From Europe to Africa in America - A Sisters' Expedition

[englishrose47]

Wonderful update both of you!!Disney is an awesome place for Diet restrictions !!Not that I have any but have travelled with folks who do !!!

How exciting that you will be meeting Liessa in less than 48 hours !!Should we start a countdown !!!

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I'm sure they will be- I get to see them day after tomorrow!!

are there any particular pics you'd like us to be sure to get???

Aww thanks for the offer but I have tons, of course! I just want you to have a blast and soak it all in!

Magdalene - the picture of the Caesar salad has me drooling - especially with the crunchy cheese piece on top!! YUM-O! I hope the boxes filled themselves up for you!

Heather

 

[tiggrbaby]

What a wonderful meal! I've never eaten there; I must try it some time!

 

[glennbo123]

That meal looked great. I'm going to have to try that place sometime...probably a future "date night".

 

[TyRy]

Thank you for the great review of Flying Fish. I keep trying to fit that in, and we just haven't yet. You also had some photos/angles of the restaurant that I've never seen before. Looks like a nice place.

Have fun packing - always one of the worst parts of moving.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I already knew your meal at FF was a good one, but wow - everything looks so delicious! I'm wondering if we could fit it in on one of our relaxing evenings. I would have a tough time deciding between those two appetizers though, both looked -and sounded- amazing! Is FF considered a signature, or not?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I was just stopping by to see if there was an update on the meeting!! I hope you guys are having a blast and I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the results!

Heather

 

[Flossbolna]

Dear readers, sorry for the long silence! I am still in the process of moving, but hopefully I will get internet (and telephone) installed in Nuremberg tomorrow. So then I will be able to get on the DIS much more regular again than in the last week or so. And I am really looking forward to write the next update, it will be a fun one!!

I was just stopping by to see if there was an update on the meeting!! I hope you guys are having a blast and I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the results!

Heather

I am planning on doing a more thorough update on it soon, but I posted about our meet on Liesa's PTR. The post can be found here.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Take your time! All the ordeals with moving can be completely exhausting!

 

[eandesmom]

I decided to get a real classic: Caesar Salad - Young Red and Green Romaine, Roasted Garlic Dressing, Parmigiano-Sonoma Jack Frico, and Pesto-Sourdough Croutons

I keep mentioning it, Ceasar salad is not a common dish in Germany and I love it, so I try to eat a few times when I am in the US. This was the ultimate Caesar salad for me. The large thing on top is a cracker made from melted parmesan. It was delicious. It had that nutty taste from it being browned a bit, but it was not burned at all. I am sure if you tried to recreate it, it would be so difficult to manage to take it away from the heat at just the right second... The salad dressing tasted really homemade and very fresh. It also had a distinctive taste of garlic, which I liked, but others might not...

Up Next: Chapter 20: Window Shopping around the World

Ooh Ooh! My turn to share a recipie! It's actually not hard at all, if you have the right equipment, you need a Silpat, a silicone baking mat and Silpat is by FAR the best. I've tried others. I will get you the recipe. Mine is to make them as cups and then you serve salad in it but it's the same thing, you just wouldn't form the parm after it gets all melty lacy golden.

Easy, but impressive, the perfect entertaining item!

great update!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

The joy of having internet again at home!!

It even appears to be really fast!

Take your time! All the ordeals with moving can be completely exhausting!

Thanks, I understand that you have quite a lot of experience. The downsizing from a house to a small appartment must have been so much hard work. I have to reunite two different appartments in the one that I only used very sporadic for three years. I am actually in the process of going through all my closets, shelves and other storages space and just get rid of so many things. Anything that hasn't been used and/or missed in the last three years has to go. It is tedious, but I love the results!!

Ooh Ooh! My turn to share a recipie! It's actually not hard at all, if you have the right equipment, you need a Silpat, a silicone baking mat and Silpat is by FAR the best. I've tried others. I will get you the recipe. Mine is to make them as cups and then you serve salad in it but it's the same thing, you just wouldn't form the parm after it gets all melty lacy golden.

Easy, but impressive, the perfect entertaining item!

great update!!!

Oh, that sounds great, I would love that recipe! And if you have a good recipe for a Caesar salad dressing, I would really appreciate that as well! I am so looking forward to inviting some guests for dinner again since I am back in a place where I have a nice dining room table. And thanks for the tip on the Silpat I always wanted to get a baking mat, but never got around to buy one. Will come in handy for Christmas cookies as well.

 

[eandesmom]

The joy of having internet again at home!!

It even appears to be really fast!

Oh, that sounds great, I would love that recipe! And if you have a good recipe for a Caesar salad dressing, I would really appreciate that as well! I am so looking forward to inviting some guests for dinner again since I am back in a place where I have a nice dining room table. And thanks for the tip on the Silpat I always wanted to get a baking mat, but never got around to buy one. Will come in handy for Christmas cookies as well.

YAY for the internet!!!!!!!!! And decent speed. I don't have a good Caesar recipe, My ex used to make it from scratch all the time and it's a lot of work. I think I'm still intimidated! LOL. Not really but just have never looked for one. Love Caesar salad though. I will include the salad recipe I do have that I use with the cups (if you shape them) as it's quite yummy.

Funny on the Silpat, I bought it expressly to make the parmesan cups and have used it almost daily since then, it's one of the best kitchen tools I ever bought! You will love it. I want another one. I should be able to get you the recipe later today.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Thanks for the quick link! The picture of you three is adorable and sounds like fun so far!!

