
​click here for the recipe

When I first came to California I couldn’t stop eating all the fresh fruit that grows everywhere. My boyfriend (now husband) had an orange tree and every morning when the oranges were ripe, I had a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. Maybe that is why I married him 46 years ago.
​My favorite fruits to eat are peaches and nectarines. There is something about these sweet and juicy fruits that I can’t resist. I don’t want to cook with them, I just want to eat them with their juice dripping down my chin. Apricots, I prefer in cakes, ice cream, and especially marmalade.

I always know that summer has arrived when I see the first peaches and nectarines in the Farmers Market. And I eat them until the season is over. Several years ago, my niece gave me a cookbook called The Forest Feast Gathering, Simple Vegetarian Menus for Hosting Friends & Family by Erin Gleeson. The artwork in this book is stunningly beautiful and invites you into the redwoods near where I live. The vegetarian recipes are simple but delicious. The Peach Panzanella salad I made was mouthwatering and fantastic. My husband and I loved it.

A classic Tuscan bread salad is made with ripe tomatoes, dried Italian bread, and a simple tangy dressing. The best bread for this salad is a crusty loaf with a chewy center and a good crunchy crust. I used a baguette I already had, but might use ciabatta the next time. You want the bread to absorb the dressing without it becoming too soggy. It will help if you cut the bread into pieces and let it dry overnight. Salt your tomatoes first to draw out the juices. This intensifies the flavors in the tomatoes and gives you some juice for the dressing. This salad makes a perfect lunch or light dinner. We had it with oysters. 
​

Ingredients:
½ to 1 crusty baguette cut into 1-inch cubes
3 peaches or nectarines, cubed
3 tomatoes 
8 oz (225) fresh mozzarella cubes, halved 
15 basil leaves sliced 
6 TBS  olive oil 
3 TBS red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Dry the baguette cubes for a few hours if you have time. Preheat the oven to 350° (175 Celsius). Drizzle the bread with 3 TBS olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. Cut the tomatoes, sprinkle them with some salt, and drain them in a sieve. Make the vinaigrette by mixing the olive oil with the vinegar and the garlic. Toss all the ingredients with the vinaigrette and tomato juice from the drained tomatoes. Let the salad sit for about 15 minutes, then serve. 

​Guten Appetit!
Recipe from the Forest Feast Gathering 
Adapted by © sunnycovechef.com
​

 I have been home and cooking up a storm. I love cooking. Apricots are in season and I made my apricot marmalade. It's a lot of work but worth every minute.
​Click here for the recipe

I have some Apricots left from my marmalade and I will bake my apricot, berry cobbler with them. This is a real summer treat. Don't forget the ice cream.
​Here is the recipe

This yummy apricot jicama shrimp salad will not expand your waistline.
​Here is the recipe

If you are interested in a recipe for roasted apricot sorbet, an apricot galette, a German apricot cake ( easy to make) and apricot dumplings click here.

There are some days when you are tired, lazy, or whatever you want to call it. I had one of those days a few weeks ago watching cooking reels on my phone. I came across an Italian Chef named  Luca Pontanarosa. He owns a restaurant called Ristorante Corleone in Point Saint Lucie, Florida. One of his recipes got my attention. He called it: paccheri with cream of asparagus and burrata cheese with crispy speck. Paccheri is a large rigatoni-like pasta. I used a smaller tube pasta  and hickory-smoked bacon instead of Speck. I wish I had had Speck, but it’s not readily available. 

It turned out to be a delicious creamy pasta that will have a permanent place on my table. The combination of asparagus with burrata, basil, and parmesan cheese is amazing. It is rich and full of flavor. The bacon adds a lot, so I wouldn’t skip it. My husband calls this the Italian version of macaroni and cheese. He suggests the following wine pairing: a crisp white Bordeaux and a tantalizing pinot from Burgundy. Sorry, he prefers French wines. 

