Beef Ribs

As the temperature begins to drop I am becoming more and more tempted to turn on the heater. However, as its still only May I feel like I should wait a bit longer because once I get used to having a toasty warm apartment I defiantly wont want to go back to conserving energy . So my solution is to cook some slow cooked meals on the days I am at home so the oven can heat up the apartment for me :)

I had been wanting to try cooking Beef Ribs for some time now, and luckily Ben my lovely Butcher was happy to organise some for me.

Beef Ribs

 

Käsespätzle

I am definitely more of a summer person than a winter person. But as we head into winter I remind myself that winter definitely does have the advantage of being more conducive to warming comfort food... and this is something the Austrians excel at. I remember the first time I tried Käsepätzle. I was skiing in Tirol and we had stopped for lunch, the English translation of "Cheese dumplings" only hinting as to the deliciousness of what I was about to be eating. I have had this many times since, and every region cooks it slightly differently - but I love mine with added mushroom and bacon.
Here is my recipe for the Austrian answer to Macaroni Cheese...

Käsespätzle mit Schwammerl und Speck

Pesto

Although we live just a stones through away from more cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants then we could possibly tire of... on a school night we usually prefer to eat a home cooked meal rather than head out or get takeaway. However, this means that even when I am tired and really don't feel like cooking, I still have to make the decision to either whip up something quick and easy or risk having the my well meaning hubby offer to order pizza so I don't have to cook and we don't have to go out. Note: he loves pizza nearly as much as he loves schnitzel, but is super fussy about the dough and the toppings, so ordering Pizza starts with lots of pre excitement but then ends in trauma as it never meets expectations.
As a result I always have a few staples prepared in the fridge and freezer so I can pull a rabbit out of a hat and have a simple but delicious dinner on the table with a minimum of effort.
One of these is Pesto...

Basil Pesto

 

Charred Corn Salad

I can't really remember what life was like before we purchased our much loved Weber Genesis BBQ... I must have spent significantly longer preparing dinner each night as now it really is my "go to" cooking tool when I want to get dinner on the table asap.
So in order to make the most of being able to have a steak cooked in a few minutes, I now am always on the look out for some quick and tasty salad ideas to accompany the steak. This is definitely a favourite of mine as it certainly packs a flavoursome punch.

Charred Corn Salad

Schnitzel with Pea Rice and Styrian Salad

As this blog is called Schnitzel and Chardonnay, I thought I better get my recipe for Schnitzel (Austrian style) up quick smart. And as Mr SC got back from a long business trip in Asia this evening, I thought he would appreciate being surprised with his favourite meal from his home country.
I was reluctant to cook schnitzel for many years always sending Mr SC home to his mum for Schnitzel on Sunday so I didn't have to face a pan of molten butter... but since we now live 3 flights away from my mother in law, it is no longer feasible to send him home on Sunday for his schnitzel fix. So now I find myself cooking schnitzel the way he grew up eating it but served on the other side of the world. No matter how hard I try to suggest other accompaniments, Mr SC insists that the only way to eat schnitzel is with pea rice and Styrian* salad.

Schnitzel with Pea Rice and Styrian Salad

Where to begin.... Fructose Free Toasted Muesli

I have finally got my act together and after a year of should I or shouldn't I, my blog is now up and running. I thought that finding a name that wasn't already taken would be the hardest part... but I didn't realise that this was only the beginning... I have been deliberating for a few weeks now about what my 1st recipe should be. My signature amuse bouche, a classic old favourite, a recipe passed down from my mum, something from Mr SC's homeland or something totally new?!
This procrastination had to come to an end, so I decided my first recipe should simply be my Toasted Fructose Free Muesli. Why? Because it is the 1st thing I eat at least 5 days a week (yes I am a creature of habit), and if this blog is going to follow the goings on in my kitchen I guess it should start at the very beginning :)

The recipe is Fructose free... not because I am staging a war against sugar, but because I am Fructose Intolerant. I saw my life flash before my eyes when I received the test results - a life without Chardonnay!?!? But fortunately wine remains on the menu although I have sadly had to give up delicious fruit. If you are lucky enough to be able to enjoy fruit please go ahead and add fresh fruit to this when serving.

Fructose Free Toasted Muesli