I hope things with the move continue to go smoothly and we understand it takes time - we'll try to be patient!

Heather

 

[brookelizabeth]

The joy of having internet again at home!!

It even appears to be really fast!



Thanks, I understand that you have quite a lot of experience. The downsizing from a house to a small appartment must have been so much hard work. I have to reunite two different appartments in the one that I only used very sporadic for three years. I am actually in the process of going through all my closets, shelves and other storages space and just get rid of so many things. Anything that hasn't been used and/or missed in the last three years has to go. It is tedious, but I love the results!!

for internet!!! It really is so nice when it finally get installed isn't it? Ours here got installed before our things were even delivered.

That is tedious work, but kinda fun in a way because you get to look at so many things - and the results are so wonderful! It's worth all the time and energy spent doing it.

 

[eandesmom]

Spinach Salad in a Parmesan Frico Cup

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

It is rated as "difficult" but for someone who pulls off homemade strudl, you can handle it.

Ingredients
For the Parmesan Frico Cups:

* 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan

For the Citrus Vinaigrette:

* 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1 tablespoon orange juice
* 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
* 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
* 1 teaspoon honey
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Spinach Salad:

* 6 ounces baby spinach leaves (about 6 cups)
* 1 orange, cut into segments
* 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
* 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
* Special equipment: a silpat mat, a muffin tin, and a small drinking glass

Preheat oven to 375

For the Parmesan Frico Cups;
Place a silpat mat on a baking sheet. Place 6 (1/4c) mounds of Parmesan cheese on the mat and gently tap down until each mound is flat and 4 1/2 to 5 inches in diameter. Bake for 8-10 min until golden and bubble. Working quickly, use a thin spatula to transfer the Parmesan Rico to a muffin tin. Gently place a small drinking glass on top of the Parmesan Frico to mod it into the shape of the muffin cup. Let cool until firm, about 5 minutes.

For the Vinaigrette:
Combine all the ingredients in a jar or tight sealing plastic container. Shake to blend.

For the Salad:
In a large bowl combine all the ingredients. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to combine. Divide the salad among the Parmesan Frico Cups and serve immediately.
--------------
a note if you do the original recipe. Serve them in small bowls as the dressing can "leak" through the Parmesan cups as they are kind of lacey, not solid. In small glass bowls it's a lovely presentation and I love the salad and dressing that is part of this. I do this for our thanksgiving salad as it's nice to have it on the side, one less thing to pass around a platter or bowl of.

I didn't find it hard at all, it's pretty straightforward. Here is a similar concept, different chef but same basic idea just with some seasonings and as a crisp.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/parmesan-crisps-recipe/index.html

 

[kid-at-heart]

Eandesmom, the Spinach Salad in a Parmesan Frico Cup sounds wonderful. I am off now to buy a silpat just so I can make this one dish. Thank you!

Kate

 

[englishrose47]

The recipe sounds delish but Waaaay to hard for me !!! I'll have to wait for a super chef to bake it for me

 

[eandesmom]

Eandesmom, the Spinach Salad in a Parmesan Frico Cup sounds wonderful. I am off now to buy a silpat just so I can make this one dish. Thank you!

Kate

I bought mine to make this one dish and now use it several times a week. It was a great purchase! I hope you enjoy the salad and Parmesan cups! It's a great dressing recipe too.

 

[Flossbolna]

Cynthia, this salad sounds delicious! It is a bit difficult to get baby spinach here in Germany, but I hope to find it. It does not sound too difficult to me and I am sure it gets quite a wow effect when you serve it. And you can prepare everything beforehand. Now I just need to get this Silpat. And invite some friends for dinner!

Just one question: How fast do you have to work with getting the parmesan into the muffin tins? I was once baking fortune cookies (with good wishes and money inside them as a wedding present) and found that I had less than one minute to form them after they came out of the oven. I could not bake more than two at one time, otherwise they would brake when I was folding them. I guess the cheese will stay soft a little bit longer?

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia, this salad sounds delicious! It is a bit difficult to get baby spinach here in Germany, but I hope to find it. It does not sound too difficult to me and I am sure it gets quite a wow effect when you serve it. And you can prepare everything beforehand. Now I just need to get this Silpat. And invite some friends for dinner!

Just one question: How fast do you have to work with getting the parmesan into the muffin tins? I was once baking fortune cookies (with good wishes and money inside them as a wedding present) and found that I had less than one minute to form them after they came out of the oven. I could not bake more than two at one time, otherwise they would brake when I was folding them. I guess the cheese will stay soft a little bit longer?

It does, you do have to work quickly but since you only do 6 at a time (that's all that fits on the silpat once it melts) it's fine. The cheese is oily and moldable for a bit and the "molding" part is really quick to do. One thing, test your drinking glass first to make sure it actually fits in the muffin tin, I had to use a random glass from a restaurant for mine as my normal glasses had bigger bases than the bottom of a muffin. I think I've made this 3-4 times and have never had issues. Don't refrigerate the cups after you make them though as you will lose crispness and wait to put the salad in until right before you serve so they don't get soggy.

Regular spinach will work, just tear it up small. We eat spinach salad almost daily but I often skip the baby spinach as it costs more. It is better but the kids don't notice. lol!