I used my Vitamix because I wanted a smooth sauce. I don’t like to have any stringy asparagus pieces in my sauce (a personal preference).  A blender would do the same thing. The original sauce looked more chunky. 

 We invited some friends and my husband grilled his famous rack of lamb. I made my tomatoes stuffed with zucchini and button mushrooms. Most of the time, I use shiitake mushrooms with this recipe, but the button mushrooms were just as good. Here is a link to the recipe. It was a delicious meal. 

This  pasta dish is the perfect comfort food and vegetable haters will eat some of the green stuff. I am thrilled to have found this recipe. The amount of pasta is up to you. If you want more sauce, cook less noodles. Add pasta water if you want a thinner sauce. This dish feeds 4-6 people comfortably, depending on individual appetites or what it is served with it. 

Ingredients:

¾ lb. tube pasta 
1 lb. green asparagus
1 large burrata cheese piece
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
⅓ cup basil leaves , sliced 
4 strips hickory-smoked bacon
3 TBS butter
2 TBS  or more olive oil 
1 cup or more hot pasta water
Salt and pepper 

Directions:

Put on some Big Night Italian music and heat up the pasta water. Add 1 TBS of salt to the pasta water.
Cut off the tips of the asparagus and put them aside. Break up the woody end of the asparagus and discard. Slice the asparagus stems in 1-inch pieces. Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan with a lid. Add the asparagus and sauté for a few minutes.  Add 1 cup pasta water and simmer covered for 20 minutes. Most of the liquid will evaporate after 20 minutes. While the asparagus is cooking, grate the parmesan cheese. I use a micro plane. Put the bacon in a cold frying pan and sauté until crispy. Discard most of the bacon fat and sauté the asparagus tips in the pan. Break the bacon into little pieces and restrain yourself from eating too many. 
Put the asparagus pieces, the burrata and parmesan cheese, the basil leaves, salt and pepper into a Vitamix or blender. Start with the lowest setting and then increase to more until the sauce is smooth. Taste the sauce, add salt and pepper, some more pasta water and a shot of olive oil. You want a thick and smooth sauce. In the meantime, cook the pasta according to the instructions on the bag. Taste for doneness. Mix the drained pasta with the sauce. Add the asparagus tips and bacon. Taste for seasoning and add more pasta water if necessary.  

Buon Appetito!
Recipe by Luca Pontarosa
Cooked by © Sunnycovechef 
​

Here are some more asparagus dishes
​

This soup has a permanent place in my kitchen. It is made in 20 minutes and so delicious. A nourishing healthy soup that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
​Here is the recipe.

A vegan asian salad that will please anyone's palate. Perfect for a picnic or party. Here is the recipe

This tart flambé or Flammkuchen as we call it in Germany is a pizza-like delicacy for the young and not so young. 
​Here is the recipe

This simple but tasty frittata is on the table in 20 minutes. 
Here is the recipe

In the world of food you are either a rhubarb lover or hater. I love rhubarb and when I see it in the store I start baking and cooking with it. When I was a child in Germany rhubarb grew wild in the fields and I remember eating delicious rhubarb cakes. Raw rhubarb makes your mouth pucker but once you cook this vegetable and add sweetener, it turns into a culinary delight, at least for me. It tastes like a green apple with a tiny hint of celery. 

Red rhubarb stalks have a stronger sweeter flavor. The green stalks are fine if you can’t find the red ones. When you buy them in the store select the larger stalks that are not curled or limp. Tenderness is not related to size. Look for stems without visible blemishes. 
Rhubarb is a vegetable. It is a member of the buckwheat family. The ancient Chinese used it as a medicinal herb over 5000 years ago. Rhubarb is a native of Siberia and got its name from the Rha River which is now called the Volga. The English were the first to eat rhubarb in the 17th century but started eating the leaves which contain a toxic amount of oxalic acid. It took them 200 years to figure out that they could eat the stalks. American settlers brought the plant to the US. 

I planted three plants in my tiny garden, which have survived gopher attacks and neglect. Even though my plants are several years old they produce just a few thin stalks with giant toxic leaves. 

