March 29, 2011
Butterless Apple Crumble
It's only recently that I've realized that the crumble topping of a fruit crumble doesn't have to be made with butter to be crisp and delicious.
Did you know? Am I the last person to find out?
The epiphany came from my intensive granola-making activities: after all, isn't granola a second cousin to the crumble topping? And if I make granola with oil, not butter, why not try that in a crumble?
And so, for the past few months -- since the begi...
"Butterless Apple Crumble" continues »
March 22, 2011
Blood, Bones & Butter
I have an ambivalent relationship to food memoirs.
On the one hand, a book that's entirely devoted to food and food experiences should have my name all over it. On the other hand, I deal with food so exclusively and so intensely all day and all week long that when I sit down to read at night or on weekends, I sort of want to read about other lives entirely.
And this is one of the reasons why I so enjoyed Gabrielle Hamilton's memoir.
Blood, B...
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March 15, 2011
Japan on My Mind
Moss garden at Gio-ji temple in Arashiyama (Kyoto).
I seldom invite world events to appear on Chocolate & Zucchini, because we live in an age of such hyperinformation that we don't need -- and often don't want -- to see the same topics on the news and on the food blogs we read.
But in light of what has happened in Japan, what is still happening in Japan, and what I fear is going to happen next in Japan, I need a bit of time before we go back t...
"Japan on My Mind" continues »
March 9, 2011
Hummus
I realize the world has not been holding its breath waiting for me to share my recipe for hummus.
But it does seem like the world, or at least a portion of its inhabitants, could use a friendly reminder about homemade hummus: how good it is, how easy, and how cheap, too.
Just out of curiosity, I've calculated the approximate cost of my hummus, which I make from dried chickpeas, and with organic ingredients, and I've worked out that it costs m...
March 2, 2011
Chicken in a Bread Crust
I attended the Omnivore Food Festival in Deauville last week, a three-day event during which chefs from France and way beyond hop on stage and do live demos. This was the sixth edition and I've only missed one since it started, but this year was extra special for me because I'd been asked to host the pastry chefs' demos in the sucré auditorium.
I had a blast meeting such talented individuals, from Bubo's Carles Mampel to Noma's Rosio Sanchez b...
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March 1, 2011
March 2011 Desktop Calendar
At the beginning of every month, I am offering C&Z readers a new wallpaper to apply on the desktop of your computer, with a food-related picture and a calendar of the current month.
Our calendar for March is a picture of a chèvre frais cendré -- ash-coated fresh goat cheese -- taken at a small market stall that was giving away sample slices.
Not everyone realizes that cheese is a seasonal product too, and that artisanal goat cheese can only b...
"March 2011 Desktop Calendar" continues »