I use the peel from the rhubarb and some tiny stalks to make the most delicious juice. I added the peel to a pot of water  (3 cups)  with a few tablespoons of sugar and cooked them for 20 minutes. I end up with a tasty juice to add to my sparkling or plain water.  It would be great for exotic cocktails. ​

Soon after we returned from our trip, I  hosted our book club and made this cake for dessert. For a main dish, I  prepared my chicken fricassee with fresh green asparagus baked in a dish covered with puff pastry. It was delicious, I started from scratch by making my chicken broth. It does make a difference. I put all my vegetable and bone scraps in the freezer and use them for my broth when the time comes. Click on the photos for the recipe.

This cake is not rich and sweet, it’s like a coffee cake you can enjoy any time of the day. It is good for a couple of days and feeds a crowd. You determine the size of the pieces you want to cut. I served it with vanilla ice cream but prefer it with whipped cream. I used my Kitchen Aid for this recipe.

Ingredients:
The crust:
(220g) Butter at room temperature 
1 ¼ cup (200g) powdered sugar
4 eggs at room temperature 
a pinch of salt
1 ¾ cup (220g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
​The Streusel:
9 TBS ( 20g) butter 
1 ⅓ cup (170g) all-purpose flour
a pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla  sugar 
1 scant cup (150g) sugar
The Rhubarb Filling:
1 ¼ pound rhubarb
¼  cup (30g) sugar 
¼ cup (30g) flour
Directions:
Preheat the oven to  350˚ degrees 
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
The Streusel:
Melt the butter and let it cool. I used my KitchenAid to mix the chilled butter, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, and flour with the hook attachment until the dough turned into streusels. I put the streusels in a bowl and used my hand to make them even and loosen them before I returned them to the refrigerator.
The Crust
Cream the soft butter and powdered sugar for about five minutes until the dough has doubled. Add one egg at a time. Mix and sift the flour with salt and baking powder and add to the dough. Mix the dough until the flour is incorporated. Spread the dough evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Wash and peel the rhubarb. Slice the rhubarb into ¼ inch slices and mix with the flour and sugar. Spread them evenly over the cake.  Sprinkle the streusel over the cake and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool the cake before serving.
​.
Guten Appetit!
recipe by from 
​https://www.sweetsandlifestyle.com/rhabarberkuchen-mit-streusel/#google_vignette
translated by Sunnycovechef.com

​

Here are some of my other Rhubarb recipes I posted over the years

A stunning strawberry rhubarb cake topped with meringue . 
​click here for the recipe

A  healthy  yogurt mousse with rhubarb compote
click her for the recipe

An easy to make rhubarb and strawberry crisp
​click here for the recipe

Roasted rhubarb and strawberry ice cream, a refreshing and  tasty treat .
​click her for the recipe 

A recipe for rhubarb and strawberry pie from my friend Robert
click ​here  for the recipe

It is raining and storming her at my little cove on the Pacific Ocean. My suitcases are packed for another adventure. We are emptying our fridge, which includes some bacon. So, my husband volunteered to make his famous BLT sandwich. What a wonderful guy I have! The day before, I made some homemade mayonnaise with just five ingredients. At first, I was skeptical because there was a most unusual ingredient in this recipe. This mayonnaise is made with water from garbanzo beans, and it has no eggs in it. Unbelievable but true, and it is delicious. It has a light and subtle tangy flavor and tastes like real mayonnaise. I love it. The recipe comes from one of my favorite German YouTube channels, Thomas kocht. I posted his recipe for Flammkuchen (flatbread ) on my blog. I tried other recipes from him, and they are all good.

So far, I had the mayonnaise with my artichokes and on my sandwiches. The wonderful thing is that it is made in a few minutes with very few ingredients. The first time I made it, I used my mini food processor, because I couldn’t find the container for my immersion blender. It worked, but I preferred making it with my immersion blender after I found the container. This is really amazing and I hope you try it. 

I have been tinkering with different sauces and herb butter, but the results have not been blog-worthy. This recipe, however, was a winner the first time I made it.
​So, with no further ado, here is the recipe. All I can say is, please try it the next time you open a can of garbanzo beans. You won’t believe how good it is.

Ingredients:
This recipe yields a scant cup of mayonnaise. One 15-ounce can of garbanzo beans has enough juice for two batches of mayonnaise.
¼ cup (50g) liquid from a can of garbanzo beans
½  tsp salt
¾  tsp mustard 
A splash of lemon
⅔ cup and 4 TBS (200 ml) sunflower oil

Directions:
Put all the ingredients (except, the oil) in your immersion container. Mix to combine the ingredients. Now, slowly add the oil while moving the blender up and down. Stop when it becomes solid. 

Guten Appetit!
The recipe  is from Thomas kocht
Posted by ©sunnycovechef.com

What to do with the actual garbanzo beans? Make humus, put them in a salad, or roast them for a snack. Here is Melissa Clark’s recipe from the NYT for roasted chickpeas using Za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice mix made from dried thyme, sumac, and sesame seeds. This gives the chickpeas a tangy bite. I enjoy snacking on them. 

Ingredients:
​1 15 ½ ounce can of garbanzo beans 
½ TBS olive oil 
1 TBS. Za’atar
¼-½ tsp. salt
Directions: 
Rinse the chickpeas, pat them dry, and let them dry for an hour.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees. 
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, spreading the beans evenly. Bake them in the center of the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until they are crunchy, shaking and rotating them every 10 minutes.
Place the chickpeas in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, za’atar, and salt. Store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
​ Recipe from Maureen Abood, written and adapted for the NYT by Melissa Clark
Adapted again by Sunnycovechef.com

The wind is blowing my hair all over my face while I am trying to write about my cruise on the Queen Elizabeth from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale via the Panama Canal. I am sitting on a balcony in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, sailing by the coastline of Colombia, passing the towns and cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta before reaching the Guajira Peninsula. This peninsula is split between northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela and is the northernmost peninsula in South America. Every day of our cruise, we get a ship program with information like this from our navigator. It is an adventure but a comfortable one because I am on a beautiful ship with excellent food, exquisite surroundings, and British flair. Every night, I am entertained by different artists or favorite music and can dance the night away. The day is filled with dance classes, exercise, reading a book from the 3000-book library, or relaxing on a deck chair. I am ten days into my 15-day journey, and it has been wonderful. There are people on this ship who have gone around the world.

Unfortunately, I didn't do much writing. I just had too much fun while cruising. Now, several months later, I have to rely on my memory. The highlight of this cruise was going through the Panama Canal, which was on my bucket list. Our speaker was Richard Wainio, who was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the canal and anything else you want to know about Panama. He had many personal stories to tell because he lived and worked as the director of the canal board during the transition from the American to the Panamanian government, which took many years. It was a privilege to transit the Panama Canal after a lifetime of hearing about it. 

We embarked in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for the day. Even though I only saw it for one day, I got a feeling for the island. We hiked through the jungle, and I had a great conversation with an American who had lived in Costa Rica for many years and owned a botanical garden. 

An earlier stop on our journey was Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. While, there we took a small boat ride through Lovers Beach and Los Arcos, a natural archway. 

How can I describe the Queen Elizabeth? It is sassy, elegant and relaxing. I loved the daily talks, the food, the dress standards, the shows, and the service. I enjoyed mingling with different people from all around the world. I rarely, if ever, get to dress for special events at home, so on this ship, I finally had the opportunity. It was so much fun. I only wish I was a better dancer. I apologize to all the people that I stepped on. However, if you want to relax and unwind, this is the perfect way to do it. I fell in love with cruising, and I am fortunate that I am about to embark on another cruise on this beautiful boat. Stay tuned. 

Last week, my girlfriend Diane surprised me with a bag of chanterelles she found on a mountain in Corralitos. Corralitos is in the southern part of Santa Cruz County. It’s an idyllic area known for its orchards and tree-covered hillsides, a peaceful place to enjoy the countryside. 

I was in cook’s heaven when I saw these freshly picked chanterelles. I thought about sautéeing them in a little butter with shallots and cream and having them with crusty sourdough bread. What a treat! Chanterelles are great in a creamy pasta dish or an omelet for breakfast. Creating a dish with these beautiful and delicious mushrooms has so many possibilities. I chose a galette from Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook Everyday Dorie. I have used this book for several recipes and have not been disappointed yet.

The galette was a culinary treat, with the filling full of different flavors complemented by a flaky crust. It is an all-butter crust, which I like, and comes together quickly in a food processor. Of course, it can also be made by hand. I put the butter in the freezer for about 25 minutes. Instead of chanterelles, you can substitute other mushrooms. When the chanterelles are no longer available, I might try a mixture of shiitake and button mushrooms. The galette is delicious, warm, or at room temperature. Serve it with a salad, and you have a delicious lunch, dinner, or snack.

Life on Sunny Cove has been great. We’ve been busy with visitors and enjoyed reminiscing about old times and thinking about what the future might hold. It’s been raining on and off, so it’s the perfect time to curl up by the fire and slow down. 

Don't omit any of the ingredients, Dorie Greenspan did a wonderful job creating this dish. The walnuts add an extra crunch to the galette.
​

Ingredients:
The crust:
1 cup ( 2o4grams ) all-purpose flour 
½ tsp. fine sea salt
2 TBS sugar
8 TBS (4 ounces, 113 grams ) cold (almost frozen) butter, cut into 16 pieces
¼ cup (60ml) ice water

Directions for the crust:
​Place the flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor and pulse a few times to blend the ingredients. Distribute the butter pieces over the mixture and pulse until small pieces with some larger ones form. Add more water and pulse, continuing to add water and scrape down the sides of the processor as needed. Pulse until the dough holds together. Transfer the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, flatten it into a disk, and roll it into a 12-inch circle between sheets of plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. 

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Center the oven rack in the middle. Roast the walnuts for about 10 minutes. 
Cut the leeks in half and thinly slice them. Wash them and let them drip dry in a sieve. 
My chanterelles were very dirty, so I rinsed them quickly under cold running water and patted them dry with a paper towel. Cut off the bottom of the stem and slice the rest of the chanterelles into bite-sized pieces.
Cut the bacon into ¾-inch slices and sauté over medium heat until crispy. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels. Pour off all but 1 TBS of the bacon fat from the pan. 
Pour the olive oil into the frying pan with the bacon fat. Heat it over medium heat, then add the leeks and fry for a few minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic, cooking for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. The mushrooms will release water, but it will evaporate as you continue cooking. Season with salt, pour in the wine, and stir, scraping the pan until the wine evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add the cream and cook until mostly absorbed. Remove from heat and stir in the bacon, walnuts, 2 TBS Parmesan, thyme, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can prepare the filling ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a couple of days. 


Take the dough out of the fridge and let it rest for a few minutes. Peel off the plastic wrap and place the dough on a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet. Scrape the filling onto the center of the dough and spread it into a 9-inch circle. Fold the unfilled border over the filling. As you fold the dough, it will naturally pleat on itself. Bake the galette for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the galette and enjoy this special treat.

The filling:
1 TBS olive oil 
½ pound (227 grams) mushrooms 
4 slices bacon
2 leeks, white and light green parts only
1 garlic clove finely chopped
 fine sea salt
3 TBS dry white wine
2 TBS heavy cream
3 TBS walnuts 
¼ cup (24 grams) finely grated parmesan 
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves 
Freshly ground pepper 

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Center the oven rack in the middle. Roast the walnuts for about 10 minutes. 
Cut the leeks in half and thinly slice them. Wash them and let them drip dry in a sieve. 
My chanterelles were very dirty, so I rinsed them quickly under cold running water and patted them dry with a paper towel. Cut off the bottom of the stem and slice the rest of the chanterelles into bite-sized pieces.
Cut the bacon into ¾-inch slices and sauté over medium heat until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a platter covered with a paper towel. Pour off all but 1 TBS of bacon fat from the pan. 
Pour the olive oil into the frying pan with the bacon fat. Heat on medium, toss in the leeks, and fry for a few minutes. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook for about five minutes or until the vegetables are softened. The mushrooms will release water, but it will evaporate as you continue to cook. Season with salt and add the wine, stirring and scraping the pan until the wine has evaporated about two minutes. Pour in the cream and cook until it is mostly absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and add the bacon, walnuts, 2 TBS parmesan, thyme, and pepper. Taste for seasoning. You can make the filling ahead and keep it in the fridge for a couple of days. 
Take the dough out of the fridge and let it sit for a few minutes. Peel off the plastic wrap and put the dough on a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet. Scrape the filling into the middle of the dough and spread into a 9-inch circle. Fold the bare border over the filling. As you fold the dough, it will pleat on itself. Bake the galette for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan over the galette and enjoy this special treat.

​Guten Appetit!
Recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s cookbook Everyday Dorie
Posted by the ©Sunnycovechef 
​

Think stuffed mushrooms with an Asian twist. The shiitake mushrooms are stuffed with ground pork, water, chestnuts, and ginger. Your football fans might like these little morsels. Click here for the recipe.

This is one of the first recipes I posted on my blog. It could be a special treat for Valentine's Day if you have a vegetarian sweetie. The crepes are filled with shiitake mushrooms and goat cheese.  Click here for the recipe. 

I have always loved this chocolate tart. It doesn't have a lot of sugar, and the chocolate and crust complement each other nicely.
​                                             Click here for the recipe.

I am not a big breakfast person. Give me a glass of water, a nice cup of coffee, and a piece of toast, and I am satisfied. But lately, I discovered homemade granola, and it has become a game changer. It is my go-to breakfast. Trust me, homemade granola is so much better than the store-bought kind. For me, the store-bought ones are too sweet and often have things added that I don’t like. With homemade granola, you can choose your own nuts, seeds, dried fruit, sweetener, and flavoring. You can control whatever you want to add. Once you make it, it lasts for weeks in the pantry. I have been playing with various ingredients for a couple of months. Every homemade granola recipe I have come across uses coconut flakes. But I don’t like coconut. I recommend adding them if you like them. If you have the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perlman, check out her granola recipe. She likes her granola in clusters and adds a whipped egg white to the granola mixture before she spreads it out on the baking sheet. I have not done that. Whatever you do, you will end up with a jar of crunchy, chewy, and lightly sweetened granola. This is also a wonderful project to do with children, that way, they can create their own breakfast.

Life at Sunny Cove has had its ups and downs. I find solace in the kitchen as long as my husband cleans up my mess. I have slowed down tremendously. I need breaks now, so no more multitasking. I am fortunate that I have family and friends who support me.

Be creative and design your own granola: add your favorite nuts and seeds, but remember that they need to be roasted before adding them. Use a sweetener if you like and however much you like. My preferred choice for sweeteners is honey and maple syrup. For dried fruits, I use raisins, cranberries, cherries, or a mixture of all. Deb Perlman from Smitten Kitchen adds roasted wheat germ. For fats, I use sunflower oil, but you may also use olive oil, coconut-, or canola oil. Some recipes call for melted butter. 

Ingredients:
This recipe makes about 4-5 cups of granola

3 ½ cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup toasted hazelnuts
¼ cup ground flax seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp.salt
½ cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds  
⅓ cup sunflower oil
⅓ cup honey
2  TBS maple syrup
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup (or more) dried cranberries, raisins, cherries, or other fruit

Directions:
Preheat the to 300˚ F (150˚C)
Cover the baking sheet with waxed paper
Combine the oats, hazelnuts, and flax seeds in a large bowl. 
Combine the wet ingredients and spices in another bowl.
Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ones. Spread them out on the cookie sheet covered with wax paper and bake until golden, approximately 40-45 minutes, tossing occasionally. Add the dried fruits and store them in an airtight container.
​
Guten Appetit!
Recipe from the sunnycovechef.com
​

Here are some more recipes for breakfast or brunch. 

These  healthy savory  muffins will give you energy for a long time.
Click here for the recipe

Avocado toast with homemade preserved lemons. 
​Click here for the recipe

Healthy banana pancakes
​Click here for the recipe.

It has been a while since my last blog post. Time seems to just run away from me. I spent two wonderful weeks in Germany for a family event. I am always happy when I see my family and friends and reconnect with them, even if it is only for a short time. What a privilege. After five days in my village, I drove with my niece to Lüneburg, which is my favorite town in Germany. I ended my trip In Berlin with my niece and her family. We had a great time at the Berlin Zoo and Aquarium with my two-year-old grand niece. I returned several weeks ago, and I have to say that this time, I had a bad case of jet lag for a week. Age may have something to do with it. 

​A couple of years ago, I bought this wonderful cookbook called Baking At the 20th Century Cafe by Michelle Polzine. The author specializes in baked goods from across the former Austro-Hungarian empire. I cannot resist these delicious delicacies. What I especially like is that she substitutes domestic ingredients for the often hard-to-find European ingredients. I love this, and I find her recipes exquisite.  I posted her recipe for roasted strawberry ice cream in September.
​

Two of my favorite jams are sour cherry and red currant. Both fruits are rarely available here in California, and if you find them, they are expensive. This faux red currant jam is made from cranberries and pomegranate juice and comes very close to the real thing. I have made it for three years now, and everyone seems to like it. And it is perfect on baked brie or pears. And it is delicious with duck or on any cake or cookie, like Linzer torte. It also makes a great gift for the holidays. I have doubled and tripled this recipe. I learned a new way to prepare the jars for the jam by putting the clean jars in a warm oven.

Ingredients:
This recipe makes about three 8-ounce jars

3 cups (300 grams) fresh cranberries
2 cups  (390 grams) sugar
2 cups pomegranate juice

Directions:
Put a small plate in the freezer
Preheat the oven to 250˚ F (120 Celsius). 
Put the clean canning jars on a sheet pan lined with a damp towel and transfer it to the oven. Put the jar lids, funnel, and tongs in simmering water on the stove.
Wash the cranberries and discard any squishy ones. Put them in a large pot with the juice and sugar and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skimming off the foam that rises to the top. Reduce the heat so that the mixture simmers until the berries pop. Stir with a whisk to break up the berries. I use a masher to smash the berries. Continue cooking until the mixture has thickened and registers 221˚F (105˚Celsius) on an instant-read-thermometer. It will take about 10 to 15 minutes. To test, drop a spoonful on the chilled plate and see if it has thickened. 
Remove the jars from the oven and ladle the jam into them, filling each one within a millimeter of the top. Wipe the rims of the jars with a wet paper towel, and seal the jars with the lids and rings. Invert the jars and let them cool.
After a few hours, test the jars to make sure they have sealed. And tighten the rings. If they are not sealed, put them in a water bath for 10 to 15 minutes and boil them until the tops pop. You know your jars are sealed when the lid doesn't move when you press on it. To be totally safe, follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with the jars.
​
Guten Appetit!
Recipe by Michelle Polzine from her book Baking At The 20th Century Cafe
Posted by the Sunnycovechef.com

My cranberry ketchup is perfect on any sandwich but will elevate a turkey sandwich to a different level.
​Click here for the recipe.

In 2016, I posted this recipe for Linzer Torte. The cranberry-pomegranate jam will be perfect for it. 
Click here  for the Linzer Torte recipe 

Whenever I visit Germany, I have to have Matjes herring. It is a northern German dish that I absolutely love. I have discovered a way to make it here at home. 
Click here for the recipe. 

Next week, it is my turn to host our book club.  Because it's the holiday season, I am treating them to a cioppino dinner. Cioppino is a medley of fresh seafood in a rich wine and tomato broth. This has been my go-to dish for many years when entertaining during the winter months. 
Click here for the recipe.

Several weeks ago, I came across this recipe in the Wall Street Journal. I knew right away that I had to try it, and I am so glad I did. It turned out to be a winner. My hubby, who prefers steak over chicken, loved it and ate it with gusto. This recipe has a sweetness with a lot of added flavor. Let’s face it, chicken can get boring, but this recipe livens it up with the sauce. The figs and grapes add a luscious taste. You could omit the fruit,t but I wouldn’t. I might add prunes instead of figs or use just grapes. I made this for my Sunday dinner with rice and spinach. What a treat!

Life has been very good here at Sunny Cove. The weather is perfect, except for a 3 -day heatwave that brought over crowds from the Bay Area wanting to cool off in the ocean. I was busy in my kitchen making Königsberger Klopse, a yearly event for my German girlfriends. I also prepared a salmon dinner for five of my Swiss friends. My husband got a special treat when I made him my herring recipe. I have been experimenting with different recipes, some of them ended up not being blog worthy. There are some other great recipes I can’t wait to post. However, I might be running out of time, because I am leaving for Germany for a family event: my grandniece is being baptized. It’s a joyful event and I will see all my relatives.

This chicken dish will be on my table often. When figs are no longer in season, I will experiment with different fruits, although I think grapes add a wow factor to this dish. The sauce is definitely a winner. I have frozen a couple of the thighs for my husband to eat when I am gone.  However, I made a few minor changes, I poured off most of the chicken fat before frying the onions, leaving about 3 tablespoons in the pan. In the original recipe, the dish is baked at a high temperature for 15 minutes. I reduced my cooking time to 10 minutes or less. I prepared the dish in the morning and reheated it at dinner time with the high heat. I didn’t cover my dish with foil but instead used the lid for my pan. I used regular Dijon mustard instead of grainy mustard. I bought my date syrup at Trader Joe’s. When I cooked it again, I substituted blue agave syrup for the date syrup.

Ingredients :
This recipe serves 6
¾  cup chicken stock
1 TBS cornstarch 
1 ½ TBS mustard 
2 TBS date syrup
1 TBS honey
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. salt plus more for seasoning 
½ tsp. freshly ground pepper
¼  tsp. chili flakes
6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (2½ pounds)
2 TBS olive oil
2 red onions cut into small wedges
¼ cup white wine
8  medium figs
½ pound red grapes
6 thyme sprigs, plus chopped thyme for garnish 

Directions:
Set the rack 8 inches from the broiler. Preheat oven 400˚degrees F. 
In a bowl, whisk together broth and cornstarch until dissolved. Add in honey, mustard, date juice, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
Generously season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Wash and cut the stems off the figs. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken skin-side down for 5 minutes or more until the skin is crisp and golden. Flip and cook one more minute. Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover with foil. Discard most of the chicken fat, leaving about 3 tablespoons. Add onions to the skillet, and cook until slightly browned, 3-4 minutes. Put the cooked onions on the platter. Add the wine to the skillet, stirring and scraping up bits from the pan until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the broth mixture, bring it to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until thickened slightly for 2-3 minutes. Return the chicken and onions to the pan with the accumulated juices. Nestle the figs and the grapes among chicken pieces and scatter the thyme sprigs around. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken. Cover the pan with foil (or a lid) and bake the dish for 20 minutes or until the grapes and figs begin to soften. When you are ready to serve this dish, spoon some more sauce over the chicken and bake it in a preheated oven at 425˙ Fahrenheit for another 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped thyme.


Guten Appetit!
The Wall Street Journal adapted the recipe from a cookbook called Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours by Adeena Sussmann.
Posted by sunnycovechef.com